The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1892-06-22
PRESIDENTIAL BATTLES.
THE STORY OF A cENruRY's Ma
T1ONAL CAMPAIGNS.
A Bit Of Political History That 10 Espe
cially Interesting Just Now.
Factors That Have Figured
in President Making.

gave upOne OF lts pages 10 n record OF q
century of National contests" and from
that is condensed what follows.
Nominating conventions were unknown
at the time OF the organization of the Re-
public, and at the first election of President
no candidate had been presented by any
party. II was accepted by common consent
that Washington should be President, and
as John Adams was -eminently the rep
resentntive man Of New England in the
struggle for independence, he was chosen
Vice President. Only 10 of the original
States participated In the first Presidential
election. Before the end of Washingtons
first term Vermont and Kentucky had been
admitted into the Union, and the whole 10
Stn,es voted at his second election. Wash
ington again received the unanimous vote,
being land Adam received II, which made
him Vice President for the second term.
In the middle of Washington's second
term parties began to form. and at the be-
ginning of 1901 jefferson resigned his place
as Secretary of state and took the leader
ship of the Republican party, In opposition
TO the policy of the Administration, which
became known as Federalst There was
then no direct vote for Vice President; each
the one receiving the highest vote became
President and the next highest became Vice
President. In this way John Adams,
Federalist, was elected President, and
Thomas Jefferson Republican. was elected
Vice President. The alien and sedition laws
of the Adams administration further Wild
ened the breach between Republicanism
md Federalism.
In 1900 Adam and jefferson were again
9itted again each other Charles G. Pinck-
ney being the running mate with Adams,
and Aaron Burr with Jefferson. There was
no election by the people and the contest
went into the House where after long
Ct ffat 1.f.t. tss.
Presidency, jefferson was finally elected
February D, 1901, the first formal nomi-
nation TO the Presidency was made by
caucus, and Jefferson was
nominated unanimously. II was hopeless
battle against him from the start and he
was reelected by an overwhelming major
ity, receiving l62 electoral votes TO IA for
PincSney.
In 1903 the only rivalry was between the
two Nirginians Madison and Monroe, and
Madison won the nomination on the first
ballot. The Federaists made no formal
against him, but by general
consent presented their old ticket of Pinck.
ney and King. The campaign of 1903 did
not rise TO the dignity of . contest, and Mad.
ison WIS elected by l22 electoral votes TO AZ
for Pinckney. The election of 1872 occurred
during the war with England and Madison
was reelected without difficulty, the Feder-
alist party having suffered by the hostility
With the end of the war there was an end
OF the Federalist party. March 10, SIG,
Monroe was nominated against Crawford
The disappointment of the Crawford follow
ers led to an outburst against the Congress
sional caucus, and in Baltimore and several
other places public meetings were held pro-
testing against the arbitrary power os Coli
gressmen TO select candidates for President,
but in the end the Republicans generally
united in the support of Monroe, who re-
ceived 1872 Of the 2l7 Electoral votes
AT the end of Monroes term came the era
of good feeling, and there was no opposition
to his reelection. lie would have received
shire elector, who said that honor should be
reserved for Washington only, and so cast
his vote for John Quincy Adams.
But in 1924 opposition TO the Congress
sional caucus system was renewed, with tue
result that Crawford, Jackson, Clay and
Adams were candidates, and that the con-
test was again thrown into the House, where
Adams was chosen by the aid of the Clay
men. Clay being the lowest of the four can
ddates was excluded from the House con-
test as only the three highest candidates
ran be presented there
In 1898 Jackson was nominated by the
Legislature. of Tennessee and fought his
second battle with Adams, receiving nearly
900 majority in popular vote of about
100000, and l73 electoral votes to IS for
Adams.
In 1880 the first political National Conyen.
ion was held by the anti-Masons, and il ad-
ourned until September 26, 1881, when it
in Baltimore and nominated
William Wir for President and Amos ELL
maker for Vice President The next Ma
ional Convention was held by the friends
Df Clay under the title of National Republi-
,ans on the 18th Of December, 1881 and
nominated Clay for President and John Ser.
,cant for Vice President. The National
Democrats, as the friends of Jackson then
,alled themselves, called National Conven-
ion 10 meet in Baltimore on the 2lst Of
Nav, 1882, only to nominate n candidate for
Vice President, as Jackson was unanimously
accepted for reelection and won
Then came the nomination Of Martin Van
Buren b. the Democratic National Conven-
ion at Baltimore, which had no platform,
Van Buren, was elected. At the end of his
term the Wings at Harrisburg nomination
William Henry Harrison in 1889 and elected
lim. This was the hard cider and log cabin
.arpaign. Harrison died in Office and John
Tyler become the first accidental President.
There was serious dispute as TO the title
he Vice President should assume, but while
he subject was under discussion in the
House ami members were disputing whether
he title should be Acting President" a
message was received from John Tyler,
ablished precedent that has been main
aimed until now.
In 1914 both Wings and Democrats met in
Baltimore, the former nominating Clay
md the latter, under the two.thirds rule,
nominating Polk, who was elected.
In ls4s the Wings at Philadelphia nomi-
lated Zachary Taylor, and the Democrats at
Baltimore Lewis Cass. Taylor died inlS50 |
md Fillmore became the second accidental |
resident: During Fillmores time the
fugitive slave law was passed and the Wing |
,arty was disrupted
In 1852 the Wings at Baltimore nominated |
isnerhi Scott, the Democrats in the same |
ity nominated Pierce. and the Free Soil |
Democracy in Pittsburgh nominated John |
,. Hale. Pierce had things pretty much his |
wn way |
The first Republican National convention |
vas he'd in Philadelphia in 1856, which |
nominated Fremont. The National Coun- |
il Of Americans had previously in the |
anne city nominated Fillmore. The Demo- |
'ats at Cincinnati nominated buchanan, |
vho was to see the beginning Of the civil !
var under his administration.
Then comes the familiar story of Lincoln |
nd InH -