Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1912-06-26
FAMOUS BATTLES FOUGHT
BY DEMOCRATIC PARTY
National Convention 1914 Most Resembles the Gathering Now in Session in Ba
mOre-Ihe Name OF Vaunn Appeared Strength as Does That Of Clark
at This mePO Was the First Ozark Horse to Garry Off National HOROS

Famous old democratic presidential
nomination battles are recalled by the
lineup of candidates whose support
ers met in Baltimore yesterday TO
fight for their nomination to the presl-
dency on the democratic ticket. Nota-
BILE among these past battles of the
democracy are the democratic con-
ventions of 1884 and 1896. Each of
these was held under conditions sim
liar in many respects to those which
will enshroud the present convention
and in each of them dark horse
carried off the prize.
The national convention of 1874, per
haps, most resembles the present DEM
ocratic convention. Then, as now, the
candidates for the presidency went to
Baltimore without sufficient delegates
irrevocably pledged to them to make
their nomination certain; yet then as
now. one candidate was the favorite
in the REORGANIZATION forecasts. The
strong democratic candidate for the
nomination at that time was Martin
Van Buren,, up for nomination to
the presidency for a second term.
Van Buren, was defeated by James
K. Polk, the first dark horse" to
carry off national honors in either
party.
Van Buren's Name.
Van Burens name came before the
national democratic convention AT
Baltimore in much the same plane in
point of strength, as will the name
of Champ Clark in the coming fight
He was regarded as the strong man.
of the party and ever since his ds-
feat for reelection to the presidency
in 1910 his friends had been quietly
working for his nomination through
party newspaper and mass meetings.
Consequently, when the convention
met many of the delegates had either
been instructed for him or were elect
e7 as his friends Van Buren's most
dangerous rival was General Cass, OF
Michigan, who held about the same
relative position with regard to pledg-
al
row Wilson, of New Jersey, today,
The other possible democratic nomi-
nees were John c. Calhoun, and ex-
Vice President johnson. Each of these
however had only small following
When the convention convened thu
democrats faced much the same prob
lem as they do today This problem
was the selection of man to wage a
successful fight against the nominee OF
tie opposing party who at that time
~os Henry Clay, leader of the
wings. There were many, however
who believed Van Buren, would be UNI
aDIt W VIII DIS dIhot way
Cohorts of Jackson.
This sentiment grew and was foster
ed by the cohorts of Andrew Jack
son, who mad become estranged from
Van Buren, on account of his agree
ment with Clay to eliminate the Texas
annexation questions from the cam
paign. These men set about securing
Van Buren's defeat by forcing mo-
ton through the convention 70 on
serve the two thirds rule which hat
been adopted by the democratic ma
ticnal body in 1882 and 1885. The mo
ton was carried and the balloting be
gan.
There were 267 delegates to the con
vention and III order to secure tn
nomination Van Buren, needed Il
votes. On the first ballot he secured
146 votes to 100 for all the others. o.
the second ballot Van Buren, secure,
1877 Cass SO, johnson, "a, Buchanan
4, Woodbury. 2, Stewart 1, Calhoun 6.
On the third ballot Van Buren'
votes slumped to 121, on the fourth h'
registered Ill, on the fifth 1913, an
on the sixth 101 votes.
On the seventh ballot General Cass
of Michigan, took the lead with II:
votes, with Van Buren, next with IS
and Buchanan and Johnson bringing
up the rear with % and Fl votes re-
spectively.
At this time Van Buren's wanina
power before the national body and
Cass' corresponding gains seemed &c
indicate that the latter would be the
democratic presidential nominee. On
the eighth vote, however, James K
Polk, of Tennessee, the dark horse,
made his entry in the race by receiv
in A votes. The score now stood
Van Buren, 1O4, Cass ia, Buchanan 2
A 4