The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-09-27
SOME FIGHTS IN
| The EARLY DAYS
Axes to Grind Plentiful in Ma
tional Politics
BUT KNIVES ALSO KEEN
Path of Americas Evolution Paved
With Third Party Names-Dld
King" Jackoon Choose His
Successor7
From the New York Evening Sun.

From the New York Evening Sun.
If history only repeated itself 1t might
avoid other vain repetitions shortly in
telling candidates the news" When the
national republicans nominated Clay, in
1881, a nomination was news indeed, and
a committee was appointed to notify him.
That committee was in form Identical
with the present notification body 1t
consisted of one delegate from each state.
chosen by that states delegation as
whole.
The form of breaking the glad tidngs
has varied. The news in old times vas
carried by mail not by a train full OF
pilgrims. The method of nomination is
itself an evolution. Washington and
Adams were chosen because 1.-THE coun-
try looked to its leaders," In 1880, the
congressional caucus ruled This, while
outside the constitution, worked with the
people until it muffled the popular voice.
then trouble began. In 1920 the caucus
made no nominal ton and in 1924 its can
didate came in third. The politicians
turned to nomination by state legis'a-
lures John Quincy Adams and Andrew
jackson were the only presidents nonin-
ated entirely by this latter method. Van
Buren, was the first under something like
the present popular convention. early
conventions, were little else than mass
meetings. Twenty delegates were often
sent to cast five votes.
Notification BY Mail.
The chosen candidate Is now notified
by word of mouth of the honor confer
red upon him. In the days of Gen. Tay-
lor the old method of sending the noti-
ficaton through the mall was still in
use AS soon as the WING delegates of
- I,.l1 t1I h 70
1t fell to Governor Moorehead, presid-
ing over their convention, to write to him
the usual letter. The governor took all
vantage OF the law which did not require
the prepayment of postage and started
the letter off for Louisiana without
stamps Several weeks passed, and as nc
reply was received from the general an
Investigation was instituted. II was found
that owing to the number of unpaid let
ters sent to him by cranks Gen. Taylor
| had given orders that all mail on which
/ postage was due should be returned to
/ the dead letter office. Mooreheads next
letter was sent prepaid, and the future
! President laughed at length.
/ OF Jackson and his chosen successor,
the New Yorker, Van Buren,, much has
been written concerning the relationship
4 of the two in their policies. Senator
+ Poindexter of Mississippi said that Van
Buren,, contrary to general belief, ruled
jackson and did so alone by tact. Hav-
ing a pet scheme to put through, he
would hint at it. Old Hickory might
erowl "Eh. what?" Then Van Buren,
would change the subject. Again, later,
/ he would hint at his suggestion, and get
4 How s that" from the President. be-
ginning to take notice in earnest Pom
derng in his own mind tho words Van
Buren, had dropped, Jackson finally would
come out with the scheme. What
fflf fonf ri n
General Jackson, no one but yourself
could ever have originated that" would
be little Vans retort, courteous as he
left, having won his point.
Jackson's "Polcies" Made Trouble.
When Van Buren, became President
jackson retired to the Hermitage. His
policies seem to have bothered his
successor AS a critic wrote of them:
"It was Van Buren's Misfortune that the
storm which Jackson had called from the
sky by his reckless use of high explo-
sives burst just as Jackson reached shell
ter, and as the magician stepped forth
to take the great rainmaker's place."
However that may be- through those
years the democrats had settled policy
and they also espoused principles. This
put them al a disadvantage, 1t was said.
when the wings played safe" and did
not come out strongly for anything.
At the time of the election of the elder
President Adams there was a member
of the electoral college, the only case of
the kind in our politics then, it was said.
who went back of the returns The
elector had been chosen by popular vote.
He was a federalist from Pennsylvania,
instructed for Adams, and he voted for
Jefferson and Pinckney. Later a letter
came out in the United States Gazette
Indignantly protesting.
4 What. Do | chuse Samuel Miles to de-
termine for me whether John Adams or
Thomas Jefferson should be President?
Mo- chuse him to act, not to think"
At his election Mr.. Adams as vice presi-
dent presiding over the Senate opened
the certificates of the electoral count and
declared himself elected to be President
No recount was demanded. Thus also our
customs change.
Queer Party Title.
Political organizations in Americas va
ried career have not all been honored
with SO praiseworthy names as federal
lists, democrats and republicans. There
have been other titles less pleasing: Goo
Coos, or goody good reformers; Hunkers
who "hunkered" after office; Barn Burn
ers. who like the Dutch farmer choose
to burn up the barn in order to kill the
rats, and, as in the case of the farmer