The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1912-06-24
FAMOUS DEMOCRATIC CONVENTIONS HELD
IN THE LONG HISTORY OF THE PARTY

Famous old Democratic presidential
lineup of candidates whose supporters
will meet in Baltimore on Tuesday TO
fight for their nomination to the pres
idency on the Democratic ticket. Not
able among these past battles of the
Democracy are the Democratic con-
ventions of 1884 and 1886. Each of
these was held under conditions SINH
lar in many respects to those that will
enshroud the coming convention, and
in each of them a dark horse" carried
off the prize.
The national convention of 1874,
perhaps most resembles the coming
Democratic meeting. Then, as now.
the candidates for the presidency went
to Baltimore without sufficient dele
gates irrevocably pledged to them TO
make their nomination certain; yet
then, as now, one candidate was the
favorite in the pre-nomination fore
casts. The strong Democratic candi-
date for the nomination, at that time,
was Martin Van Buren,, up for the
nomination, to the presidency for a
second term. Van Buren, was defeated
by James X. Polk, the first dark
horse" to carry off national honors in
either party.
Van Buren's name came before the
national 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
part, and ever since his defeat for re-
election to the presidency in 1910, his
friends had been quietly working for
his nomination through party news
papers and mass meetings. Conse-
quently, when the convention met
many of the delegates had either been
instructed for him or were elected as
his friends. Van Buren's most dan.
gerous rival was General Cass, OF
Michigan, who held about the same
relative position with regard to dele.
gates pledged, as does Governor Will
son. of New Jersey, today.
The other possible Democratic nom
inees were John c.. Calhoun, and ex-
Vice President Johnson. Each of these
however, had only small following.
When the convention opened, the
Democrats faced much the same prob
lem as they will on Tuesday. This
problem was the selection of a man to
wage a successful fight against the
nominee of the opposing party, who
at that time, was Henry Clay, leader
of the Wings. There were amnv. how
ever, who believed Van Buren, would
be able to win against Clay.
This sentiment grew and was fos
tered by the cohorts of Andrew Jack
son, who had become estranged from
Van Buren, on account of his agree
ment with Clay to eliminate the Texas
annexation question from the cam
paign. These men set about securing
Van Buren's defeat by forcing a mo-
ton through the convention to OBJ
serve the two-thirds rule, which had
been adopted by the Democratic ma
tional body in 1882 and 1885. The mo
ton was carried and the balloting be
gan.
There were 267 delegates to the con
vention, and in order to secure the
nomination, Van Buren, needed It's
votes. On the first ballot he secured
146 votes to 100 for all the others. On
the second ballot Van Buren, secured
1877, Cass SO, Johnson "a, Buchanan
Woodbury. 2, Stewart 1, Calhoun s.
On the third ballot Van Buren's
vote slumped to 121; on the fourth he
registered Ill; on the fifth 103, and
on the sixth 101.