Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-12-21
WHAT OUR NEIGHBORS SAY
Former Political Convention, anI
Their Light on Existing
Conditions
(From the Montpelier Journall

(From the Montpelier Journal)
Several years ago Frank l.. Greene. !
editor Of the St Adams Messenger, print |
ed In that paper a series Of articles CIV |
ing a history OF each national political
convention since the Republican party
was organized. special attention being
given to the election of Vermont dele
gates and the part played By Vcrmonters
in these conventions These articles
ought to be printed in book form as they
would prove valuable political handbook
aside from their value az an important
political history.
A reference to these articles will show
many facts of particular interest at this
time when plans are beginning to be
/ made for another national convention.
One notable feature is that out of II re-
publican conventions held for the nomi-
nation of national tickets, seven have
been held at Chicago, and next years
| convention will make eight.
| The first convention. held in 1856, nomi-
mated John c. Fremont, his only for
midable rival being John Mclean of
| Ohio. In the convention of 1860, Llncoln's
principal rivals were William II Seward of
| New York. Simon Cameron of Pennsy-
: wanna, salmon i. udSe OF onlo, ana fu-
ward Bates of Missouri. In 1864 the re-
nomination Of Lincoln was practically
. unanimous. the Missouri vote being cast
for General Grant.
In 1868 and again in 1872 General Grant
was renominated by reclamation. There
were several candidates in the convention
Of 1876, including James II. Blaine Of
Maine. Oliver p. Morton of Indiana, Ros-
coe Conkllng Of New York, Rutherford
g. Hayes of Ohio. Benjamin f. Bristow
of Kentucky. and John f. Hartranft Of
! PENNSYLVANIA. Governor Hayes was
! nominated on the It'll ballot The con
vention of 1850 was the most bitterly CON
tested Of any in the history of the party.
| The leading candidates were James G.
Blaine and Gen. L. S. Grant, other can
didates being John Sherman of Ohio.
George +. Edmunds OF Vermont William
Window of Minnesota. and Elihu b.
Washburn of Wisconsin. James A. Gar
field of Ohio was nominated as com
promise candidate on the 34th ballot.
In 1854 the leading candidates were
James G. Blaine and President Chester A.
Arthur. Other candidates We're George
+. Edmunds of Vermont, John a Logan
of Illinois, John Sherman of Ohio and
Joseph r. Hawley of Connecticut. Blaine
was nominated on the fourth ballot. The
convention of 1883 was long one, al
though the number Of ballots fell below
that OF the convention of 1880 The candi-
dates included John Sherman Of Ohio,
Walter q. Gresham and Benjamin Har-
riyon Of Indiana Chauncey NJ Depew of
New York. Russell A. Alger of Michigan,
: William b. Allison of Iowa, and Joseph
r. Hawley of Connecticut. on the sixth
day and the eighth ballot Harrison was
nominated President Harrison was re-
nominated on the first ballot in 1892. about
SEQ votes being divided between James G,
Blaine and William Nc Kinley. This was
the fifth consecutive convention in which
Mr. Blaine's name had figured in the bal
loting although only a few votes were
5 cast in lSSS and those few against his
, wishes.
William Mckinley Of Ohio was nomi-
mated in 1886 on the first ballot less than
| $50 votes being divided among Thomas
1 T. Reed of Maine. Matthew s. Quay of
( PENNSYLVANIA, Levi p. Morton of New
T. York and William b. Allison OF Iowa. II
r 1900 President Mckinley was unanimously
n renominated. In 1904 President Roosevelt
e who had succeeded to the Office upon tn.
! death OK lTeSlCenl hChInleN, was nOr
= mated by reclamation, In 1893, William
H. Taft was nominated on the first bal
II lot. other candidates being Joseph G. Can
% non OF Illinois. Charles T.. Hughes of New
,, York and Charles w. Fairbanks Of In
diana.
/ 1t Is natural that the enemies Of Presi
dent Taft should seek by all manner o
" devices to create the impression that h
cannot be reelected in order to proven
his denomination If possible, Report
that cx-Presldent Roosevelt Is INTRIGUING
=, against his former friend add IN the com
plications. It is altogether probable how
ever that the President will he renomi
" mated on the first ballot, some votes, no
a large number. being cast for Senate
- La Toilette and Theodore Roosevelt
" f. true that the outlook for the Republi
~ can party Is not of the best but the caus
Is far from hopeless. The democrat!
House has entered on policy of ex
y travagant appropriations, and the demo
Gratis are far from harmonious them
" selves President TAFT is the strOnEes
" candidate in sight, in the opinion of thi
- paper, and his opponents are not ikel
= to muster big vote in the convention.