The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1912-02-02
MANY YEARS
IN BALT|h MORE
History For the Democratic
Party In the Past Was
Made There.

peared on the eighth ballot, and on
the ninth. when Van Buren's name
was withdrawn, Polk received more
than the necessary two-thirds and was
hailed as the first dark horse" to win
a Democratic nomination.
The historian Bancroft, who became
Polk's secretary Of the navy and the
father OF the Naval academy, did
much to further the nomination.
At this convention for the first time
were seen those waves Of passion and
excitement that have marked many
later conventions. The dignified Ben
jamin F. Butler Of New York jumped
up and cracked his heels together In
his excitement at the struggle with
the southerners over Van Buren, and
members stood upon benches in the
vain effort to hear or to make them
selves heard amid the babel.
The real work Of the convention
was contrived, as usual, in the re,
cesses. Silas Wright, who was noml-
mated for vice president because Of his
known friendship for Van Buren, tele-
graphed his declination, being the first
to use the telegraph for such a pur-
pose. While the convention sat an
other convention, mostly OF federal Of
fee holders, nominated Tyler for pres
ident and tried to force him upon tSe
Democrats.
Baltimore proved again an unlucky
convention town for the Democrats in
1S4S, in which year the fruits Of Van
Buren's defeat by the southerners four
years earlier were seen in his accept
ance of the Free Soil nomination.
Luck returned, however, with the
nomination of Pierce as the second
dark horse at Baltimore In June, 1852.
The next Democratic national con-
vention met at Cincinnati, exactly four
years later, when for the first time In
a quarter Of century Baltimore was
skipped To Baltimore was transfer
red from Charleston the faction
quarrel of the Democrats in 1860. The
factions northern and southern at
! Charleston adjourned to meet, the for
mer at Baltimore, the latter at Rich
mond. There had been at Charleston
in April 6O6 delegates, with 303 votes.
The quarrel over the platform, which
brought about the secession Of many
southern delegates, left the conven-
ton with a majority, but unable to
agree upon a nominee. 1t adjourned to
meet at Baltimore June 1S, requesting
the southern states to fill the vacan-
cies left by the seceders.
The latter, with few delegates from
the border states, adopted resolutions
against the issuing Of two party plat
forms or any change Of party name
and adjourned to meet at Richmond
June II. Some Of the Richmond dele
gates were also accredited to Balti
more. A complicated row over tht
seating of southern delegates In the
regular convention led to a new seces
sion, and the seceders, with re-enforce
ments from the adjourned Richmond
convention, nominated one nationa
ticket, while the regulars nominated
another, and the party went forth II
defeat
Baltimore again brought the Demo
Gratis bad luck In July. 1872, when tn,
regular Democratic convention ratified
the proceedings Of the Liberal Repub
licans.
As a convention city Baltimore wal
crowded and uncomfortable from 1874
onward. An e1tant letter from a dele
gate to the Whig convention Of 1874
describes conditions as almost unen
durable. Men were sleeping three in ,
bed and half a dozen or more in {
room. The writer Of the letter though
himself lucky to be entertained by
friend, who was able to give him I
room, which he shared with but on
other person.
At convention time in 1860 the cit.
was fairly choked with delegates ant
others, and It was crowded even il
1872. Since that time the hotel accom-
mediation Of the city has greatly in
creased and the time by rail betweel
Baltimore and Washington has beel
so reduced that it is easy to sleep il
Washington and attend convention ses
sions in Baltimore
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