The Washington herald., 1908-07-06


hopes Of success az Denver upon the
''two-thirds rule" feature OF the Demo
cratic party government which has OBJ
tained from the beginning, and which is
peculiar to that organization. The opposi-
lion 90 Bryan Is practically hopeless now,
but even six months ago, when many be-
lieved that Gov. Johnson could be nomi-
mated, the twO-thirds rule was the sole
dependence. 1t was known that Mr.
Bryan would have a majority Of the dele
gates but il was hoped that he could not
get two-thirds; that a deadlock would re-
suit and a dark horse be nominated. Such
slender hopes as the anti-Bryan leaders
may indulge in at this time, on the eve
Of the convention, have the same founda-
ton.
While the two-thirds rule has obtained
in the nineteen Democratic conventions
which have been held since 1892, there has
been but one instance in which II operated
20 defeat a candidate for the nomination
who had a majority Of the delegates.
Thus It is that Martin Van Buren is
marked in the annals Of the Democratic
party as the only victim Of the much
discussed two-thirds rule. Il was IN 1874
and the convention was held in Baltimore.
From lS22 until 1852 all Democratic con-
ventions met in Baltimore, the Cincinnati
convention Of 1856 being the first 10 be
held In any other city.
She issue OF 1874 was Texas and Texan
annexation That was known before the
convention met. and thereby hangs the
tale When Andrew Jackson retired after
two terms in the White House. he left as
his successor Martin Van Buren. Of New
York, whose nomination and election he
had dictated. Van Buren served one term,
and was defeated for reelection by Will
lam Henry Harrison. the first Whig Presi-
dent. -.TippeCanoe' lived but a month,
and upon his death Tyler too" became
President. The Democratic convention
met in Baltimore on May p 10 select a
man 20 succeed Tyler in the White House
and 10 defeat Henry Clay, who was the
Whig candidate.
Van Buren was the leading candidate.
He was very desirous Of another term in
the White House. as he was the first
/ Democratic President 20 be defeated for
re-e%ection. and he hoped 10 have his
name stand beside those Of his predeces-
sors-Jeherson. Madison. Monroe. and
I
Buren and Clay were very intimate per-
sonal friends. and Mr.. Van Buren had
been a guest at Mr.. Clay's Kentucky
home a few months before the conven-
ton. The two leaders in a closet at
Ashland decided 10 ignore the Texas
question. That was the beginning OF the
end for both Of them
When the convention assembled. there
was the greatest confusion ever known IN
a similar gathering. but the anu-Van
Buren men were well organized and
standing together. More than that. there
were Van BIren delegates who believed
the annexation Of Texas 70 be Of more
! importance than the personal ambitions
OF any man. The Van Buren leaders knew
their weakness and feared for the
| results. They knew they could not
/ hope TO get a two-thirds majority.
/ but they believed that the major
| iry. which they controlled, would be
| willing 10 abrogate the obnoxious rule.
| For two days the battle ragged The doc
trine that majority rule is the vital prin-
/ ciple of republics was invoked against
the rule. There is little doubt that the
/ convention would have abrogated the
rule then and there had II been left 10
decide the question on its merits. without
I the complication OF questions OF expedi-
/ enCy.
But down in Tennessee at the Hermit
/ age stiu lived Andrew Jackson Clear OF
head and keen Of vision. he could see that
1 the Texas question was one not 10 be
trified with. Still loyal 10 Van Buren.
whom he had once appointed 10 the White
House, he laid his plans for Van Buren, 3
nomination. But he carefully provided
a perfectly safe and sane JacksonIan
dark horse 20 take the prize in case
Van Buren should fail Many Of the ul-
tra-Texas delegates knew that some such
scheme was laid and. therefore they
voted for the twO-thirds rule. while still
processing 70 be for Van Buren, The
fight lasted two days. and at the end
the twO-thirds rule was again adopted
by a vote of 14S 10 us. II ever a man
got a rough deal it was Martin Van
Buren IN 1874. The newspapers i'm
mediately said that this action was
| equivalent TO throwing Van Buren over
board and leaving the field 70 Buchanan
and Cass."
That little scheme which had been fixed
up in Tennessee was kept a profound
secret When the voting for President
| OL
gates. or Is more than a majority of all
the votes The others were scattered
among Lewis Cass, R. VI. johnson. James
Buchanan. Levi Woodbury.. Commodore
Stewart, and John c. Calhoun. On the
second ballot Van Buren, fell below a
majority and never regained the loss
Seven ballots We're taken that day. When
the convention adjourned Lewis Cass. Of
Michigan, was well in the lead The
secret was still a secret
Next morning. bright and early. the
convention met again and proceeded 10
ballot. On the first call there were forty
four votes for James X Polk, OF Ten
neSsee, whose name had never before
been mentioned In the convention. Il was
great surprise. but Il was nothing as
compared with what was TO come. Gen.
Benjamin F. Butler, head Of the New
York delegation, arose in the convention
and produced from his inside pocket a
letter from Martin Van Buren. the ex-
istence Of which he declared he had kept
secret from all living men. In that
letter Van Buren withdrew from the race
New York then cast its vote for Polk, a
stampede began, and Polk received all
the votes of the convention.
Polk was thus the first dark horse"
candidate for President. the first and only
candidate nominated over stronger op-
ponent by reason Of the operation OF the
twO-thirds rule. and the first nominee to
be the beneficiary Of a stampede" At
first the people in Baltimore and Wash
ington believed the Polk stampede was
entirely spontaneous. But a few days
brought the newspapers from across the
mountains. and among them was the
Nashville Union Of May q printed before
the convention met. This paper pre-
dicted the defeat Of Van Buren and the