Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-07-11
OLD POLITICAL CONVENTIONS
That of 1880 Was One of the
Noisiest on Record.
Failed TO Nominate Grant for Third
Term ana Took Gnrficld-Perma-
nent Chairmen Usually Of
fcehOlders.

| The unexpected actually occurred Mt the
| Chicago convention OF 1880, that nominal
ted Garfield and Arthur. This was a
remarkable convention in every way. The
demonstration for Grant the third-term
candidate of 36 unwavering delegates
was never cqualed in determination.
Several times since. the outburst follow
ing a nomination. noticeably that of Bry-
an and of Roosevelt, consumed moro
| time, but the test OF human endurance
! for shouting, singing, and all the devices
| for creating noise by lung power was that
started by the speech of Roscoe Conkllng,
in which Grant was placed before the
! convention.
| Nevertheless, in spite Of the roar, the
nomination of the presidential candidate
went TO man for whom no nominating
speech was made. and when Arthur was
offered as n candidate for nomination for
second place the delegates of the middle
west and tho northwest asked who he
| was He was not known outside of New
York and adjacent States. He was nomi-
mated Both nominees of one convention
became president
only two permanent chairmen of ma
tional conventions were ever nominated
for president-Seymour and Mckinley.
The first was named in the convention
| over which he was presiding In New York
city. He vacated the chair while the bal
lot was being taken. but returned to de-
cline the honor which was later thrust
uron him. That was in 1855. He was nj
Sc the permanent chairman of the con-
vonton that nominated Mcclellan and
Tondlcton in Chicago in 1854.
venton. and when he received the nomin-
alton as vice-pres candidate he
accepted from the platform.
Mckinley was permanent chairman of
the convention that nominated Harrison
and Reid in Minneapolis In 1892. Four
years later Mckinley won the presden-
tal nomination at St. Louis
The only republican United States sem
ator now living who was permanent
chairman of his party's convention is
Senator Lodge of Massachusetts. The
way he adjourned the convention that
nominated Mckinley ana Roosevci, rs n
story in itself. The only hurrah in that
Philadelphia convention followed the
naming of Theodore Roosevelt. The work
of the convention was over. Chairman
| Lodge was standing at his desk waiting
for the Amen motion. delegates were
| scrambling to get out of the hall: the
crowd had gone. Senator Plat of New
York had fallen asleep in his chair in the
front row. Representative Serene Payne
| was trying to restore the easy boss to
| waking consciousness. Chairman Lodge
| looked down on the scene and took the
cue.
ION motion of Representative PAYNE
which is seconded. the convention stands
adjourned" said Senator Lodge He
struck the table with his gavel. picked up
his hat, and left the platform
AN EX-CONFEDERATE PRESIDENT
The only ex-confcdcrate who ever pre-
sided over national convention was
Donelson Caffrey of Louisiana. The con-
vention was that of the sound money
democrats who nominated Palmer and
Buckner In Indianapolis in 1896.
IT is the custom to select as permanent
chairman of a national convention a man
who is In office ut the time The dem
ocratc conventions have observed this
custom less frequently than the republi-
cans. In the convention which nomina-
ted Cleveland and Hendricks at Chicago
In July. 1854. W. +. Villas was presiding
officer, In the convention which nomin-
ated Cleveland at St Louis in June, 1855,
p. a. Collins of Boston, who had never
had any important elective office, was
permanent chairman.
1t is a common political error to refer
/. to the Chicago convention which nominal
ted Garfield and Arthur. as that which
had the longest session. That convention
\ b1
ton convention of 1850 in which the demo-
Gratis met, was in session in that city
10 days Caleb Gushing Of Massachusetts
was permanent chairman. AS is known
to political students. that convention fail
ed TO nominate, and adjourned to meet at
baltimore two months later, on June Is.
! There 1t nominated Douglas and johnson.
the latter of Georgia. But there was an
other democratic convention held by the
seceders from the Charleston convention.
which also met at Baltimore few days
latcr, on June %. and nominated Brecken-
ridge and Lane.
The national republican convention of
the same year met at Chicago in May.
and nominated Lincoln and IIainlin.
George Ashmun of Massachusetts was
permanent chairman of that body, and
Horace Greeley appeared as a delcga t.
from Oregon
Another republican convention preceded
the Lincoln and Hamilton convention four
years. 1t met in Philadelphia in June,
1896. and nominated Fremont and Dayton.
Henry $. Lane Of Indiana was perman-
cnt chairman. This was the first repub-
lcan national convention to nominal to
candidates for the offices of president and
vicepresident although 1t was a contin-
ustion of preliminary convention held
at Pittsburg in February of the same
year, where. strictly speaking the Re.
o publican party first met in national con,
vention.
@ The national republican convention
which renominated Grant and selected
0 Wilson for vicepresidential candidate
K met at Philadelphia in June, 1872 Thomas
o Settle of North Carolina was presidine
r officer
| In the next republican national con.
:, venton, which met at Cincinnati, Hayes
a and Wheeler were the nominees, Edwart
d Mcpherson of PENNSYLVANIA was perman
: | cnt chairman.
d THINGS TO REMEMBER.
y John Is. Henderson was permanent
~ chairman Of the convention which nom
= mated Blaine and Logan at Chicago II
1854.
- Morris NJ, Estes was permanent chair
; man of the convention which nominated
| dc