The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-03-31

Carter Harrison, the likeliest steed of
that category. But in the event of his
entering the raco his color cannot be
put down as very dark. inasmuch S at
the beginning OF the preconventioon
campaign he was frequently talked OF
for the presidency. But no Foss boom
ers have appeared in Washington along
with those advance agents who have
opened headquarters for Wilson. HRr-
mon, Clark and Underwood. The Mas
sachusctts Governor Will be iifty-four
before election day. He Is a month
older than Theodore Roosevelt.
There arc those. too. who aver that
william J. Bryan has, all along. been
grooming as Il dark horse his run
Work Kern. now Senator from Indiana.
Senator Kern has lately been active
IN advocating the passage of the Sher-
wood dollar day" pension bill
through the Senate. his maiden speech
made In that body fortnight ago be-
ing an eloquent plea for that measure.
He has been the choice of the indiana,
Democracy twice for the goover'orship
ID twice foor the senatorship. He will
be sixty-three a few weeks after cleo
ton day. and is the Junior OF Judson
Harmon by nearly four years.
But to those whose fear of a dark
horse may have become morbid. 1t may
be said. by way of consolation, that
such stccds but seldom Win q nonina-
t!on. Only ivc have done so thus far
In our political history, and only three
OF these have been elected.
The First "DnriS IIorse.n
The hrst OF these made his success
full dash as long ago as 1874. The
Democraetio convention OF that year
opened with Martin Van Buren, as the
hrst favorite. Little Van" had been
Andrew Jackson's successful running
mate In 1892. and after being carried
along for tho next four years as NTH
wheel OF thee odd Hickory" stage
coach. had succeeded to the presidency
In 1896. but had been defeated. al
though renom!nated for the highest Of
lice. In 1910. He was still the most
conspicuous preconvention candidate
OF his party in 1914. Indeed, he was
looked upon still as the active head of
the party for the aged Jackson had
retired from the leld-and there was
no string to his promise not to run
again.
When the convention opened Van
Buren had three avowed rivals-Lewis
Cass, cx-Vico- President Dick johnson
and James Buchanan. The frst ballot
showed that Van Buren, had received
n majority. but as tho two-thrds rule
prevailed then. as to day. more ballots
had to be taken. But combine Of
southern delegates. dissatisfied with
Van Buren's slavery views, succeeded
In obtaining tho balance OF power. and
after long and bitter contest the
New Hampshire delegates surprised
the convention by letting loose a dark
horse who had not boen mentioned be-
fore. or seriously thought of in con-
nection with tho presidency.
This was James K. Polk, of Tennes-
see. He led with - votes, to lO4 now
for Van Buren, and ia for Cass. And
in those days 178 ballots. Instead OF
729. rs now. represented the two-thIrds
necessary for choice Then amid great
excitement the names OF Van Buren,
and Cass were withdrawn and the
convention was swept for Polk In the
first stampede which ever took place
In national nominating body But
Polk was man OF presidential tim
Der, although not a "favorite son." in
the preconvcntion days He had been
member of Congress. Speaker of the
House of Representatives and Cover
nor of his State He defeated Henry
Clay for the presidency. and under his
administration the Mexican War was
won and tho Oregon boundary treaty
with Great Britain was negotiated.
Outrnn All Favorites.
Eight years later the next dark horse
appeared, and II Democratic convention
was again the scene of tho stampede
Cass and Buchanan were still In the
race, as now were also stephen A.
Douglas and william l. Marcy All
four were "favoritc sons and great
leaders of the party. But after TWEEN
ty-ninc ballots, in which none got tho
necessary two-thirds, Virginia this
time let loose In the ring Il new can
didatc, Franklin Pierce. of New Hanp-
shire. ile got few votes at first, but
after ten ballots he swept the conven
ton, stamfeding ali but four dele
gates who clung' Loyalty to Cass and
Douglas.
This dark horses grooming had com :
menced but few days before the con
vcntion, and his stable door had been
kept well locked. His victory was Il
greater surprise to Congress and to tho
country than that OF Polk. Pierce,
however was somewhat OF n national
figure. having served in the Senate
and In the Mexican War, as n general
under both Taylor and Scott.
There were TO DO no dark horse Vie
tories. now for siXteon years. ana until
after the Civil War had closed. In