Evening journal., 1913-02-06
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
How "PrinCe John" Van
Buren, Made History
By Holland

q suppose that meeting held in
the town of Herkimer, near Utica,
\. Y. in 1S47, was fraught with
greater political consequences than
any other gathering until, few years
later the first convention of the new
ly organized Republican party was
held" So said the late G. c. Clarke
TO me at a time when he was telling
me some of his recollections of
prince John" Van Buren, son of
Martin Van Burean, and for years one
OF the most influential Democrats in
New York state.
II used to meet Prince John very
often at time when l was. assistant
treasurer of New York state, with Of
fees at Albany, and he was attorney
general. He was a frequent visitor at
the treasurers office, chiefly because
he was always hard up and sought
advances upon his aslary.
He told me that he was going to
Herkimer to address a convention
called by delegates who had bolted
the Democratic State convention
which was held in Utica few weeks
| earlier He said to me: Mr.. Clarke,
this Herkimer convention is going to
make history and I am going to con-
tribute my part in the writing Of it,
''He kept his word, and l will now
tell you how. When the delegates
who met at Herkimer in response to
a call assembled they found that the
number Of them and their friends was
so large that they could not begin to
get into the court house. which had
been designated as the place for the
meeting.
"At first they were considerably
disturbed by this discovery. but upon
consideration they realized that the
magnitude OF this gathering Of itself
indicated how widespread the split in
the Democratic party in New York
state had become.
Somebody said to the committee
which had the arrangements in
charge: Why not go to the freight
house of the New York Central road?
There is plenty of room there, but
well all have to stand up excepting
the few who occupy little platform
THAT suggestion met with Instant
approval The great throng hurried
to the freight house, and in no time
at all filled it to its capacity.
&C. G. Cambreling very influen-
tial Democrat who for years was one
of the most prominent of the Demo
cratic members of the lower House
of Congress, was chosen chairman Of
the meeting One of the vice chair
men was David Dudley Field, then
recognized as one of the ablest law
yers in the United States.
zone of those present was David
Wilmot, the member of Congress from
Pennsylvania, who was the author Of
the 'Wilmot Proviso, which would
have prohibited the extension of slav-
cry into the territory which It was
expected the United States would ac-
quire from Mexico. Wilmots pres
ence at this convention was of itself
portentious for the Democratic party.
He was a Democrat, but he was then
called for the first time a Free Soil
Democrat
after the convention was organ
lied Prince John Van Buren was
called upon to speak Everybody
knew that he was to speak not only
for the Free Soil party. then in pro-
cess Of organization, but also as the
son Of Martin Van Buren,, who was
sure to be nominated by the Free
Soilers for the presidency.
AS Prince John took the platform
he turned to Wilmot. bowed graceful
~ to him, put his hand affectionately
upon his shoulder, and then, turning
to the convention, he began speaking
in a beautiful, melodious and clear
ringing voice with these words:
Fellow Democrats. fellow bolters
and fellow traitorsl" That was
enough. His tone of voice. his mag
netic presence, his illustrious famil,
associations and his wonderful com
mand of extemporaneOus speaking
q were all epitomized in that brie
opening passage He held that con
vention in the hollow of his hand
and it was at his suggestion>that thu
convention adjourned to meet at Utici
to make nominations for Presiden
and Vice President--These nomina
tions were for Martin Van Buren fo'
President and General Dodge of Iowi
\ for Vice President. Subsequently
larger national convention was hel,
at Buffalo which endorsed the nomina
ton OF Martin Van Buren, and, a
General Dodge declined the nomina
t ton for Vice President. the ticket wa
{ completed with the name of Charlie
Frances Adams.
John Van Buren, did write history
y as he told me he would The nomina
. ton of Martin Van Buren and Charlie
Frances Adams as Free Soil candi
dates for the presidency split tn
: Democratic party sufficiently to defea
Lewis Cass. the Democratic candidat
for President, and to elect Zachar
d Taylor, the Whig candidate.
Copyright, 1913. by e. j. Edwards. AL
rights reserved.
Tomorrow Mr. Edwards will tell q
"The Son Who PrOfited by His Faith
:. er's Lapse of Memory"