The Portland daily press., 1896-07-09

For few days the 1.-TWO thirds" rule
is to be very prominent in the minds of
the reading public. Once in four years,
whenever the Democratic party meets in
national convention, the country is
treated to the spectacle Of "A body of del
egates who dare not trust the majority.
of their mem bership to nominate Plesi-
don't; but fall back for approval upon
the saving common sense Of one third of
the whole body. This two thirds rule is
coaval with the national political con-
vention in America. After the practice
of nominating candidates for President
in caucuses of Congressman had grown
into disfavor, and the nominations by
State legislatures had been found too
clumsy device, the national political
convention was devised. or rather
evolved. 1t was in the ever-glorious days
of Andrew Jackson. The Hero of New
Orleans had been first elected in 1928. In
1882 tn ereTWas no doubt of his renomina-
tlon but there was a sharp contest over
the selection of candidate for Vice
President, and in the convention which
met in Baltimore-the first national
Democratic conyention-ths rule was
adopted that in selecting the candidate
for Vice President two thirds of the
whole number Of votes in the convention
should be necessary to constitute a
choice. From that day the rule has sur
viyed in the selection of both President
and Vice President in every Democratic
national convention. In 1874 determined
effort was made in the conven-
ton to throw off this rule. The leaders
IN this attempt wer e Marcus Morton, of
Massachusetts,, Nathan Clifford, of
Maine, and Daniel S. Dickinson, of New
York. The reason for this attempt was
simple but Important. Van Buren, had
been nominated and elected in 1886
through the patronage of Andrew Jack
son. For tho preceding 56 years Of the
governments history the Democrats had
supported no northern man for Presi-
dent. But although defeated in 1S40
Van Buren, was still strong within his
purity in 1874. But the South was bitter
~ against him bncause he had declared
against Calhoun's scheme for the annex
alton of Texas. They thought that by
forcing the two thirds rule they could
defeat Van Buren, They succeeded.
The rule was adopted, and although
Van Buren, had majority of the dele
gates on the first ballot, he could not q ct
the needed two thirds. The honor went
to James K. Polk on the seventh ballot
From that contest came the Mexican
war, the Strengthening of slavery, the
division of the New York Democracy on
the slavery issue, and the final revenge
OF the friends of Van Buren,, who by
nominating him in 1916 drew off enough
votes to defeat Cass, Northern man
with Southern principles, who had al-
lowed the use of his name in the conven-
ton of 1914 to demoralize Van Buren's
northern support. In 1852 General Cass
might perhaps have been nominated
had it not been for the two thirds rule; ;
but on the thirty fifth ballot the name of
franklin Pierce was brought forward
| and on the forty -ninth ballot Pierce re-
| celved the nomination. In the great tur-
MOL of the Charleston convention of
1860. the principal fight and the secession
of the Southern delegates was caused by
the plank of the platform relating to
slavery. The rule being adopted after
the Southern delegates had left that two
| thirds of full convention should bo re-
quired TO nominate, prevented tie
immediate selection of Douglas. But
in the adjourned convention at Balti-
more Douglas easily had the required
two thirds. The more recent history Of
the Democracy has not furnished so
striking instances of the peculiar work.
inRs of the two thirds rule as were Civ
en- in the DAYS of Van Buren, and Polk.
But it is not improbable that this con-
veation, before its turmoils shall have
onded, may show The defeat of candi-
date whom the majority Of the delegates
| may really want.
DEDCnMAI