The Calumet news., 1912-06-21
Party's National Assem-
blages Date to 1882, AL
though Party Was Orr
ganiZed i'm 1872.

Washington, y. c., June 21.-The
convention which opens at Baltimore
next Tuesday will be the twenty first
+national assemblage Of the Democratic
party while the one now in session in
Chicago is only the hftsenth Repub-
iican national gathering But the Dem
ocratic party surpases the Republican
IN age much more than this difference
would indicate. Born i'm the bank cor.
troversy OF 1871, christencd by JEFF
ferson, its founder. In 1892. and
strengthened in the division among the
people which Washington's neutrality
proclamation at the beginning OF the
Anglo French war in 1898 caused, tho
Democratic party passed its centennial
mark more than a decade ago.
But the history of the party's con :
Ventions' dates back only to- 1882. In
which year the national delegate con
vention was held on May ~. 1882. at
Baltimore. and adopted two rAes
which have guided the actions OF all
subsequent conventions. one Jf these
provided that the delegates, when 81
instructed. should cast the votes Of
their States as a unit, and the other
that no candidate Should be nomi-
mated without two-thrds' majority.
Andrew Jackson was nominated for
Vice President. They were elected.
The second national Democratic con .
vention met on NAV %, 1886, also at
Baltimore. and nominated Martin Van
8uren for President ard Richard NJ.
Johnson for Vice President. The ticket
was successful in the subsequent cleo
tion.
The third convention, held on May
3, 1SiO. at Baltimore. renominated Van
Bdren. but named no candidate for
Vice President. leaving that to the
several States. II also put forward
the first complete platform over adopt
ed by the party. Parts Of this plat
form were Incorporated into the de-
liverance Of every national Democratic
convention prior to the civil war. and
its leading ideas have reappeared in
many of the party platforms Of the
last 50 years.
In 1874 the national Democratic con-
ventlon again assembled i'm Blltimore
Van Buren had a majority OF the in
structed delegates for his nomination
James X. Polk was candidate for
Vice President Unfortunately for Van
Buren ne was not on the popular side
in regards to the burning question Of
the annexation Of Texas. Again the
two- thirds rule was introduced. and
assured Van Buren's defeat. After q
three days struggle the nomination
was given 90 Polk.
In the convention of 1913. also IN
Baltimore. took place the first of tn,
great 'walk-outs" in 6Snocratic ma
tional assemblages, the others beins
In 1860 and 1896. The party in New
York was divided into two hostile fac
lions The national convention at
tempted To patch up a truce betweei
them by admitting the delegation
" hich each chose, allowing each to cas-
half the votes. The rcsul. was tina
the faction whose choice was dcfcate,
Indignantly withdrew. from the con
vention Lewis Cass of Michigan
was named for President and William
o. Butler of Kentucky for Vice Prosi
dent. This ticket was defeated b,
Taylor and Fillmore. Wings.
| Franklin Pierce of Now Hampshire
a dark morse" whose namc had no
been publicly mentioned as a candidate
won the presidential nomination At TIN
national Democratic convention held il
Baltimore in 1859. William u. Kim
OF Alabama was nominated for Vic
President but did not live to fiji th
Office.
The convention which met at Gin
cinnati, on June ?, 1856. lasted fou
days and resulted in the nomination
of James Buchanan of Pennsylvanr
Tor President and john {. Breckinridg
Of Kentucky FOR Vice President
The most fateful convention whic
was ever held in the United state
was that which opened at Charleston
is. c., on April %, 1850, which laste
ten days and took 81 unaailing ballot