Omaha daily bee., 1900-01-16
prMocu,c,'s rwo-rmnps RUE.
Origin nnd Eject ON National Com
N]Cntiuns uf the pnrtN.

The first democratic national convention
was held in 1882, Previous to that tim,
candidates for president and vice prssl-
dent had been nominated by congres sionaJ
CaueusCs or by state legislatures or had
been indicated by spontaneous public sen
timout. In that year Andrew jackson,
who had served one term as president, was
the unanimous choice Of the democrats
for recollection. But there we're many eau
didatcs for the vice presidential nomina-
ton, among whom Martin Van Buren,
had the lead. 4 democratic national G II
ycntion was held to express the popular
viii for Jackson's reelection and to name
a candidate for vice president.
At this convention the two-thirGs rule
was adopted. 1t did not apply to the
nomination Of a candidate for president,
as Jackson was the unanimous choice. Ii
applied to the nomination Of a candidate FOR
vice president and Van Buren, Sc 'ured the
requisite number Of votes. \ somewhat
similar condition Of anlirs existed in 1896
Van Burcn was the unanimous choice Of
democrats for president to succeed jackson.
But the two-thirds rulc was adopted and II
applied to the nomination OF vice president.
4 similar state of facts existed again In
1910, when the twC-thirds rule was adopted,
although Van Buren's renominati n was a
matter OF general consent. by this TIM
the two-thirds rule had become a demo-
cratic tradition, with the force Of law, 1t
was an established usage OF the party, uni
v~ersallv accepted and subject to repeal only
by revolutionary methods,
In 1894 for the first time in the history
Of the democratic party there were several
candidates for the presidential nomination.
Following precedent, guided by the highest
democratic authority. the democratic ma
tional convention Of that year recognized
and affirmed the two-thirds rule, under
which James X. Polk was nominated for
president. At each national convention
since that time the candidates fer president
and vice president have been selected by a
vote cf two-thirds of all the delegates from
the several states participating in the nom
nation. There were some rumors that the
Chicago convention Of 1895 would rescind
the rule, but the councils of wisdom pre-
vailed and no such effort was made.
Sanctioned by a usage that covers wo-
thirds of our national history since the
first national democratic convention was
held, afirmed in constitutional succession
by sixteen Quadrennial national conventions,
a political law could not be more deeply i'm
bedded in party organization. 1t could not
be repealed without uprooting the faith and
traditions on which every democratic plat
form rests. To annul this law of custom
and prescription would be like a proclama-
ton disbanding the democratic party. 1t
has been a chord of union in all the past.
Its observance in nominations leaves no
ground for the discomfort of factions or
the plots of boilers.
The reasonableness Of the two-thirds rule
is vindicated by uniform experience. 1t is
a conservative power of the highest useful
ness. Unanimity is certain to follow when
two-thirds of a convention agree to a nom
nation. The rule causes no difficulty. No
deadlock ever occurred where it was in
force. 1t is the best guide for ascertaining
and expressing the sentiment Of the party
in all its intelligent and patriotic elements.