Evening journal., 1912-09-28
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
A Query Of the President
ial Campaign Of 1880
By Holland.

Immediately after nomination for
president Of General Winfield Scott
Hancock at the Democratic National
Convention Of 1880, William II. Eng
fish OF Indiana, was nominated by ac-
clamation for vice president OF
course every citizen in the land knew
and admired General Hancock. There
was no necessity for introducing him
TO the American people But from
one end of the country to the other
the cry went up: Who's English? ?"
and after a little while IL began to
be said of the candidate for vice presi-
dent that he was a rich banker of
indianapolis. and. Of course the in
ference became general that the nom
nation had been given to him be-
cause of his wealth
was chatting in the fall Of 1856
with William n. Barnum, at one time
chairman of the Democratic National
Committee, who had served term
in the United States Senate from
Connecticut Some chance remark
turned the conversation TO the nation
al campaign of 1880. Senator Bar
mum said.
81 suppose that I was the first man
to suggest Mr.. English as a posi-
BILE Democratic presidential nominee.
knew him we'll and had a high adj
miration for his very great business
ability. | also knew what his career
In public life had been. I said one
day TO my friend Senator Voorhees,
of Indiana, that he had in Indiana.
in my opinion, excellent presidential
timber
Quick as a flash he replied: Yes.
plenty Of il, but who is the man you
are now thinking aboutY
William II. English.
Yes, said Voorhees,. English is
very able man, but I am afraid
there would be one objection to his
nomination. and that is that he is a
banker and has been very successful
As banker
"'That wouldn't count, ] replied.
He would run upon his record while
IN public life, aud as he is an eX-
ceedingly skillful politician, am
sure he would know how TO manage
a presidential campaign
II have always been convinced that
the seeds which | then dropped led
to the nomination of Mr.. English as
candidate for vice president I'm 1880.
But / learned in that campaign
that Voorhees, was right i'm his obiec-
ton TO llnglishs availability as a ma
tional candidate. And ! also learned
that no matter how conspicuous a
success one may have had in public
life, nevertheless he is speedily for
gotten after he retires TO private life.
"Mr. English, during the entire
campaign OF 1880, was referred to by
the Republicans as the rich banker Of
indianapolis whom the Democracy
had nominated for vice president with
an eye to the financial needs of the
campaign Nobody took any serious
heed of his previous public service;
yet Mr. English had had an unusually
successful career. as a member OF
Congress
He entered Congress as a Demo-
cratic member from Indiana the year
that Franklin Pierce was inaugurated
president. lie served in Congress I'M
iii 1861 and could have served long
er had he been willing He gained
a national reputation by his advocacy
OF a bill called by his name by which
the people OF Kansas we're permitted
10 vote upon the question whether or
not the Constitution should prohibit
slavery Under that bill Kansas was
admitted to the Union as a free state.
Furthermore. Mr. English was a very
prominent regent of the Smithsonian
Institution: and with the outbreak Of
the civil war he aided in the enlist
ment and equipment of several Indi-
ana regiments. He was one of the
Democrats of that State upon whom
Governor Oliver p Morton, one Of the
North's great war governors, could
always rely for assistance.
But because he had organized a
national bank and then built il up
into the greatest institution in In
diana, all that he had accomplished
when in public life was forgotten by
1880. In fact, the man himself was
almost forgotten. for you will remem-
Der that Immediately after his nomin-
alton for vice president everybody
was asking who's English?"
Copyright. by T.. J. Edwards All
rights reserved.)