The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-03-13

The Part Massachusetts, Played In
Grants Memorable Contest.


Our Washington correspondent al
ludes to the interest with which the
politicians of the Capital are following
the Roosevelt campaign In Massachu-
sctts; that Is. are watching to see how
far the progressive movement will
materalire In delegates for the third
term candidate. Apparently the
opinion Of the Capital Is that the out
come will not be very different from
what II was in 1880 when Grant
challenged the unwritten law that
two terms are enough. Then 1t will
be remembered that. OF the twenty
six delegates Massachusetts, sent to
the Republican National Convention.
only three were for Grant.
Assuming that the Massachusetts
progressives are successful In choosing
a few district delegates. there will be
one point OF resemblance between the
third term movement OF today and
that OF thirty-two years ago. but only
one point. Indeed. contrast is every
where more conspicuous than resem-
biance when We come 60 compare any
present aspect OF Roosevelt's attempt
with Grants. SO far none Of the
great star actors of the political dra-
ma on the Republican side has cast
his lot with Roosevelt. Senator Dix
on. OF Montana, may be-a very ca
pable worker as far as he goes. but
his name wakens no national response.
He IL n Montana man and his repu-
tation In local. Moreover, IL is a pret-
~ safe conclusion that Senator Dix
on will be only nominal manager
for Roosevelt Is not one to work with
a partner. or leave much to a sub
ordinate's discretion. Roosevelt will
be his own manager to all intents and
purposes. Grant. on the other hand
had with him a great contingent
drawn from among the ablest Of the
Republican leaders Of the day. Don
Cameron. who wss then chairman Of
the Republican national committee.
led for Grant In the pre-convention
campaign. and CAME very near sue
ceeding In enforcing the unit rule.
which would have given Grant the
nomination. The Grant host included
such men az Governor Boutwell,. who
had been Secretary Of the Treasury;
Howe. OF Wisconsin,: Ex-Postmaster
General Cresweli and others whose
names were well known to their
countrymen.
The oratorical task of presenting
Grant was ConSling's. Conkllng was
then a national figure of the first
prominence. IL not Of the first mag
nitude His oration-for grafton II
was--when he stood forward before
tho Convention as the spokesman for
the third term. was one OF the most
wonderful performances that any
great body cf delegates ever listened
to. Eloquent. persuasive. II came very
near TO accomplishing its object. and
some of the opponents of the third
term tremblcd when Conkiing had
spoken his last word. The scene has
fingered In the memory OF the sur
vivors OF the 1880 Convention. They
speak OF the gerat gathering when
$4,000 spectators and nearly 500 dele
gates hung on every word uttered by
the handsome. imperious New Yorker.
when the hush with which the vast
asssmblage had listened to him was
broken at last by a volume OF applause
that seemed cheers OF oncoming con-
querors. Critics said that Conk,ing
made one great mistake. that he could
not restrain his desire to sneer at
Blaine. This mistake may have lost
Grant few votes. but Grants defeat
was due to the steadiness with which
the majority stood firmly to their
principles.
In the great result OF the Conven-
tion Of 1880 Massachusetts, bore a
part 50 distinguished that Don Cam
eron attributed to its delegation the
defeat Of the Grant boom. To Sem
ator Hoar In Washington. months af-
ter the Convention. Cameron said
that there were twenty-three men who
came from Massachusetts, to prevent
six hundred from doing what they
wanted to do. and that the twenty
three men from Massachusetts, did
what they came for. The sincerity Of
his words was attested by profane
emphasis. The opinion at the Cant
tai now seems to attach great i'm