The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-07-19
THE FATHER OF A SLOGAN
THAT FIGURED LARGELY IN THE
CAMPAIGN OF ISSS,
How John c. Wingate started the
Talk of "Grnndfather's Hat"
-BIaine's Part.

A party of prominent Republicans at the
Denison Hotel last night were engaged in
a discussion of latter-day politics and
things in general. and the conversation
finally drifted to "reminiscences of the Har-
rison campaign in 1855. THAT was a great
campaign" said Tax Commissioner Johr
c.. Wingate, land / can remember as
though it were yesterday some OF the stir
ring times that we had In those days. !
remember that, on one occasion, Blaine
came through Charlottesville and spoke 70
a crowd from the rear end of a car. and
on that occasion something occurred which
1 shall never forget"
On being pressed for the story Mr.. Win
mate made the statement, surprising 10
some of those present, that il was on this
occasion that the famous expression,
"Grandfather's Hat" was first used. 1T
happened this way" said Mr.. wingate.
MY mother had dug from out the recesses
of an old closet a hat that had been worn
by my grandfather on the occasion of the
great Harrison meeting which was held on
the old battle ground of Lafayette in 1910.
When Blaine appeared on the platform OF
the car that day in 1855 L, who had donned
the old hat more as a joke than anything
lou uttN Itdl NlC 6LtDG Va tA1 1oA III ~
that / might hear what he had to say. A
few minutes later / was introduced TO Mr..
Blaine, and while we were discussing the
local political situation he asked me about
the hat that i was wearing. l told him
that my grandfather had worn IL TO the
big Harrison meeting I'm 1910, and that,
as Harrison's grandson was now a can
didate, II was quite appropriate that a
grandson of one of his grandfather's most
enthusiastic constituents should wear the
same hat. After a few words more will
me Mr.. Blaine turned 10 the crowd and be-
gan speaking, but the cheering grew so
loud and prolonged IL was impossible for
him to make himself heard. 1t was at this
moment that he turned to where / was
standing. and, taking the hat from my
head, held IT UP before the crowd. L re-
member the exact words he used. Waiting
until he had the attention of the crowd,
he said: This hat helped to make one
President. and il will help to make another
one. Three cheers for the hiatt The cheers
were given with a will. and that night.
when the Associated Press carried an ac-
count Of the meeting to all the papers In
the country. there was considerable space
devoted TO the incident L have just related.
1t wasn't long after this until the cartoon
lists had made the hat famous"
Mr.. Wingate said there was one other
thing attached to Blaine's visit TO Craw-
louisville which he should always remem-
Der, and that was the accuracy with which
he predicted what the vote of Montgomery
county would be at the coming election.
During my brief conversation with MT.
Blaine" said Mr.. Wingate, "he asked me
whether Montgomery county was a Re
publican or Democratic county. l told
him that he had carried the county by six
ty-three votes when he was a candidate
four years before, and at that time the
State had gone six thousand Democratic.
L nave forgotten just the majority that
Blaine said Harrison would receive in the
State, but anyhow he took the figures of
his own vote as a basis and quickly turned
to me and said: According TO my calcula-
ton Montgomery county should give Mr..
Harrison $50 majority 1t gave him 249."