The Washington herald., 1908-07-06
PROCEDURE OF PARTY
TwO-thiPdS and Unit Rules
of the Democracy.
DATE BACK TO JACKSON DAY
How They Have Operated I'm Nn-
tiOnal Conventions for Past Sew
enty NeHrs-TwO-thirds Rule Has
Met with Much OppOsltion-May at
Amy Time Be Revoked by Majority.

Met with Much OppOsItion-May at
Amy Time Be Revoked by Majority.
A history of the two-thirds rule and tine
unit rule as applied in Democratic ma
tional conventions. prepared by Mr..
Nathaniel T. Crutchheld. is Of timely in
terest on the eve Of the assembling Of the
Denver convention. The paper is as fol-
lows:
The rule requiring two-thirds to nomi-
nate was adopted at the first Democratic
national convention. held in Baltimore in
1892 Prior 70 1928 candidates for the
Presidency and Vice Presidency were
nominated by a Congressional caucus. In
that year Jackson was placed In nomina-
ton by a resolution Of the Tennessee
legislature, and with Calhoun as Vice
President. was elected by a large major
ity In 1882 Jackson was again nomi-
mated, this time by the legislatures OF
New York and Pennsylvania. He had be-
come so identified with his party that the
party itself was often referred 70 as the
jackson party" the designation Demo
cratic not being as yet fully accepted as
the Official title. AS 10 the Vice Presl-
dency. no such unanimiJy existed. Jack
son certainly did not desire Mr.. Calhoun
as a companion on the electoral ticket.
and the concentration Of the Democratic
vote upon an acceptable candidate for the
Vice Presidency appeared 20 be no easy
task
For the purpose. therefore, Of nominal
ing a candidate for the Vice Presidency,
the legislature Of New Hampshire passed
a resolution calling for a national conven-
tion 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. Mr. Summer, OF
New Hampshire, in calling the body &c
order. concluded his address as follows
They" referring TO the originators OF
the movement believed that the ex-
ample Of this convention would operate
fnvorably in future elections: that tho
people would be disposed. after seeing the
good effects OF this convention In concil-
iating the different and distant sections
OF the country, 10 continue this mode OF
nomination"
First TwO-thirds Rule.
A resolution submitted by Mr.. Saunders
Of North Carolina, was reported by q
committee and adopted apparently with
out opposition, as follows;
Received. That each State be entitled in the nom
ha irfa.ff ID
number q votes equal 10 the number that they vii
b entitled 20 in the electoral college under the
apportioument in Toting for President and VIC
President and that two-thIrds of the whole numbe
q votes in convention shall be Necessary 20 consti
tute a choice
Van Buren was nominated on the first
ballot by much more than a two-third.
majority, receiving 20s votes, against :,
for other cand dates.
Opposed In Ensuing Conventions.
The second national convention OF The
Democratic party was held nearly a year
and a half prior TO the Presidential elec.
tion OF 1886. il being convened at Balti
more May %, 1885. when the new conven-
tlon system was extended in hs scope tc
embrace nominations for the Presidency
as well as the Vice Presidency. The two
thirds rule was again reported 10 the con
vention from the committee on rules by
Mr.. Saunders, Of North Carolina, the au.
thor Of the rule. he urged in its support
that the effect Of its adoption would be tC
render the nominations more imposing
would produce harmony, and avoid EN-.
barrassments.
Mr.. Allen OF Massachusetts. in opposing
the rule. contended that it was a funda
mental principle Of our government tina
a majority should govern. He also sug
gested the inconvenience and delay which
might result in the effort to secure Z
two-thirds majority. Mr.. Saunders. II
replying 10 the objection OF inconvenience,
and delay, said that II the difficulty con
templated should arise Il would be com
petent for the convention at any time by
a vote OF the majority 10 change or Sc
aside the rule.
An amendment substituting a majority
for two-thirds was then agreed to BY
vote Of 81 TO 20 The next day. befor,
the balloting commenced, this vote wa,
reconsidered, and the two-thirds rule re
stored Van Buren was nominated for IN,
Presidency and Richard NJ. Johnson fol
the Vice Presidency. the former unani
mously, the latter receiving four vote.
more than the required two-thirds.
In the convention OF 1870 the two-third,
rule was invoked. Van Buren was nom
mated for reelection unanimously. NJ
candidate was selected for Vice President
the selection being left 10 the members o
the several electoral colleges. The Dem
ocratic candidates were defeated.
Van Buren Lacked Two-thirds in ~
In the convention Of 1874. Sir. B. F. But
Ter, Of New York. vigorously opposed III,
adoption OF the two-thirds rule. and pre-
dicted that It would result in the defeat o
the Democratic candidate and in the dis
memberment and breaking up OF the Dem
ocratic party The rule was agreed 10 b,
las TO 11S Van Buren had a large ma.
jority Of the delegates. but failed to -
ceive the vote of two-thirds. Polk anC
Dallas were the nominees. and were
elected.
The two-thirds rule again met opposi
ton In the convention Of 1S4S, but wa.
carried by a vote of 175 10 rs The Dem
ocratic nominees were defeated.
In 1852 the two-thirds rule was adopted
without DIVISION. A motion TO reconsider
this action was tabled by a majority Of
2T3 to 13
At the Cincinnati convention Of 1856 anC
at each subsequent convention the ruiz
was adopted without opposition by res
olution readopting "the rules of the last
national convention"
At Charleston and Baltimore I'm 1850
At the Charleston convention, held II
1860. the full convention consisted OF 80.
delegates. After a number OF delegates
including several entire delegations, haC
withdrawn. the membership was reduced
TO 2n. On motion of Mr.. Howard, OF
Tennessee, before the balloting began, &
resolution was adopted that no person
should be declared nominated who die
not receive two-thirds Of all the votes the