The weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Craig County, Okla.) 1905-1913, 1912-06-14

lc4a4llC NttA0fAAt NA~ E---
vision OF the pablo school funds be
tween Catholics and Protestants. In
the ewes OF a Know-Nothing, this at
titude on The school question was the
one scarlet. unpardonable sin. The
state elections in Indiana and Penn
sylvania in 1880 were held in October,
Curtin and Lane wanted to be elected
and they wanted to elect a republican
president They knew that if they
were beaten in October all hope Of
republican success in November
would be gone. They had to have
that Know.Nothing vote and they
knew the nomination Of Seward would
slienate it,
Stewards political manager was
Thurlow Weed. the Albany editor one
Of the ablest political manipnlators
this country has kaown He fought
for Seward 10 the last ditch. He weat
so far as TO take a drive with Lane
and offer to send enough money into
Indiana to insure Lanes election in
October if the booster would desert
Curtin and support Seward. It is to
be doubted if Curtin and Lane could
have succeeded in nominating Lin
coin against Weeds management and
Stewards great popularity, if it had
not been for Horace Greeley. Greeley
had paved the way for the anti-Seward
movement by coming out against Sew
ard in the Tribune. Greeley said Sew
ard was unavailable, but of course the
real reason was not revealed at that
time. The Tribune supported Edward
Bates of Missouri 1t could not win
for Bates, but it had the effect Of help
ing TO destroy Seward.
When the convention was assem-
Bled, everybody saw there was great
fight on. The Seward managers made
a tactical error in having a great Sew
ard street parade. While the Seward
people were marching on the streets,
the Lincoln managers-Judd, Swett
and others-packed the Wigwam to
the limit when men whose only in
structions were to "whoop it up for
Abe" They did Seward, the darling
of the party, had no friends in the
galleries. His name was greeted with
silence but for the few feeble cheers
coming from discouraged delegates.
Every mention of Lincoln was cheered
10 the echo. The claqueurs served
their purpose and served it well. The
practical politicians of the Curtin and
Lane stripe convinced the convention
that Seward was unavailable. The
rooters in the galleries convinced it
that Lincoln was the man The politi-
cal manager of today pays great
deal of attention to the galleries, and
he packs them for his candidate if
possible. He has distinguished pre-
cedsnt.
The nominating speech hadS not at
tained its modern Importance at that
time. Seward was placed in nomina
ton by a speech thirty-three words in
length, and it required but twenty
five words to place Lincoln before the
convention. On the first ballot Sew
ard had 1731a votes and Lincoln 102
The others were cast for Bates. Cam
eron, Chase and others. On the sec
ond ballot Seward gained eleven votes
and Lincoln gained seventy-nine. Or
the third ballot Lincoln went ahead
having 2311a to Stewards $50. Their
Ohio changed four votes from Chase
to Lincoln and gave him the necessary
majority. The packed galleries cheer
ed and cheered until they were ex
hausted. Joseph Medill, the Chicago
editor and leader of the Lincoln forces
rejoiced with his compatriots and will
Lane and Curtin.
But Thurlow Weed was Disguised
and heart-sick. He refused to suggest
man for vice-president when ten
der of that privilege was made to the
Seward forces. Hannibal Hamblir
was nominated on the second ballot
over Cassius NJ Clay of Kentucky
The Seward men were not only sore
in defeat, but they were ashamed Of
their party's newly selected leader
They measured him by the mud on
his brogans. and it was as if they had
essayed to measure the walls of space
with foot-rule.
The convention itself was very like
the convention which will meet il
Chicago this month It's organization
was not so perfect, admission to the
hall was easier to gain, and the con
vention did not have such a sense oi
self Importance as it has today The
first business is transacted was to ac
cept an invitation to take an excur
7 f-sa lei III.