The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-07-05
WHAT THE PARTY RECORD HAS BEEN
Origin of Two-ThirdS Rule in
 Convention Procedure
ORIGIN OF THE UNIT RULE
Two-thirds Rule Has Met Much oppo- sition During Seventy Years and Can Be Revoked Any Time
 By a Majority.
BY PATTERSON sTEALEY.


 St. Louis, July 4.-(Special.)-A history of the two-thirds rule and the unit rule. Gs applied to democratic national con ventions, has been prepared by Mr. Ma thaniel T. Crutchheld the well-known Kentucky democrat. resident of Washing ton, who is especially well yersed In po- ;itical and parliamentary history. His pa- assembling of the democratic national convention Of 1904. and is of much his i torical value, Since it traces the acts of | democratic conventions since the birth of the party, MT. Crutchfeld's paper will | be used by party leaders for reference at the St Louis convention. It shows that the two thirds rule has been in use since | 1892, and that the unit rule became a part of the democratic code or procedure , in 1S4S Following is the text or the raper.
 Jackson Republican Party.
 The rule requiring two-thrds to nomi- rate wes adopted at the first democratic national convention. held in Baltimore in 1882. Prior to 1928 candidates for the presidency and vice presidency were nominated by congressional caucus. In that year Jackson was placed in nomina- ton by resolution of the Tennessee leg isature, and with Calhoun as vice presi- dent was elected by large majority. In | 1882 Jackson was again nominated, this | time by the legislature of New York and Pennsylvania. He had become so identi- | fled with his party that the party itself was often referred to as the Jackson | party" the designation democratic" not being as yet fully accepted as the official title. As to the vice presidency. no such unanimity existed. Jackson certainly did i not desire Mir Calhoun as a companion | on the electoral ticket, and the concen- | tration of the democratic vote upon an ac- ceptable candidate for the vice presidency appeared to be no easy task.
 For the purpose, therefore, of nominat | ing a candidate for the vice presidency the legislature of New Hampshire passed resolution calling for a national con l vention of the Jackson republican party to meet in the city of Baltimore. This the first democratic national convention met on the 21st of May, 1892. MT. Sum mer of New Hamphire, in calling th' body to order, concluded his address al | follows: They" referring to the origi nators of the movement, 'beieved tha the example of this convention would operate favorably in future elections that the people would be disposed, afte seeing the good effects of this convention in consolidating the different and distan sections of the country, to continue this mode of nomination."
 First Two-thrds Rule.
 A resolution submitted by Mir. Saun. ders of North Carolina was reported by committee and adopted apparently without opposition, as follows:
 Resolved, That each state be enetited in the nomination to be made for the vice presidency, to a number of votes equa to the number that they will be enetltled to in the electoral college under the new apportionment in voting for President and vice president, and that two-thirds of the whole number of votes in convention shall be necessary to constitute a choice. .'
 Van Buren was nominated on the first ballot by much more than a two-thirds majority, receiving POS votes, against q for other candidates.
 Opposed to Ensuing Conventions.
 The secon~ national convention of tht democratic party was held nearly a yeal and a half prior to the presidential cleo ton of 1886, it being convened at Balti more May 20, 1885, when the new conven tion system was extended in It's scope |, embrace nominations for the presidency as well as the vice presidency The two, thirds rule was again reported to the con. vention from the committee on rules by MT. Saunders of North Carolina, the au thor of the rule. He urged in it's suppor that the effect of it's adoption would be tt render the nominations more imposing would produce harmony and avoid embar rassments.
 Mir. Allen of Massachusetts in opposin, the rule contended that it was q funda mental principle of our government that | majority should govern He also suggest | ed the inconvenience and delay whicl | might result in the effort to secure a two I thirds majority. MT. Saunders In replying | to the objection of inconvenience and de lay, said that If the difficulty contemplat ed should arise, it would be competen for the convention at any time by vote of the majority to change or set asid the rule
 An amendment substituting a majorit for two-thirds was then agreed to by vote of 231 to 210 The next day befor the balloting commenced this vote wa | reconsidered and the two-thirds rule re | stored. Van Buren was nominated for tn