Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-17
DEMOCRACY DEPRIVED
OF PROMISING LEADERS

- Ov. JOHNSON of Minnesota. dying
p at the age Of fifty, when 1t looked
as though nothing but miracle
would have deprived him of the demo-
cratic nomination for the presidency In
1912, presents another case of the fatality
that seems to overhang leaders Of the
party Of Jackson.
It Is not the first time that death has
thus cut short promising life and de-
prived the democratic party of its
chances.
William H. Crawford of Georgia, Rob
ert ]. Walker of Pennsylvania. c. L. Val
landigham of Ohio, William Russell of
Massachusetts and Robert E. Pattison OF
Pennsylvania are all instances of men
lost to the democracy in their prime.
Some of these lost leaders had time
enough to make a place in history. and
are remembered for what they have done:
others are merely names, and are only
kept from utter oblivion by the thought
Of what they might have accomplished.
William H. Crawford of Georgia has
had his memory cherished by democrats
for nearly century now, and Is remem-
bered as the first great democrat who
might have attained the presidency had
he lived.
Crawford began his political career az
a moderate federalist. but came over to
Jefferson at the beginning Of the nine
teenth century, and was thereafter a rec
ognized leader Of the party.
He had hopes of the party nomination
in 1915, but Monroe, whom Jefferson had
gently repressed In 1908 in order that
Madison might be elected. now had his
reward.
When the convention of 1924 arrived
Crawford had for twenty years been a
dominating figure in national life. his
services having included work as United
States senator, minister to France, Secre-
tary of War and Secretary of the Treas
ury.
1t was while he was Secretary of the
Treasury and at the very summit of his
popularity that he was stricken with
paralysis He was then fifty-three. His
friends did their best to make q secret
nomination might not be hopelessly i'm.
paired, for the giants OF the period in the
party. Calhoun, John Quincy Adams
Henry Clay, Jackson. were all active can
didates
Calhoun was ten years younger than
Crawford. and he was satisfied with the
selection as Vice President.
Crawford came third when the electors
voted and failed to give any candidate
a majority. This threw the election into
the House of Representatives,. and then the
friends Of the other leading candidates
Adams and Jackson, made the most OF
Crawford's illness. and Adams was
elected.
Crawford rallied somewhat in health
and had he fully recovered might have
been a dangerous opponent for Jackson
in 1928, but he joined hands with Jackson
to combat the hated Adams administra-
ton, and died during the term of Jack
son.
Robert ]. Walker was another leader
early lost to the democracy, but it was
not death or disability that took him out
of the arena Of politics, but a most cred
table case OF conscience.
Walker, who was born in Pennsylvania,
went to live in Mississippi at the age of
twenty-five. Six years later he was lead
ing a movement against notification, and
when he had been but ten years in his
adopted state he was selected to be
United States senator, a most unusual
progress for any man.
Walker was an open advocate OF grad
ual emancipation, with proper remunera-
ton paid to the slave owners, but in
every other particular he was a most
radical democrat.
In fact, he early gained the reputation
Of being the most astute democratic lead
er in the party when he brought Tyler
back into the fold, thereby multiplying the
effect of the whig triumph of 1910.
He fashioned the tariff of 1S46. and
was q most able Secretary OF the Treas
ury under Polk.
Much against his will, he became Gov
ernor OF the territory Of Kansas. He was
assured that II he served those who