The Irish standard., 1911-09-09
An Almost Unbroken Precedent
Points to President Taft's
denomination.
All but Four Presidents not Uppos,
ed to denomination Have Re-
ceived the Honor.
Other Interesting Data About Our
National Elections Since the
Days of Washington.

Already there is speculation con.
cerninS the candidates who will lead
the two great parties in the campaign
of 1912, and political gossips are trying
to sound public feeling regarding the
availability for nomination of the men
now looked upon as leaders. says the
lnter-Mountain Catholic of Salt Lake
City.
In the Democratic ranks the names
of Governor ,Judson Harmon of Ohio,
Governor Woodrow Wilson of New
Jersey and Champ Clark of Missouri
arc considered as most likely to
head the ticket OF the Democracy,
and little boomlets have been started
i'll the interest of each. In tho inter
vcnng time between now and the as
sembling of the Democratic national
convention, almost a year, there may
be a change of opinion regarding the
availability Of these men, and an
other may come forward as the next
leader of the "unterrihed"
In the Republican ranks, however,
there is a feeling that the President
will secure the nomination, those
holding this opinion basing it not only
upon the record of MIR. Taft in the
presidential oifice. but upon ali Tl>
most unbroken precedent Presidents
who lived out their first term have
almost invariably been renominated.
There are only four exceptions to
this rule-,James X. Polk, Franklin
Pierce, james Buchanan and Ruther-
ford b. Hayes--and each of these
either did not seek denomination or
fatty refused to be candidate. In
asmuch as Mr.. Taft has not fatty
declined a denomination, but rather
has sought it. the rule Of precedent
seems to assure him the nomination
on the Republican ticket next year.
When Washington was elected
President the first time, John Adams
was elected vice president. Four
years later the same candidates were
reelected. Then Adams was elected
President, with Thomas Jefferson
vice president. In the election Of
1900, President Adams was candi-
date for reelection, but Thomas JET
ferson, with Aaron Burr as vice
presidential candidate on the Repub-
licnn or Democratic ticket, defeated
Mr. Adams and Charles c. Pinckney
for President and vice president re-
spectively. Jefferson succeeded him
self as President in 1904, with George
Clinton as vice president.
In 1903 James Madison was elected
President, and George Clinton was re-
elected vice president. Madison sue.
ceeded himself in 1912, with Elbridge
Gerry the vice president. James
Monroe was elected in 1916, with
Daniel Tompkins as vice president,
and these two were successful in &C.
curing reelection in 1920.
John Quincy Adams was declared
elected President in 1924, with John
c. Calhoun as vice president. Mr..
Adams secured the nomination of his
party in 1928, but the tariff question
and the anti-Masonic agitation con-
spired 10 his defeat, and Andrew Jack
son was elected, John G. Calhoun
being again elected vice president.
Jackson was reelected in 1882. ana
this time Martin Van Buren, was vice
president. Van Buren, was elected to
the presidency in 1886, with Richard
M. Johnson as vice president, Will
liam Henry Harrison meeting defeat.
Harrison, however, was renominated
in 1910, as the candidate Of the Whig
party, while Van Buren, was renomi-
mated as the candidate of the Demo.
cratic party. Harrison was success.
full, and John Tyler was chosen vice
president.
Harrison's death just one month
after his inauguration was the first
calamity of the kind that had come
to the American people, and Mr.. Ty-
Ter, who became president, was unable
to secure nomination four years later.
James K. Polk was elected in 1874,
| with George M. Dallas as the sue
cessful candidate for the vice presi-