Bridgeton pioneer., 1912-07-04
White Tells of
Political
Venerable Statesman Saw
Lincoln Renominated In
Baltimore.
YEARLY fifty years after his frs


to Russia and ambassador to Ger
many. was elected by the Republican
voters of the Thirty-seventh New YORK
congress district as a delegate to the
convention in Chicago. He has attend
ed three national conventions. as well
as many state conventions.
He recalled recently some of the in
cidentS, and to him most interesting.
experiences at the national conven-
tions he has attended and at the same
time gave his "reminiscences of famous
century Dr White is in his eightieth
year. ana his health is exceptionally
good for Il man of his age.
The first convention DR.. White at
tended was that of 1864 in Baltimore,
which renollinated Abraham Lincoln.
"When the delegates assembled"
said DIR. White. there was no doubt
that Mr.. Lincoln would be nominated.
Among the delegates were many sol
diers and minister's who had served in
the war. A clergyman of the Metho-
dist Episcopal church. who had been
through the war. a stanch soldier,
whose services had brought him pro-
motion in his regiment, was chosen to
make the opening prayer. He began
with the Lords Prayer, In which
many of the delegates joined. About
in the middle of it he seemed to think
that he could improve upon it and
went on. % Lord. grant that the tick
ct here to be nominated may obtain
majority of the suffrages of the
American people, and continued to
the close of his petition in similar pa
triotic if not partisan strain.
"For chairman there had been Sc
lected the Rev. DR.. Breckinridge.
distinguished supporter of the Union.
even against members of his own fam
lily. He had had much experience as
moderator presiding over assemblies
Of the Presbyterian church. but when
motion after motion and amendment
after amendment were made from all
parts of the hall and he put the mo-
tions and amendments he heard and
soon was in confusion Each person
who had made a motion or an amend
ment supposed his own had been car
ried. Eminent pariamentarians sought
to explain to us where we were at. but
they only left the situation more mud
died than when they arose.
Lincoln Named Triumphantly.
George William Curtis of New York
had just about unraveled the tangle
when some one arose to suggest some
minor point. and confusion again en-
sued. Then there arose Henry j. Ray
mOnd, one time lieutenant governor of
the state, then editor of a New York
newspaper. He made a great success
of it. He developed a series of motions
and amendments and after he had re
cited them followed by moving to pro
ceed to business and the appointment
of committees. This was carried. and
the convention got down to business
DR.. White said that the nomination,
of Lincoln came from the hearts of thu
whole assembly. and he was named
triumphantly. Then came the ques
ton of the vice presidency. Mr.. Ham
lin. the vice president, was a man OF
capacity, but it was felt that the Dor
der states should be recognized. and
Andrew Johnson was nominated
1T is well known, | think" said Di
White. that he was not an educated
man. In his speeches he learned to
hn SO = Il l.
read by his WIFE There was always
some doubt to the end of his life
whether he could write.
"At all events. he was named II
was perhaps the most unfortunate nom
ination ever made. for. like many sell
made men. Johnson worshiped his
maker. He was opinionated and very
slow in listening to men he didn't like
He was unpopular, and he was opposed
in the senate by fanatics and able men
alike, who tried to impeach him.
The nomination for vice president
is usually much inferior to that 70.
president. | presume that when Gar
field was assassinated. though we loved
and worshiped him. among many men
tue nTSl luouSnC was '(IOOQ GOQ-Chpt
Arthur president of the United States!
He was an easy going. jocose fellow
of some ability. though he never show
ed much of it. and up to the time he
became president he had shown no
qualities which would have suggested
him for that high office But he was
good president under the circum
stances The responsibility changed
his life, and it is said that after Ros
coe Conkling had lnsulted the senate
by resigning and wished to nominate
Mr.. Arthur the latter said:
For the vice presidency was in
debted to Mr.. Conkling. but for the
presidency of the United States my
debt is to the Almighty"
1872 Convention at Philadelphia.
Mr.. White then referred to the con
vention of 1872 at Philadelphia, which
he attended as substitute delegate
This convention. he said was very in