The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-09-11
GREAT CONTEST RECALLED.
"Reminiscences Of William Henry Har-
rison's "LOg Cabin Campaign"
Toledo Blade.

Toledo Blade.
At the annual meeting of the Ohio Bar
Association. held at Hotel Victory, Putin
personalities was the Hon. HI. C. Gray, of
gainesville, Lake county. He Is the only
surviving of the ITO members of the
Ohio constitutional convention of 1851. which
body prepared the present organic law of
the State.
Mr.. Gray is eighty-six years old, but still
hale and hearty. Mr.. Gray was editor of
the gainesville Telegraph from 1S45 to 1856,
editor of the Advertiser from 1860 to 1862,
and again at the head of the Telegraph
from 1862 to 1865. Born in 1916. he entered
a delegate to the Wing State convention of
that year. which nominated Thomas Cor
win for Governor. The convention was
notable one, for" said Mr.. Gray, begin
ming soon after the nomination of Harrison
am. Tyler at Harrisburg in the preceding
December, the popular enthusiasm had
rapidly increased.
commenting on the pioneer habits of the
West, advised that Harrison be given IA
log cabin and plenty of hard cider to drink,
more BETTING for him than the White
House. 1t was an unfortunate sheer for the
Democrats, for 1t supplied the spark that
pathy into a blaze. The Wings famed the
fame and Harrison became the 1og-cabin
candidate The log cabin became the en-
blems of his pioneer life, of his military
services, of his kindred feelings with the
farmers, of his unrequited toll for his coun-
try. log cabin sprung up in every city
and village, clubhouse and rallying place
for Wings. Log-cabin raising and house
warnings were held with music and polit-
ical speeches.
Log cabin medals were struck and
passed from hand TO hand. Miniature log
cabins were carried in professions and dis
played on platforms. Log cabin pictures
were hung in the barrooms and parlors.
Log cabin song books found ready sale.
La fancy fail
and children had little log cabins of wood,
tin and confectionery. Horace Greeley
published in New York a paper he named
Log Cabin, and Ii had tremendous cir
culation. For Horace it was the stepping
stone to fame and fortune for il opened
the way for its successor. the Tribune.
''All the appliances and appurtenances of
the log cabin came in favor. There was
the barrel of hard cider. 10 stand by the
door; there the coon skin to be nailed
by its side; there was the latchstring to
admit the welcome guests. and IL was re-
membered that General Harrison told his
old soldiers they would never find his door
shut or the latchstring pulled in. There
was the rye and Indian bread. and there
were the strings of dried apples and pump
kins and of corn and peppers hanging from
the roof: and there was the broom at the
door. typical of the purpose of the Wings
to make a clean sweep Nothing was
wanting to point the contrast between the
poor mans friend and the rich mans
candidate Van Buren,, the Democratic
nominee, was dubbed.
During the campaign the Wings taking
a lesson from their crushing defeat by the
hero of New Orleans, proceeded TO hoist
flags. fire salutes and proclaim panegyrics
on the hero of the Thames the defender
of Fort Meigs.' the victor OF Tippecanoe
The irrepressible enthusiasm had now
burst out in song-campaign songs cam
paign songsters. glee clubs and Harrison's
minstrels were now in vogue. Popular airs
and national anthems were pressed into
service: English and Scotch ballads and