The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-05-17
PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDITES.
Nominations Much Sought by Men who
Have No Chance TO Win.

That a nomination by either of the great po-
litical parties for the office of President OF the
United States should be sought in emulous ri
vairy by prominent American statesmen Is not
unnatural: but 1t certainly seems strange that
for the empty honor of running on an outside or
third party ticket. with no possibility of success.
men should strive vigorously and as bitterly rs
when seeking a regular party nomination. The
Prohibition party. for instance, never comes
near electing a Presidents: 1t has never carried
a State and has never secured an electoral vote
in a State. 1t is not strong enough in any Con-
gressional district to carry 1t for one of its NOM
inees. and yet the honor OF heading the temper
ance ticket ia coveted by many statesmen, and
there have been great battles In the Prohibition
Convention without the excuse of alcoholic ex-
hilarationI to obtain it.
In the last Prohibition Convention General
Bidwell OF California, Gideon Stewart. a
pioneer temperance man in Ohio, and the late
w. Jennings Demarest vigorously contested for
the prize. as II 1t was freirated with future
political honors. Bidwell hailed from the land
of California wine and vineyards. Stewart from
the State from which l. consigned the domestic
"Rhine wine" and Mr.. Demarest was. from
rum. and Gambrinus. the good fairy Of beer.
have long struggled for mastery. Gen. Bidwell
turned TO Texas for a Vice President and
nominated Mr., Crantill.
IN the trnnlDltlon convention OF 1870 tncrc
vas n vigorous contest over the Presidential
nomination.. and finally Gen. Clinton Fisk of
New Jersey carried Il off. The Pnpulists in
1892 he'd their Convention in Omaha. and tho
preferences of the delegates was divided among
Gen. Weaver OF Iowa. James II. Kyle OF South
Dakota. Mr.. Page OF Pennsylvania. Mr.. Norton
OF Illinois, and the late Leland stanford of
California. For some reason which was not
made very clear Mt the time; Mr., stanford.
though long denounced by the ropulists Of the
Western and Pacific states az the sworn enemy
of their rights and opponent of their views. got
considerable support before the Omaha Con-
%vcntiun, but the nomination went to Gen.
Weaver. the outside political parties being. all
Of them. partial to former Generals. For
mer Governor ~. John was the standard
beaver OF the Prohlbitionists in 1884; the emil
nent Neal Dow was the candidate Of the Prohibit
tionists in 1880. In 1876 Peter Cooper, honora-
bly, distinguished throughout the country Mt
that time as New Works mast illnstriOus and
public piritrd h"ucfact0r, ran for President on
the Grcenback ticket, and fOur wears prior to
tha' Charles O'tonnOr. whose prominence Mt
the blr WAS universally CEnOwledgcd. was the
candidate of the strRighout Democrats, So
calicl, though the vote pOllcd by him was in
significant. The political fascination Of a aun-
test for the Presidency IL rot limited, II would
appear, 10 the nominee of either OF the great
parties. hut extends even to those outside can
didatea who have no chance OF winning aud.
moreover. no evacuation OF winning when they
are put in the field.