Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1912-10-24

way may yet be found to bring that
majority to the support Of one or the
other before the electoral colleges
meet and vote in January. However
this may be. that was one Of the ideas
that animated the opposition to Van
Buren, in 1895. Divers and sundry
factions We're opposed to Jackson and
to his method of picking his successor.
factions which could not find any plat
form upon which they could all unite,
but which were willing to fight in a
common cause provided they could
fight independently. In this opposi-
ton there were the anti Masons, the
protective tariff men. the States Right
ers, the anti-Jaclssonites and the rem
nants of other 'isms."
But they realized that they had no
great national figure who could unite
the entire opposition. and lacking that,
they would have to play up local pride
and try to capitalize It. So they put
up Daniel Webster In New England,
trusting that he could carry that Sec
ton. Then they put up William Hen
ry Harrison OF Indiana, and Justice
John Mclean OF Ohio, trusting that
they could hold the west out OF the
Van Buren, column. Tennessee nomi
mated Senator Hugh l.. White, erst-
while the intimate friend of Jackson,
but now rank traitor" because he
would not fall in with Jackson's plans
to have Van Buren, succeed to the
presidency With South Carolina de-
termined not to vote for any candidate
that had a ghost OF show, It was felt
hot 70 -atn % thn T.
ton might be enough to prevent the
success of Van Buren,.
Had Nothing to Lose.
II such result should eventuate,
they reasoned, one Of two things could
happen--either the antiVan Buren,
electors could all unite on one man,
and thus elect him; or, If that scheme
failed, they could throw the election in
the house and trust to God for the
rest. From their standpoint they had
everything to gain and nothing to lose
by such course. for the worst that
could happen would be the elevation Of
Van Buren, to the presidential chair
Their scheme failed for the good rea-
son that when the vote was counted
Van Buren, had more votes than all Of
them together.
Jackson's determination to have Van
Buren, succeed him was such that he
even went so far. it is said. as to have
contemplated the advisability Of re-
signing In order that Vice President
Van Buren, might become president by
that route. But II he did think these
thirgs he thought afterward that he
could aid Van Buren, better while he
himself sat in the presidential chair.
Tennessee got into the game early
by nominating Senator White. Its
legislature, In the. face Of the hardest
pressure Jackson could bring to bear
upon it's members, nominated White
by a vote that lacked but two Of being
unanimous. Jackson had some terrif-
ic charges against White printed in his
organ, the Washington Globe. and
copies of these charges were franked
to the members Of the Tennessee leg
islature, some OF them addressed In
Jackson's own handwriting. But they
had no effect. Alabama followed the
lead of Tennessee. although its legis-
lature afterward rescinded this action
Tennessee having nominated White
in January. 1885. Jackson was forced
to get Van Buren, in nomination nearly
q year and half ahead OF the election.
He suggested that national conven-
ton be called to meet in Baltimore.
This was done, and 626 delegates took
part. In these days OF precise repre-
sentation the story of that convention
makes ore laugh OF this number Of
delegates, 1871 were from Maryland, 1903
from Virginia and 70 from New Jersey.