Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-10-30
Some Things You Want to Know
Congressional Campaigns-Revolt of the People

SON The Tennessee legislature formally
nominated Andrew Jackson FOR president
Of the United States, at the same time
calling upon the people of the other states
to overthrow the political olgarchy at
Washington to dethrone king Caucus
and to insist upon the popular election OF
presidential electors.
Calhoun withdrew from the presidential
race aud became candidate for vice presi-
dent. An attempt was made to convene
democratic nominating caucus, but only
siNty-six Of the PSI members OF congress
attended the meeting which solemnly de-
clared William IT. Crawford Of Georgia to
be the regular epubhcan nomi-
nee for president Of the United states. The
older generation Of democrats, including
jefferson, the founder of the party, and
Madison and Monroe, were regular and
| supported Crawford. In eighteen states
the electors were chosen by the people, and
i'm six by the legislatures. Jackson re-
ceived large plurality of the popular vote,
and also a plurality, but not a majority OF
/ the electoral vote. The election for presi-
/ dent went into the house of representatives,
Henry Clay was speaker Of the house, but
as he was the fourth candidate in the
electoral colleges, his name under the con-
sttuton could not be considered. The
vote was cast by states, the Clay men
voting for Adams, and Adams was elected,
receiving the vote Of thirteen states against
seven for Jackson and four for Crawford.
Calhoun was elected vice president
Clay was at once appointed secretary of
state i'm the new cabinet and the Jackson
men charged that Clay had given his
strength to Adams in consideration Of a
ipromise to be appointed to the premiership
This was denounced as a corrupt bargain,
and Justly or unjustly, was made a major
political issue. The majority of the mem
bers Of the house elected i'm 1924 were in
elined to support the administration, as
Adams had declined to use the appointing
power ana had continued the offices of tho
Monroe administration in power
But the people were not content. They
felt that the political aristocrats at Wash
ngton had conspired to defeat for the
presidency the man who was evidently th'
choice of a great plurality Of the people
The congressional campaign of 1896 was
7 veritable revolution. The old style states
men were retired and representatives o
the plain people" were selected to sue
coed them When the elections were owe
It was found that the house was compose,
of 12s anu-Adams men to eighty-fv
Adams men, Practically all Of them claime
to be democrats, but this revolution was t
! divide that party and to usher in the new
whg party. But the political effect Of tn
, revolution was tremendous. Every legis
lature in the union but one was forced L
provide for the popular election Of presi
dental electors and from that day unit
2 this political nominations, in theory at least
have had their source in the people Tha
the same revolution established the moder
} spoils system and made possible the mod
v ern political boss does not detract from il
n glory in view Of the fact that its engineer
n we're plotting to destroy a present evil no
% knowing what the future might bring fortl
IS BY FREDERIC J. HAsRIN.
t. Tomorrow Congressional Campaign
: VIA New Alignment Of Parties.