The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-02-20
CONVENTIONS
THE n At ST.. LOUIS Nay BE THE
LONGEST ON RECORD.
Most Republican Conventions Have
Been ShOrt-It Took Thirty-Six
Ballots to Defeat Grant.

The Republican national convention,
which will meet in St. Louis on June 10,
promises to be one of the largest and most
exciting in the history of that party, which
placed a national ticket in the field for
the first time in 1856, forty years ago. Dur
ing the forty years of its existence as a
national organization the Republican party
has been in control of the executive branch
of the government twenty-eight years, and
for almost half the time since it was or
ganized has controlled both branches of
the Congress of the United States.
In the convention of 1896 there will be no
less than ten candidates for the nominal
ton for President. Six of these will be ia
vorite-son candidates; that is, they Will
have some votes from their own States,
but little, if any. strength outside. and
may be dropped after one or two ballots.
Four candidates, however-Reed, Morton,
Mckinley and A~llison-are in the race to
stay to the finish. and at the present time
the indications are that each of the four
will have about the same number of votes
on the first ballot.
The support of the four leading candi-
dates is divided by new sectional lines. The
four men are supposed from their past rec
ords to favor both protection and sound
OIle 50 tndt IOiiO VI ifSAA
any new departure in party policy. Mr..
Reed, it is expected, will have the solid
support of the New England States; Gov
ernor Morton's principal following will
come from the Middle States: Mckinley
will nave most of the delegates from the
middle Western and Southern states, wnlie
the Northwestern States, with the excep-
ton of complimentary votes Tor faVorite
sons, will be solid for Senator Aills0ii. IN
this convention the East will not be ar
rayed against the West unless the nght ior
the nomination narrOws down toward the
end to one candidate from each.
Political leaders who are STUDYING the ex-
listing conditions estimate that anywhere
from five to fifty ballots will be taken be-
fore a candidate is nominated. The conul,
tions on which these are pased
may be materially changed before June
IS. but unless one or more OF the four lead
ing candidates should withdraw a TOUR or
five days session of the convention Is prop
able. :, -
greater. number of delegates than any pre-
ceding one. The admission of TWO terri.
tories to statehood this year Will add elShi
delegates, and the convention, when or
hitting four delegates at large from the
remaining territories. In Republican con-
vailed in making nominations. WhSther
the four delegates at large from the ter
ritories are admitted or not there Will be
enough more than 800 delegates 10 require
probably $50 votes to nominate.
CONTESTING DELEGATIONS.
The organization of such a large conven-
ton is a task OF no small proportions, and
this year there will be an unusual number
of contesting delegations, which will largely
increase the work of the committee on
credentials. The first district convention
for the election of delegates to st. Louis
started with a bolt and the election of a
contes;ing delegation from a Texas dis
trict. There may be a contesting delega-
ton from this city, and nearly all the
Southern States will have contests or some
kind
The platform committee will have a task
of such magnitude and difficulty that IL
may keep the convention waiting a day.
TIL Platform will express the decision Of
the party leaders as 10 whether the money
question or the tariff is to be the main
issue of the campaign. II will be we'll nigh
impossible for the committee to draft a
Platform that will please all factions of the
party, and the members from the silver
States will undoubtedly submit a minority
report. inns Will open the way Tor DEBATE
the close of the second days session of
the convention before the orators will get
a chance TO deliver their nominating
The Republican party has had but one long
convention. That was the famous conven-
ton of 1880, held in Chicago, when the at
tempt was made to nominate General Grant
for a third term. In that convention thir-
ty-six ballots were taken. and the bitter
made possible the election of Grover Cleve-
and four years later.
The first national convention of the Re-
publican party was held in Philadelphia,
June II, 1856. The convention this year will
be held forty years latef-to a day. In that
convention there was only one ballot for
President ana one fer Vice President. Gen.
John c. Fremont was nominated for Presi-
dent, receiving 39 votes TO 1876 cast for
John Mclean.
VV;u;ar Doyto, &c >-au- Iarcax ap5
Abraham Lincoln. of Illinois, were the OPP
posing candidates for the nomination for
Vice President. AT that time Lincoln was
name was presented by the Illinois delega-
ton, a delegate from an Eastern. State
arose and slowly asked: Who is this man
Lincoln: can ne fight?'
Sir. Mr.. Lincoln is a native OF Ken
lucky" promptly responded a delegate from
applause, and the question of Mr.. Lincoln's
courage was not raised again.
The ballot for a candidate tor Vice Presi-
dent esulted-Dayton 259; Lincoln. $50.
A FAMOUS GATHERING.
The second national convention of the
party was held in Chicago on May 16 to Is,
1850. In that convention three ballots were
taken. On the first ballot there were eight
candidates for the nomination for President
and William H. Seward led with 1872 votes.
Lincoln received lO2 votes on the first bal
lot. On the second ballot the vote of
Seward went up 10 1912. while that of Lin
coin jumped TO $50. On the third ballet LIN
coin was nominated, receiving 2S1Is votes TO
$50 for Seward.
In 1864 the Republican national convention
met in Baltimore on June Z, and Lincoln was
rencminated on the first ballot. No other
candidate was placed in nomination before
the convention. burt the Missouri delegation
voted for Gen. L. :. Grant. who was then
engaged in his famous Virginia campaign.
In 1868 the convention was again held in
Chicago. Ii met or May 20. and was in
session only two days. That convention
,mnaison IF q caniidaya For pras,dent vas
concerned. There was no opposition TO Gen.
Grant, and he was nominated unanimously
on the first ballot.
In 1872 the Republican convention came
East again, and met IN Philadelphia on
June D. TIL convention was in session only
mousiy renominated.
In 1S@6 the convention ~ fbe marty ~nos A,