Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1912-06-28
ODD CONVENTION FACTS.
One is That Noisest on Record Did
Not Nominate Grant.

Il
Not Nominate Grant.
The unexpected actually occurred al
the Chicago convention Of 1880, that
nominated Garfield and Arthur. This
was remarkable convention in every
way. The demonstration for Grant
the third-term candidate Of 306 unwa.
vering delegates-was never equaled ir
determination. Several times since the
outburst following a nomination, no.
ticeably that of Bryan and Of Roose-
welt. consumed more time, but the test
!, of human endurance for shouting
singing and all devices for creating
noise by lung power was that started
by the speech of Roscoe Conkling, in
which Grant was placed before the
convention.
Nevertheless, in spite of the roar, the
nomination of the presidential candi-
date went to man for whom no nom-
mating speech was made, and when
Arthur was offered as q candidate for
nomination for second place the dele
gates Of the middle west and the
northwest asked who he was. He was
not known outside of New York and
adjacent states. He was nominated.
Both nominees of one convention be-
came president.
Only two permanent chairmen of
national conventions were ever nomi-
mated for president-Seymour and Nc
Kinley. The first was named In the
convention over which he was presld-
ing in New York city. He vacated the
chair while the ballot was being taken.
but returned to decline the honor
which was later thrust upon him. That
was in 1888. He was also the perma-
nominated Mcclellan and Pendleton in
Chicago in 1864.
Pendleton was a delegate to that
convention, and when he received the
nomination as vice presidential candi-
date he accepted from the platform.
Mckinley was permanent chairman
Of the convention that nominated Har-
rison and Reid in Minneapolis in 1892.
Four years later Mckinley won the
presidential nomination at st. Louis.
The only Republican United States
senator now living who was ever per-
manent chairman of his party's conven-
tion is Senator Lodge, of Massachu-
setts. The way he adjourned the con-
vention that nominated Mckinley and
Roosevelt Is a story in itself. The only
hurrah in that Philadelphia convention
followed the naming OF Theodore
Roosevelt. The work Of the convention
was over. Chairman Lodge was stand
ing at his desk waiting for the
Amen" notion; delegates were scram-
bling to get out of the hall; the crowd
had gone. Senator Plat, Of New York
had fallen asleep in his chair in the
front row. Representative Serene
Payne was trying to restore the Easy
Boss to waking consciousness. Chair
man Lodge looked down on the scene
and took the cue.
ION motion Of Representative Payne,
which is seconded, the convention
stands Adjourned" said Senator Lodge
He struck the table with his gavel,
picked up his hat and left the plat
form.
The only ex-confederate who ever
presided over q national convention
was Donelson Caffrey, of Louisiana
The convention was that of the Sound
Money Democrats, who nominated
Palmer and Buckner in Indianapolis In
1896.
1t Is the custom to select as perma-
nent chairman Of a national conven-
tion a man who Is in office at the time.
The Democratic conventions have OBJ
served this custom less frequently than
the Republicans. In the convention
which nominated Cleveland and Hen
bricks at Chicago In July, 1884, w. F.
Villas was presiding officer. In the