The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-05-20
PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES.
Nominations Much Sought by Elem
Who Have No Chance to Win.

That q nomination by either Of the
great political parties for the ONCE OF
president Of the United States should
be sought In emulous rivalry by promi-
nent American statesmen is not unna-
tural says the New York Sun, but 1t
certainly seems strange that for the
empty honor OF running on an outside
or third party ticket. with no possible
ity Of success, men should strive vigor-
ously and as bitterly as when seeking
regular party nomination. The Prohi-
bition party. for instance, never comes
near electing a president; 1t has never
carried a state and has never secured
an electoral vote in a state. 1t Is not
strong enough in any congressional dis
trict to carry II for one of its nominees.
and yet the honor of heading the tenn
perance ticket Is coveted by many
statesmen, and there have been great
battles in the Prohibition convention
without the excuse Of alcoholic ex-
hilaratiOn) to obtain 1t.
In the last Prohibition convention
General Bidwell, OF California;; Gideon
Stewart, q pioneer temperance man In
Ohio, and the late w. Jennings Demor-
est vigorously contested for the prize,
as II It was freighted with future politi-
cal honors Bidwell hailed from the
land OF California wine and vineyards,
Stewart from that state from which Is
consigned the domestic Rhine wine"
and Mr.. Demorest was from New York,
a town In which gin the demon rum,
and Gambrinus. the good fairy of beer,
have long struggled for master. Gen.
eral Bidwell was nominated, and then
the Prohibitionists turned to Texas for
vice-president and nominated Mr..
Cranfill.
In the Prohibition convention of 1883
there was a vigorous contest over the
presidential nomination. and finally
General Clinton Fisk, of New Jersey,
carried It of. The Populists In 1892 held
their convention in Omaha. and the
preferences Of the delegates was divid
ed among General Weaver, of Iowa;
James H. Kyle, OF South Dakota; Mr..
Page. Of Pennsylvania; Mr. Norton. of
Illinois. and the late Eeland Stanford.
Of California. For some reason which
was not made very clear at the time.
Mr.. Stanford. though long denounced
by the POpulists Of the western and Pa
cific states as the sworn enemy of their
rights and opponent OF their views, got
considerable support before the Omaha
convention. but the nomination went to
General Weaver, the outside political
parties being. all Of them. partial to
former generals. Former Governor St
John was the sendard bearer Of the Pro-
hibitiOnists In 1884; the eminent Neal
Dow was the candidate of the Prohibi-
tionists In 1880. In 1876 Peter Cooper,
honorably distinguished throughout
the country at that time as New Yorks
most illustrious and public-spirited
benefactor. ran for president on the
Greenback ticket. and four years prior
to that Charles O'Connor whose promi-
nence at the bar was universally ac-
knowlegded, was the candidate Of the
straightout Democrats. sO-called.
though the vote polled by him was in
Significant. The political fascination
Of contest for the presidency ia not
limited. 1t would appear. to the nomi-
nee OF either Of the great parties, but
extends even to those outside candi-
dates who have no chance Of winning
and, moreover, no expectation of win
ming when they are put In the field.