Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-11-01
Congressional Campaigns
The Reuoh of the People

The congressional election in the off
wear of 1926 resulted for the first time
/ in the history of the country in re-
turning TO congress a majority definite
llv and violently opposed to the presi-
dent and his federal administration.
This campaign also was remarkable in
that il represented the first popular po-
lliticaI protest Of the plain people against
what was known as the governing
class" Its direct result was TO over
Z throw the political aristocracy when
was modelled on the lines OF English
practice, and which had ruled the coun-
J try from the beginning. Its indirect re-
suit was to establish the American sys-
tenn of political party organization
which in the course of years has de-
vcIoped a political oligarchy Of greater
and lesser bosses against whom insur-
gency now threatens destruction.
! The movement which resulted in the
triumph of the Jacksonian Democracy IN
1926 had its definite beginning three
years earlier. In 1920 Monroe had oeeh
elected president by unanimous vote,
The congress elected. In 1879 had ~
Democrats in the senate against eight
opposiriou members, and in the house
! there we're I41 Democrats as against az
opposition members. The majority OF
I these nom Democrats were known as
| Federalists, although many OF them
called themselves anti-Monroe Demo
Gratis. AS a matter OF fact they were
= not organized and there was practically
but one party in existence.
! Until that time nominations for pres
ident and vice president had been maze
nv partisan caucuses of the members
parties OF approximately equal strength
/ This system was satisfactory because
il was calculated to secure harmonious
Marty support for the chosen standard
bearer. But as the Federalist party be-
came more and more Ineffective, the
/ conflicting ambitions of Democratic
Headers brought the caucus into disre-
lpute. No ambitious leader was willing
to leave the choice to caucus suscep-
tible 10 the influences of wire pulling
when there was abundant opportunity
to carry the matter to the states for
! final decision
| There had been no effort to esta b.
;ish Uniform method Of choosing pres
identiaI electors in the several states
and the whole system was chaotic. TIE
electors were chosen by general state
ticket, according to the now established
uniform practice, in some Of the states
/ while in others they were elected by
districts. and in others they were chos-
z. en- BY the legislature. In each state
one Of these three methods would bt
selected for each presidential election
according to the Judgment of the lead
ers of the ma jority in the state legisla-
ture. Judgment always based upor
considerations Of party welfare. As {
result. the people SIS a whole took lit
tie interest in the presidential elections
and were concerned with state politics
almost to the utter exclusion of ma
tional affairs. II was generally accepted
that the leaders at Washington would
Choose the president, and that the peo'
PIE had no business to interfere with
their choice.
Although the adoption OF the coustitu
ton had set up a government differins
radically In form from that of England. Y
vas impossible for English colonists in
stantly TO shake off the influence OF
British Institutions. There were tive
parties in England. but both of then
were represented I'm all phases OF pollti
cal activity by gentlemen who were &C
knovledged to occupy a position social!
superior to the common people. Thes'
gentlemen and their class. regardless
OF IlEiE partisan dlilAldAlDHSs were tastA
and still are known as the governing
class. This practice was followed in the
American republic. The Federalisti
Adams, Jay and Marshall as we'll as tn,
democrats Jefferson. Madison and Mon
roe, were all social aristocrats. How
ever radical may have been Mr.sJoffer
sons Democratic political theories, anC
however far he may have gone in de
!crying the superiority of the sristocrats
he was by birth and education rep
iresentative OF the ruling classes.
In the generation OF political leader
which appeared or the stage in the up
/. rising of 1870 men like Clay and Cal
noun also were Of this same class. VIC
llent as they sometimes were in thei
ipoIitical disputes until 1928 they were al
agreed. and their position that only mel
TRAINED especjs ally in the profession o.
.statecraft should be entrusted with pub
lie office, was not questioned in an
iquaruer-
With the exception Of the four year
lof the Adams administration. the presi
ldent always had been Virginian. ant
a member Of a certain aristocrstic clan
lit mad become the accepted rule tina
leither the vice president or some mem
lber Of the cabinet should succeed to tn
ichief magistracy. Washington was sue
lceeded by Vice President Jefferson, JEFF
ferson was succeeded by Secretary o
State Madison, Madison was succeede,
by Secretary of State Monroe. and Mon
! roe's second term was about TO ex-
pire and as there was but one party tn
question Of succession was much mooted
i 80
] John Quincy Adams, secretary of state
Thought that he was in line of succession
according TO the practice of years. VII
liam H. Crawford. secretary Of the treas
ury: John c. Calhoun, secretary of war
and Henry Clay, speaker OF the hous,
of Representatives. also sspired to sue
| coed Monroe in the White House. Thes'
three binet members and the speake
Of the house all were togther In Wash
lngton. and they had no Thought bu
that they would be permitted TO fgh
the matter out among themselves and
the others Of their caste OF professional
politicians.
But they were destined to be disap
pointed. A new generation OF people haC
sprung up who were not bound in am
fashion by the memories of British Gus