New-York tribune., 1908-06-25

sona1 efforts aided materially In putting these re-
forms the statute books. When he became
President he less a firm upholder of reform
| in the making of appointments. In 1895 he signed
| an order adding 5000 posts to the Civil Service
lists, making the total number of competitive places
5000 When he began his first term in 1885. only
1900 out of 10000 appointments were the Civil
| Service lists.
| ELECTED PRESIDENT FOR FIRST TERM
| In 1884 Mr. Cleveland put forward a can
| didate for the Democratic nomination for Presi-
| dent. His supporters unable IN
structed delegation at the convention. where
he was opposed by Tammany; but they did obtain
the addition to the platform of a resolution in
structing the delegation TO in the national
convention as a unit in accordance with the de-
cision of two-thirds Of the delegates OF the sew
! enty-two delegates named forty-one at one
time for Mr.. Cleveland. seventeen anti-C1eveland,
| Ave for Roswell P. Flower and nine unpledged. At
| the Chicago convention Tammany sought to break
| the unit rule. but defeated. Tammany had
| offered an amendment to the rules which would
| have allowed each delegate to vote as he chose
! On the vote there were $50 ayes to AS noes,
New York's vote, of course, being solid
against IT, although nearly half the delegates were
in favor Of It When Mr. Cleveland's name was
presented to the convention Tammany speak
ers opposed him strongly. No ballot was
taken the day the candidates placed
in nomination, and Tammany continued its fight
the next day Late at night the Cleveland men
forced ballot, with this result: Cleveland. Ss2 |
Bayard, 10; Thurman, IS; Randall, IS; Mcdonald
Hendricks. l. On the following day (July ID Mr.. |
Cleveland had 497 the end OF the regular
call. and needed only fifty to secure the norni
nation. State after fell into line, and when
the result announced the vote stood Cleveland,
ess; Bayard, S11s; Hendricks. 45k; Thurman A; Ran
dali, 4; Mcdonald q Mr.. Cleveland's nomination |
was. motion of Thomas A Hendricks. made
unanimous, and later Mr.. Hendricks was nomi-
mated unanimously for Vice e-Presdent When the
vote for Mr.. Cleveland announced John Kelly
left the convention hall. The Tarnnany delegates
were disgruntled the nomination of Mr.. Ceve-
land, and while the evening session (at which Mr.
Hendricks noninated) being held they |
and their followers their way home.
The campaign of 1884 was one of exceptional Bit
terness and passion. Mr. Blaine's letter Of accept
ance raised the discussion on the Republican side
TO the high level of political principles and eco
nomic controversy No issues of the canvass were
shirked by him or his followers Protection was
declared to be the commanding theme OF the
canvass, and there doubt in any voters
mind to where the Republicans stood on any
public question Of the day Mr.. Cleveland was
careful OF his words. emitting to write sin
gle line upon the tariff question in mis- letter of
ceptance. and remaining throughout the canvass |
under cover. apparently mindful of the critical | {
mistakes made by his predecessor IN 1880. A well
fought Republican campaign. in which the party |
was aided by the presence of leader who
strengthened the wherever he appeared was | $
lost in the end by series of trivial accidents, such
as i'll timed and ntolerant alliterative phrase
that alenated thousands of votes. Notwitnstand- |
ing the suppression of the vote in the South
Mr.. Cleveland's plurality Mr.. Blaine on the
popular vote of all the states only 23GS. His
electoral N9 to 1S2 for Mr. Blaine. The |
South was solid for MIR. Cleveland through the |
effacement of the Republican vote. but the Presi
dency lost the Republicans by narrow pu- | I
raIities IN the North-thirty-sx electoral votes in
New York being lost by a plurality Of 1,14e. six
in Connecticut by plurality of 1276 nine in New
Jersey by plurality of 4,35S and fifteen in Indi-
ana by a plurality of 6.537. Nineteen more electoral
votes would have elected Mr. Blaine. The Repub- |
licans made gains in both houses of Congress
gaining two Senators and twenty-one Representa- r
reducing the chances of a successful \
renewal Of tariff agitation
FIRST DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENT AFTER WAR
With the Inauguration of Mr. Cleveland in 1885 t
the Democratic party resumed the official respon-
sibfties Of office which last Presidential repre-
sentative, James Buchanan, had shirked twenty 6
four years President Cleveland's inaugural
produced a favorable impression because of its +
conservative and his professions of sincere s
interest in Civil Service Reform and his assurances
that aimed conduct busnesslike adrninistra-
ton and uphold the rights of citizenship in the h
South. [
In the conduct OF his Office President Cleveland
soon gained the hostility OF members OF a
mis- party by his determination that no removals OF
excepting heads Of departments for
.isn ministers and other officers charged with the
of the policy of the administration. should
be made except for cause. But the cause of of
fensve partiSanship was used Tor the removal OF
many Republican of1ceholders before the end of c
his r
The President after his accession came into t
direct conflict with the Senate in regard to ap- A
oointrnents. refusing supply his reasons for s.
he removal Of certain officers or TO submit TO c
The body which confirms appointments the papers | ]
ordering removals. holding that under the Con- | Il
stitution the President not amenable TO Con- II
yress for such and that the papers were I.
lot official documents In this conflict with the
also exercised the power just he mad done
Is Mayor at Buffalo and Governor at Albany.
n his first term he vetoed. 'pocketed,' ALB g
bills, of which 297 private pension bills o'
THE FREE TRADE MESSAGE. h,
In broad political the first term might G
lave dismissed virtually negative and in iii
interlude of inactivity in vi
rational progress-had Mr. Cleveland. in 1883, l.
With the contingency of denomination in view, &C
Undertaken be q political leader instead of ca
mere executive. In that year he sent unex- P
oected message to Congress aIying himself as
with the Southern leaders who were of
gitating the abolition of protective tariff duties. til
he South, under the of 1880 gained m
realty in political power and its representation io
the Democratic majority in the House ev
nd the Democratic minority in the Sena&e, Mr.. ur
Cleveland had previously shown little sympathy | nv
With the campaign to break down the industries 9o
f the North and East order let the South | wi
nd the Southwest purchase their supplies Of ri.
goods temporarily lower rates ali
rom Europe But he threw himself into the free | sa
rade agitation with the zeal and something of fo
he ndiscretion OF and thereby only .b
made his denomination inevitable but tied him | HI,
elf I'D TO a movement which ne did not under a.
tand and which destined later work his
ndoing LEI
He had no clear idea of the forces with which -
e was dealing knowing little of the spirit his ov
ory of the people OF the Western and Southern W,
tates, and they In turn, unable to under
tIl.ts1