The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1912-06-24
HAROLD J. DANE, Editor.
Past Democratic Conventions.

The convention which opens at
Baltimore Tuesday will be the TWEEN
tyfrst national assemblage of the
Democratic party, while the one held
last week in Chicago was only the fif-
tenth Republican national gather
ing. But the Democratic party sur
passes the Republican in age much |
more than this difference would in
dictate. Born in bank controversy of
1871, christened by Jefferson, it's
founder in 1892, and strengthened in
the division among the people which
Washington's neutrality proclama-
ton at the beginning of the Anglo
French war in 1898 caused, the Dem
ocratic party passed it's centennial
mark more than decade ago.
But the history of the party's con-
ventions dates back only to 1882, in
which year the national delegate con-
yention method of nominating can
didates for president and vice-presi-
dent was adopted. The first national
Democratic convention was held on
May IL, 1882, at Baltimore, and
adopted two rules which have guided
the actions of all subsequent conven-
lions. One of these provided that the
delegates, when so instructed, should
cast the votes of their states as a I'M
it, and the other that no candidate
should be nominated without a two
thirds majority. Andrew Jackson
was nominated for president and
Martin Van Buren, for vice-president.
They were elected.
The second national Democratic
convention met on May rs, 1886, al
so at Baltimore, and nominated Mar
tin Van Buren, for president and
Richard F. Johnson for vice-presi-
dent. The ticket was successful in
the subsequent election.
The third convention held on May
5, 1910, at Baltimore, renominated
Van Buren,, but named no candidate
for vice-president, leaving that to the
several states. 1t also put forward
the first complete platform ever
adopted by the party. Parts of this
platform were incorporated into the
deliverance of every national Demo-
cratic convention prior to the civil
war, and it's leading ideas have reap
peared in many of the party plat
forms of the last SO years.
In 1914 the national Democratic
convention again assembled in Balti-
more, Van Buren, had a majority of |
the instructed delegates for his nomi-
nation. James K. Polk was a candi-
date for vice-president. Unfortun-
ately for Van Buren, he 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 Bu-
ren's defeat. After a three days
struggle the nomination was given |
to Polk. Il
In the convention of 1S48, also in
Baltimore, took place the first of the
great "walk-outs'' in Democratic ma
tional assemblages, the others being
in 1860 and 1896. The party in New
York was divided into two hostile
factions. The national convention
attempted to patch up a truce be-
tween them by admitting the dele
cations which each chose, allowing
each to cast half the votes. The re-
suit was that the faction whose
choice was defeated indignatnly
withdrew from the convention. Lew
is Cass of Michigan was named for
president and William O. Butler of
Kentucky for vice-president. This
ticket was defeated by Taylor and
Fillmore, Wings.
Franklin Pierce Of New Hamp-
shire, clark horse whose name had !
not been puglicly mentioned as a
candidate, won the presidential nom
ination at the national Democratic
convention held in Baltimore in 1882
William B. King of Alabama wasl
nominated for vice-presid but did
not live to fill the Office.
The convention which met at Gin
cinnati on June 2, 1856. lasted four
days and resulted 81 the nominatedl