Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-06-14


was even talk that Republicans didn't nominate
Grant, the Democrats would, but Of course that was
mere talk
The popular favorite was James G. Blaine. but the
opposition to Blaine determined ConKnns tne
arrogant and able leader, was the impacaoe
enemy of the man from Maine. The charges made
against Blaine connection with the Fort smith ran
road case were fresh in the public mind Blaine was
the great investigated and the hed was Of the
except Bristow of Kentucky the leader OF the
reform element advanced AS was said at the
time: Blaine will fight Con6ling Morton VIII hsht
BOTH while all three will fight Bristo"
rr,, ,.s Roscoe Conlline,s time to win the presi-
dency. This the accepted hour for Oliver r MOT
ton the war governor of Indiana This was the time
to nominate Bristow of Kentucky, and reunlte the
tons it the time for Blaine to step INTO inc
But these things were not to Two unconsidered
and almost unnoticed favorite sons were to be the
heroes of this conventon-John F. Hartranft OF Penn
sylvania, and Rutherford B. Hayes, OF ONO one was
to be the unwilling of the destructon OF tne
INIT rule in Republican conventions the other was 10
be the choice for president
On Sunday before the convention met on Wednes-
day. Mr. Blaine suffered sunstroke just as ne was
entering the Of church in Washington ano ms
serious illness then perhaps may have cost MIN e
ons+,on ant had he been the nominee with the Fort
Smith charges hanging him, perhaps Illoen "oLu
have president and our whole history "oulo ~'
The convention was the first in which whole day
wSicb the Dominators were carefully selected cham
pions and the first in which convention oratory
played part =
When the name of illinois was called. Robert G.
Ingerson and began that famous Grafton which
has by glory of its rhetoric and will
live as long as Americans read their political history
Period after period fell from his rich lips and men
preme effort of it's collective will. that le
manded utterance Then came this;
Like an armed warrior. like a pIumed knight.
James c. Blaine marched down the halls of the Ameri
can Congress threw his shining lance full and
fair the brazen forehead Of defamer Of
his country and maligner OF its honor -css
The pent-up emotions burst through the bonds Of
restraint the convention wild The anti
Blaine delegates frightened and demanded that
the chairman call time" and end the speech. But
with: illinois dominates that prince of parliamsn
tarians, that leader of leaders, James G. Blaine of
Maine" That the high-tide Of sentiment and emo
ton and it seemed then If the newly christened
plumed knight must surely triumph his adverse
ries
But national conventions are not always controlled
by emotion and sentiment This one not. Don
Cameron of Pennsylvania for Conkling, but
great many of the Pennsylvania delegates were for
Blaine. Cameron fought hard the unit
adopted, but succeeded only by consenting to
promise that it would be abrogated when twenty Of
fiftyeght delegates desired and that the entire
Pennsylvania vote should go the first ballots TO
Governor Hartranft, the keystone "favorite son."
The Blaine forces succeeded in selecting as per-
manent chairman Edward Mcpherson of Pennsylvania,
a Blaine and enemy Of Cameron When the
voting for president began the hftyeight votes Of
Pennsylvania were announced by Mr. Cameron as for
Governor Hartranft. Mr.. ]. Smith Suthey and
protested saying that he and his colleague from the
sixth district desired to vote for James G. Blaine had
instructed the chairman Of the delegation and that
the vote as announced was incorrect.
Chairman Mcpherson without hesitation ruled that
the protestor within his rights, that dele
gate in the convention had the right to vote as he
pleased, without regard rules instructions.
slant appeal was taken from the ruling but the chair
he vote was wi
giving them chance to be heard and an acrimon-
exchange of personalities between the chair
the delegates almost caused a riot
The vote sustaining the decision Of the chair was
reconsdered and a long debate INDUCED during
which the ant-Blaine stood for the unit rule
and binding character of instructions while
the Blaine men fought right Of each delegate
to cast his vote in his way Eugene Hale
of Maine led fight recalling that Thaddeus
Stevens had voted for Mclean at Chicago when his
state instructed for Simon Cameron that Don
Cameron and others refused in 1868 to vote
Curtin for vicepresdent, although
by instructions. vote taken and the unit rule
was rejected and the chair upheld by as5 to 1854
Blaine led with 2s5 votes Morton came next with
1875. Bristow had 11S. Conkling 80, Hayes 81 and
Hartranft So, the others scattered ION fourth
ballot Blaine and Bristow had gained Morton and
Conkling had lost Then Michigan threw its
Hayes. On the next ballot the break came william
Cumback Of Indiana withdrew the name of Governor
name Of Secretary Bristow
Blaine in his sick bed in washington heard the |
knew that he had lost. knew that Hayes would
win the next test and then wrote out telegram
OF congratulations. He right the next bal |
lot Blaine gained nearly fifty votes but Conkng
Morton and Cameron had thrown their strength tc |
Hayes and he nominated. ~
The Democrats met at st. Louis on June 27-tfe |
national convention held the Miss
issippi river That Samuel J. Tilden the able gog-
ernor of York and the successful scourger of /
Tammany Hall and the Tweed ring, would be the I
nominee known in advance. The only feature of |
the convention aside from Mr.. Wattersons keynote
speech as temporary chairman and the remarkably /
well written platform. the chastsement Of John !
Kelley and his Tammany braves The Kelly men stood
about the hotel Hobbies swearing Tilden could |
never carry New York and therefore could be
elected. John Morrissey, prize-hghter and politician,
offered all such, a bet OF from IS to $4,000 that
Tilden the nominee would carry New York He |
hoisted banner with thu inscription put up or shut
up" and the discomfitted Tammany skunk away. |
TiIden was nominated the second ballot by the
thirds vote, and second place given
A Hendricks of Indiana, who had been the
candidate for president The Democrats were jubi-
liant because they they could defeat Hayes
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