Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-06-22

Gen. Grant, after four years in re-
tirement during the administration OF
President Hayes, aspired to be elected to
third term as President. and the story
Of how that ambition was defeated by the
nomination of James A. Garfield at the
republican national convention meeting In
Chicago in June, 1880, is the premier
classic among all the tales of great con-
vention fights.
Hayes. following the example OF Polk.
had pledged himself not to seek re-elec-
ton. and even had he done so he could
not have been renominated. The cloud
on his title to the presidency had made
him unavailable and his administration
had been too impartial to please the
place-hunting politicians.
Blaine, therefore, was the chief candi-
date He had lost the first battle four
years before, but he was again eager
dent he would win. Most republican lead
ers shared his confidence.
Roscoe Conkling had come to know that
no man of his imperious mien might win
the presidency, but his hatred of Blaine
burned as furiously as ever. He could
not win the prize; Blaine. he was resolv-
ed. should not.
triumphal tour around the world. The
scandals of his administration. which
never were charged personally to him,
were forgotten. The glories of Donelson
and Appomattox were remembered. Grant
was the darling Of. the nation, the idol
of the north and the west. He had left
the White House reluctantly He had
even written letter confessing third
term ambitions before he left the presi-
dency He was the man for Conkling.
NJ to p1air n
not win, and the New Yorker knew 1t.
The general was not difficult to persuade
Conkling captained the third-term BOOM
Logan was his lieutenant and the boys
In blue" fell In line
But the organization Of the republican
party stiffened itself against sentiment
and against the
Feared Four Years popular tide. It
More Of Grant. mare eo ~ o0' Car ssars
but even more did the leaders fear four
adviser
Don Cameron, the leader Of the party
in Pennsylvania was still Conkling's de-
pendable friend and Still Blaine's foe. He
was chairman of the republican national
committee. He had, four years before,
resisted McPherson's ruling that de-
stroyed the unit rule in republican con-
ventions. The fight was to center on him
and on this rule.
The convention met June 2, but the
national committee was in session sew
eral days earlier, to hear contests. make
pOrary chairman of the convention. The
anti-Grant leaders knew that they must
act together, and the leaders resolved to
try their strength in the national COM
mittee. William f. Chandler of New
Hampshire and c. c. Chaffee Of Colorado
offered resolutions that bound the COM
mittee to accept the Mcpherson ruling
that each delegate might vote as he
pleased. despite the attempt of state
convention or a state delegation to i'm
pose the unit rule. These resolutions
Chairman Cameron announced he would
not entertain.
The anti Grant men held numerous
caucuses. Hale and Frye were there at
the head of the
Efforts to Stop Blaine forces.
Third-Term Boom. .sr Aa apd lanes mes
A. Garfield were leading for John Sher-
man. who also had the quiet support OF
the administration George F. Edmunds,
E. B. Washburne and William Window
were "favorite sons" William p. Frye,
Eugene Hale. William E. Chandler and
Stephen B. Elkins conferred as to the
best means to stop the third term boom
before there was an opportunity for a
stampede Careful calculations showed
that without the unit rule Grant could
hardly hope to win. but that with the
unit rule Grant might have q majority
Of two votes
The national committee was anti-Grant
Its members agreed with the anti-Grant
leaders to select George F. Hoar of Mas
sachusetts for temporary chairman. Hoar,
1t was known, would rule against any at
tempt to bind a delegate by the unit
rule Cameron saw that he was In the
minority and surrender, barely saving
for himself the poor privilege Of calling
the convention to order and presenting
the chairman-Mr. Hoar.
Ninety-six anti-Grant delegates might
have been tied by the unit rule. They
were now released to vote on every ques-
ton The first test in the convention
came on contest from Alabama. The
antt-Grant delegation was seated by
vote OF 3O6 to 449. That vote OF 3o6 was
last ballot. when Garfield won-the i'm
mortal &6' who were rewarded for their
constancy by gold medals especially
struck.
At the first Garfield was not mentioned
except as the darkest Of dark horses.
Benjamin Harri-
G0rneld Mentioned son. who was to
have his chance
O"aA 11oISe. eight years later.
was most often spoken Of Is the dark
horse favorite, and Window was talked