davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-07-04

York man need feel the slightest anx-
iety as to the result. Probably, how
ever. he did not feel as safe as APP
pearances would seem to justify. He
knew that about a month before the
meeting of the convention, after most
of the delegates had been Instructed
for him, lie had written and sent out
a letter which might cause him abun
dart trouble In that unfortunate let
ter he had declared fatty against the
annexation of Texas. When the vote
was taken the trouble became visible
The southern delegates would not
obey their instructions. The Virginia
delegates even held meeting to re-
scind their obligations to vote for Mr..
Van Buren,. On the first ballot he OBJ
tanned majority of only twenty six
Under the leadership of the gifted
Calhoun, who for a quarter of a CEN
tury had been a presidential possib.li-
ty, the southern delegates withdrew
their support from the New York mao
and after seven ballots had been taken
it began to look like "anybody's
fight" Calhoun managed to have the
two thirds rule adopted. with at least
two thirds of the northern contingent
opposing.
It was on the eighth ballot that the
dark horse" episode was sprung. IN
kindest and most unexpected of all, it
was New Hampshire that sprung it
1t was revealed later that the sensa-
ton had been prepared before the con-
vention, but at the time it came like a
great shock. The Granite State cas-.
it's ballot for James K. Polk of Ten
nessee, who had not received vote
When the ballot was counted Polk was
found TO have received forty-four
votes. When this announcement was
made cries of "Who is Polk?" came
from all over the hail. Therenpon sew
eral friends of the Tennessee states
| man felt 8 1T incumbent on them to
answer the question in flood of the
most untamable oratory ever let loose
| in convention hall 1t is sufficient to
state that one definition of the new
candidate termed. him "a pure, whole
hogged Democrat"
Then the ninth ballot was begun. 4
went on unchanged until New. Yori
was reached. The delegation asked
permission to withdraw for consuita-
ton. and when it returned the chair
man announced that it was the wish
| of Mr.. Van Buren, that the vote
should be given to Mr. Polk. At thai
There was intense excitement. and Z
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-07-04

en- and his greatest asset, he made the
most of it. His invasion of what he
termed loosely "the eneiny's country"
was nothing less than q personal tri-
umph sor the Nebraska orator. The
effort in itself was phenomenal. In d
single day while he was making a
whirlwind tour of New York state he
five speeches, big and little, We're made
by him on several consecutive days.
and 1t was no unusual thing for him
to address twenty different audiences,
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-07-04

general stampede to Polk followed
When the ballot was concluded it was
found that the Tennessee man was the
unanimous choice of the convention
and the news was sent out by tele-
graph. So it was that Polk was the
first dark horse" Another Democrat.
Mr.. Bryan at the convention of 1896.
was the last
The convention which renominated
Grover Cleveland in 1883 at Chicago
was one of the most single minded and
harmonious Democratic nominating
meetings ever held. There was ap-
parently no question of Mr.. Cleveland's
denomination, and William c. Whitney.
who was in charge of the Cleveland
canvass, found that he had practically
nothing to do. When he reached Chi
cago he declared to a friend: why,
can't keep the votes back. They tum-
BILE in at the windows as well as at the
doors" From the beginning it was
evident that everything was going the
Cleveland way. The committee on
resolutions brought in tariff plank
that was SO shifty and ambiguous that
IT was received with laughter and cries
of derision as it was being read. BY a
c'Nets AiioJoiikS tbC Pidilh was
out and a new one inserted, one that
was decided enough to meet the views
of Mr.. Cleveland, radical though they
were.
Next to General Bragg's memorable
words spoken In seconding the nomina :
tion-"We love him for the enemies he
has made"-the effort of Tammanys
silver tongued orator. Bourke Cochran.
to prevent the favorite's denomination
were most entertaining. Cochran be I,
gan dramatic appeal for harmony.
declaring that il would never come
were the big president renominated. IT
feel for him personal friendship" he
declared. Il oppose him in this con-
vention only because he stands be-
tween the Democratic party and the
light of victory / believe Mr. Cleve-
land is popular man" (applause), he
continued-"a most popular man Gin
creased applause)-a man of the most
extraordinary popularity (here he
paused while the applause continued
for three ninutes)-"on every day in
the year except election day."
But the fluent Irishman's eloquencs
was of no avail. On the first ballot
Cleveland polled GIT votes. ten more
than the necessary thirds.
ELLIS STEPHENSON
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-07-04

suffered neither political eclipse nor
loss of prestige. His leadership was
50 indisputable that his opponents
within the party did not think 1t wort
while to interfere with his prospects at
Kansas City. Later, however. a minor
ity representing those who were not r.
sympathy with his financial views
went to Indianapolis and formulated
what is known in political history as
the gold ticket"
At the time of his second nomina
ton Mr.. Bryan was still an ardent
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-07-04

finitely a gamer and a winner In all
respects save one. The Bryan who
Went down to defeat with Arthur Sew
all of Maine and Thomas r. Watson
OF Georgia was greater and more
competent citizen than the young man
whose oratory electrified the Chicago
convention He had proved himself to
be man of whom the American peo-
pie well might be proud, and that. toc.
without the necessity of subscribing to
single tenet of his political creed.
Fanatic" and visionary are but the
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-07-04

Fl the twentieth national con :,
u vention of the Democratic
party will be called to order
in the big new Auditorium built es-
: pscially for the occasion. This great
building, which win seat an audience
of. f4,00e. D, ~sons, is reputed to be the
most admirable structure of it's class
In the country. It's acoustic properties
are declared TO be wonderfully perfect.
and all it's arrangement has been with
reference to the comfort of those who
must pass the four or more days of
the convention beneath it's roof.
1t is understood that this particular
national convention is to be unlike its
nineteen predecessors. The Denver
people have intimated as much, and all
the preliminaries seem to confirm it.
The inhabitants of the charming Colo
RADIO metropolis regard the occasion
more in the light of glad holiday
than as a formal political function
National political conventions are
something of novelty west of the
Mississippi river, Missouri having en-
joyed a monopoly of them until now.
AS an evidence of the willingness of
the citizens to make everybody happy
it is announced that every resident
ASK Me-" which may be construed in
to meaning an actual thirst to be of
service to the visitor.
(, y y
We have become SO accustomed to
1.-The quadrennial gatherings which Sc
( Iect candidates for president and vice
president and incidentally settle on the
political theories to be advanced that
1t is not easy to realize that it has not
always been so; that it was almost half
century after the putting forth of the
Declaration of Independence before the
first national party convention was
held. In the early days of this repub-
lie candidates We're selected by. the
caucus method. Both the method and
the word, it seems, are Yankee inven-
tions, the word caucus being derived
from an Indian expression meaning
meeting of big chiefs. Although tn,
date of the birth of this word is uncer.
tain, it was in common use before tn,
Revolution An entry in the diary o
John Adams bearing date Feb. 10
1853, tells of caucuses held in Boston
attic at which various town Officials
were nominated before they We're votes
for in regular town meeting. 1t is in
teresting, though. immaterial. to know
fhat Mr.. Adams diary also bears rec.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-07-04

man he was. He injected into the
campaign a personal quality that had
lapsed since the, days OF the early
presidents. 1t was spoken of as a
whiriwind campaign, and such 1t was.
but in spite of the velocity with which
it was conducted and the immensely o.
the area covered Mr.. Bryan succeeded
in making a marvelous impression.
In that unique campaign the Demo
cratic nominee travelled more than Is :
900 miles and delivered upward of 1000
speeches. AS a political spellbinder hs
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-07-04

was the first to develop a dark
horse" It was also the first to have
its proceedings reported by telegraph
and TO set the example of stampede
When the convention was called to
order it looked as If Martin Van Buren,
would have walkover. So many
states had instructed for him that "a
clear ma ority could be figured for him
on the first ballot. There was nothing
on the surface to indicate that the New
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-07-04

the convention system was the Ma
tional Republican. the precursor Of the
Wings, which met in convention at
Baltimore in the wipter of 1891 and
nominated Henry Clay. The first no.
tiiication committee ever appointed
was sent by that convention to give
the Idol the official news of his nomi-
nation.
Thirteen years afterward a Demo-
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-07-04
DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE FOR PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATE

shibboleth of political controversy.
They have served their purpose and
may now carefully be put away lei
lavender.
In 1900 the Democrats convened ar
Kansas City and once again made Mr..
Bryan their candidate, this time by
reclamation. In the four years which
had passed the Nebraska man had
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-07-04

EA II tlOnal convention of 1886
~ opened at Chicago it was
a fact known to all that
party sentiment had changed: that it
had drifted into new channels and was
undergoing sort of political regenera-
ton. 1t was also apparent that most
of those WHO had been directing the
policy of the party had become the
opponents of the minority and that
those who were responsible for the
change We're men who had never been
active supporters of the financial the
cries which were so characteristic a
feature of the existing administration.
At that time it was quite evident
that the bulk of the party was pre-
pared to break away from the leader
ship of the only Democrat who had sat
In the presidential chair since the days
of James Buchanan. At the early SEES
sions of the convention 1t was made
manifest that the breach between the
free coinage of silver advocates and
the single gold standard people IVES
complete and beyond compromise.
From the first it was clear that the
sixteen to one" movement dominated
the convention. and it seemed but
logical that Congressman Richard P.
Bland of Missouri. its author and
ready sponsor on all occasions. should
receive the nomination for president.
Everything pointed that way Mr.,
Bland, known popularity and affection
ately as SILVER Dick" the warhorse
of the free silver coinage movement.
was old and in feeble health. but his
popularity seemed to be invincible. His
genial disposition and stanch char
acter had made him hosts of friends in
all parts of the country, and his ear
nest teaching had resulted in an army
of converts. His friends and support
ers were in apparent possession of the
field. and their enthusiasm and dc
termination to win were a source OF
great discomfort to the representatives
of the gold wing of the party.
The opening preliminaries were con-
Quoted in the dignified and rather per-
functory manner of great national
conventions. The claims of contesting
delegations We're looked into. and
everything passed Off serenely until
the adoption of the platform was
reached. 1t was at the attempt of til,
gold standard mer to introduce 9
plank committed to their doctrine thai
the premier sensation of the campaign
of 1896 took shape In the thick of tho
din and confusion which followed tn.
reading of the gold resolution sturdy
figure elbowed it's way tS the platform
mounted 1t with a bound and stood re
yealed to the turbulent assemblage.
"Who is hep" asked a member of tn,
New York delegation of his right hanC
neighbor.
Looks like Bill Bryan-Boy Orato
OF the Platte, you know"
mo; don't know. Is he any good?
"Well. yes-rather. Heard him one
In Lincoln"
y
Now the babel ceased, and vote
rose strong and vibrant, voice tina
from it's first note penetrated to ever,
part of the great hall ana was hear'
distinctly by every one of the 1900
persons present. The diScOrdant rum
BILE of speech which the gavel of tn
bewildered chairman was powerless t
control was hushed instantly by tn
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-07-04

at twenty different places. within
twenty hours. 1t was the most heroic
test of physical and mental endurance
ever attempted by a candidate for the
presidency.
- y
Mr. Bryan did not win the presi-
dency. but it would be wide of the
mark to term him loser. He was in
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-07-04

champion of free silver. Believing
that his warm advocacy of that doc
trine was the only thing that stood be-
tween him and the presidency, many
of his admirers tried to persuade him
TO abandon it or at least to relegate ii
to less conspicuous place in his kaf
fections. 1t is another evidence of the
courageous uprightness of the Nebras-
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-07-04

has never had an equal. His elo-
quence in that campaign was so fac
beyond the oratory of the political
spellbinder that even those who were
not in sympathy with his financial and
economic views were fascinated by his
personality and the music OF his ut
terance. Realizing. as he must have
done, that his gift of speech was gold
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-07-04
* The Twentieth Democratic National Convention

ord of the fact that at these meetings
much flip and tobacco Were consumed
The limited suffrage which existed in
the colonies prior to the Revolution
made the caucus a natural outcome,
and the members of it were the legal
voters of community. After peace
was established the practice was con-
tinued for the want of something bet
ter and was extended to the selection
of state and national officers.
1t is probable that the very first po-
litical convention ever called regularly
for a stated purpose, with regularly
elected delegates met at Utica, n. Y.
in September, 1924. That was within
the lifetime of a number of voters now
living, and if the statement is not
correct let them come forward and cor
rect 1t. At that Utica convention De
Witt Clinton was nominated for gov
ernor of New York, with James Tall
madge for lieutenant governor. and
they were elected. 1t was not q party
convention, being a coalition move
ment.
The Utica convention proved to be
so satisfactory that the question of
calling a national convention was dis
cussed. After a good deal of eloquenc3
had been employed pro and con. the
matter was dropped with the opinion
that such a scheme was entirely i'm
practicable from the immense extent
of our country and from the great ex-
pense necessarily incident to an at
tendance from the extreme parts of
the United States" This conclusion
does not seem unreasonable when 1t is
remembered that at that time there
was not mile of railroad in operation
in the land and that it would have
taken weeks for delegates from some
points to reach the convention town
1t was the development of American
! transportation facilities that made DO
litical conventions possible.
1t is now agreed that the first ma
tionals political convention ever held in
America was called by the Anti Ma
sonic party in 40 at Philadelphia.
That party was l'sanized by political
reformers who wer opposed to the ex
listing order of thing and especially to
what were known as "Jacksonian
methods" 1t had rapid growth and
at one time assumed formidable pro-
portions No nomination was made al
4 Philadelphia. but the convention ad
journed to reas nble at Baltimore
the following yea3.; That time it nomi-
mated William Writ OF Maryland
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-07-04
Thrice an Aspirant to Presidential
HOnors. He Has Proved Himself to
Be a Citizen of Whom the Ameri-
can Public May be Proud.

magic of voice. 1t was the most tell
ing bit of political oratory heard since
the ''plumed knight" burst of eioquence
from the gifted Robert Ingersoll 1t
was a brief and impassioned appeal
for bimetallism and an exalted plea for
the acceptance of the new Democratic
financial teaching. There was not
man in the vast throng who did not
feel thrill when the man from Ne
braska uttered his oft quoted ''cross of
gold and crown OF thorns" metaphor.
There was wild whirlwind of APP
plause from friend and foe, and the
name of William Jennings Bryan was
on every tongue.
No further thought of ''Silver Dick"
No further chance for the insertion of
a gold plank i'm the platform! Bryan
and silver. This became at once the
motive of the convention, and all else
was deemed Irrelevant The jubilant
majority fastened to announce him as
it's candidate. and in an incredibly
oring TO be told all that was known
about William Jennings Bryan.
y v
1t was a simple story, but well worth
the telling. He was comparatively
young man. but one year older than
the constitution of the United States
demands that chief magistrate shall
be- Never before had either great po-
litical party chosen for its standard
bearer so young Il man, and never be-
fore had man who lived west of the
Mississippi river received the nomina-
ton 1t was true that some of his
speeches in the lower house of con
gress had given him something of d
reputation as an orator, but his fame
had been confined to the capitol and
70 the narrow limits of his own state.
He was practically unknown to the
great American public. and especially
so to the eastern section of 1t. 1t was
the first case on record of a nominee
who had won the distinction by sin
gle oratorical effort. and the entire
country was on the qui Vive to see
how the young man from Nebraska
was going to acquit himself
! He was a disappointment only to
those who had failed to appreciate his
/ cs.pability. Those who had done so
/ were amazed at the facility he devel-
! oped. He entered into the campaign
/ with a zest and thoroughness which
! were a revelation even to the most ex :
]
/ foes soon realized that there was pitted
( against them no tyro in the business OF
/ president making and that usual meth
DDS must be abandoned and new sys
TENS of defense planned. The oppo-
| sition was compelled to call all it's re-
serves into service at the very begin
ming of the campaign, so farreaching
had been the influence of the remark
able convention oratory of the Ne
braska man.
" b.
Nor did Mr.. Bryan do anything dur
ing that memorable campaign to din
the impression created by his famou.
speech. He realized acutely that tn,
American public did not know him
and lie resolved that he would do hi
part in bringing about q closer ac
quaintance. Since manifestly it wa
not possible for this more intimate re
lationship to be cultivated as long "a
he remained in his remote Nebrask;
home, he went out among the peopl
Oh, 49, 80.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-07-04

unanimously and with more enthus:-
asm than had ever been shown in an
American gathering of any kind
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-07-04

N Tuesday next, at Denver.
the twentieth national con :.
r vention of the Democratic
party will be called to order
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-07-04

The Democrats at first did not take
kindly to the convention idea. They
had become accustomed to the caucus
method. and they had also become
proficient in the use of IL. The first
of the great national parties to adopt
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-07-04

" VI YHEN the Democratic ma
"a tional convention of 1896
~ opened at Chicago it was
facf lypox.yY, 20 OH fIat
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-10-02
MARINE HOSPITAL SERVICE.

Following is the list of changes of sta
tons and duties of commissioned and
other officers of the public health and
marine hospital service for the seven
days ended September 30, 1908:
j. NJ. Gassaway, surgeon: granted one
days leave of absence. September 20,
1903.
F. w. Mead, surgeon: leave for one
month. granted August Z. 1908. amended
to read twenty-seven days from August
26. 1908
H. S. Mathewson. passed assistant sur
geon: granted one day leave of alb
sence. September 20. 1905.
J. w. Schereschewsky, passed assistant
surgeon: directed to proceed to the bu-
reau upon special temporary duty.
H. G. Ebert, passed assistant surgeon:
relieved from duty at San Francisco and
directed to proceed to Manila.
T. w. Salmon. passed assistant surgeon
directed to proceed to Stapleton. N Y.
upon special temporary duty.
E. II. Mullan. assistant surgeon: re
lieved from duty at Ellis Island N Y
and directed to proceed to Montreal Can
ada.
Frank Boyd. acting assistant surgeon:
granted four days leave of absence from
September 22, 1908.
j. p. c. Foster acting assistant sur
geon; granted ten days leave of absence
from September 23. 1903.
b. w. GOldsborough. acting assistant
surgeon; granted two days leave of alb
sence from September %. 1908.
r. Lyall. acting assistant surgeon
granted an extension of seven days leave
of absence from September %, 1903. with
out pay.
NJ. " Stafford. acting assistant surgeon
granted four days leave of absence from
September "A, 1908. under paragraph 20,
service regulations.
II. H. Stearns. acting assistant sur
geon: granted four days extension of
leave of absence from September IA, 1905,
on account of sickness.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-10-02
Doings of Pleasure Craft.

The power launch Aurelia one Of tho
Potomac fleet of pleasure craft. is hauled
out in shoal water at the foot of 9TH
street to have her hull repainted and for
minor repair work preparatory to sail
ing for a hunting cruise to the lower
river. The launch Will be ready for serv-
ice in the latter part of this week.
The sloop Douglass. owned in this city.
is hauled out on the marine railway at
Regans boatyard for repairs TO her CEN
ter well, and for attention TO hull. The
little craft will be ralked and panied
before she is put overheard ready for
service She will also be used for hunt
ing ard fishing trips to the lower river
this fall.
The power launch Velva May, which
was kept on the railway at Cumberlano's
for a day or two because of low water in
the river. has been put overheard and is
ready to sail at the end of this week with
her owner and a party aboard. on cruise
to che lower river.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-10-02

r. F. Troxler. pharmacist; assigned to
station at Evansville, Ind.
r F. Troxler. pharmacist: granted sew
en- days leave of absence from Septem-
her ~. 1905
c. o. Storms. pharmacist; assigned to
station, hygienic laboratory, Washington,
ID. c.
X II. Graham. pharmacist. directed to
proceed. to Baltimore, Md, for temporary
duty
Appointment-Dr. S. a. Ransom. ap-
pointed an acting assistant surgeon for
duty at ShanghaA. China. September ~.
1905
Board Convened.-Board of medical Of
ficers convened to meet at Seattle, Wash,
for the purpose of examination OF two
Cinnamon from steamship kumeric:
Passed Assistant Surgeon NJ. w. Glover.
chairman; Assistant Surgeon c. w. Cha
pin. and Acting Assistant Surgeon r. X.
Underwood. recorder.