Mountain Home maverick. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1906-1911, 1911-07-06

papers through the country, sizes
up the current situation and makes
comparisons with past political ev-
ents in the following interesting way.
Twelve months from now the two
great political parties will be choos-
ing their respective nominees for the
high Office of president of the United
States. The Republican national con-
vention usually meets about the mid
die of June and the Democratic gath
ering is held two or three weeks la
ter. Until these conventions meet and
the nominations are made the politi-
cal activities of the entire nation will
center about their probable action.
The history of national political
conventions shows that only a rash
prophet would dare to predict a year
in advance Of the balloting the names
OF the nominees. Just at this time a
majority of the political prOgnostica-
tors agree that President Taft will be
renominated by the Republican party
and the Democratic convention will
choose Woodrow Wilson. Champ
Clark or Judson Harmon OF course
there are others who predict that
none of these will win, that the Re
publcans will nominate Roosevelt.
that the Democrats Will again choose
Bryan and so on.
1t is interesting. therefore to take
backward glimpse to see how the
predictions of a yCai in advance of
other national conventions have
squared with The nominations. IN
1907. a year before the last congaa-
t.or"- it was the corCcrsus of opin-
ION that the Republican would pop-
inatc Taft and thu ] ,mccrats bry an
predictions that were fulfilled But
the eossips We're very busy with the
talk of a Second elective term for
Roosevelt which was not hushed UNI
til the nominations OF Mr. Taft had
actually been made; while the anti
.Bry5 l. Democrats talked much OF
Governor Johnson Of Minnesota The
nominations of Roosevelt and Parker
in 1904 were freely predicted a year
in advance. as were those Of McKin-
ley and Bryan in 1900. But that is
as far back as the honor Of the propb-
cts extends
In 1895, a year before the conven-
tions that first nominated Mckinley
and Bryan, the representations were
various and vehement Silver Dem
ocrats said the choice of the con
vention would be Richard p. Bland
OF Missouri The Gold Democrats had
not then abandoned hope of control
ling the convention and they talked
confidently Of the nomination of Rich
ard Olney or David b. Hill Some
OF the silverites were certain that
John r MrLean would be the DEM
ocratic standard bearer and others
that 10 Blackburn would be chos-
en-. But no one mentioned the name
OF William JENNINGS Bryan. who was
unthought Of until he made the IA
nous Cross Of Gold speech in the
convention.
AT the same time. while a great
many people over the country pre-
dicted that William Mckinley would
be the Republican nominee. most of
the Republicans in the lower house
Of congress were centain that Speak
er Thomas r Reed would be success
full i'm his aspirations Others doomed
Stephen 3. EllSins and there we're
those who favored giving BENJAMIN
Harrison a third nomination When
the convention met the Mckinley
prophets were Overwhelmingly JUS
tilted
In 1892 the denominations OF Har-
rison and Cleveland were practical
ly conceded year in advance de-
spite the Hill revolt against CIeve-
lond. and Notwithstanding the Quay
enmity to Harrison and Blaine's last
losing fight for the presidency. In
1883 President Cleveland was renom-
mated by acclamation and his sue
Irr
time before the convention.
But the wiseacres in 1887 had no
notion Of whom the Republicans
would nominate to oppose Cleveland
An 1883. There was a small but loud
coterie who had the slogan of "Blaine
OF Bust, Notwithstanding the fact
that Blaine had four years before
suffered the first ReDuhlican defeat
since the civil war Allison of Iowa,
DeDew of New York Robert l.. Lin
coin Of Illinois, Alger Of Michigan
lngals of Kansas-these and "A doz,
en- others were much talked of. But
year before the convention. the
most prominent candidates were John
Sherman of Ohio and Walter @
Gresham of Illinois. Indeed. the
Sherman men were most confident
Ihnl tHCli nero lnlN time could moi
fail When the convention met Sher
man had more than twice as many
votes as Gresham, the next highes
man, while Depew and Alger also had
more than BENJAMIN Harrison Tn,
nomination Of Harrison was made OF
the eighth ballot Gresham was I'M
reconciled, he refused to support tn,
nominee, and five years later becami
secretary Of state in Cleveland's cab
met when Cleveland he'd defeate,
Harrison for the second term.
In 1883 the prophets Of neithe
party were certain as to what woul'
happen in the national convention o
1884. The Republicans were torn b,
the extension Of the factional war
fare Of the Stalwarts and Halfbreed
OF New York. One side said that Pres