Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1916-06-15
BRIEF HISTORY 23 DEMOCRATIC
 CONVENTIONS
First Was Held in Balti- more When Jackson and
 Van Buren Nominated.

The convention in St. Louis is the 24th national convention of the Demo- cratic party. The first Democratic con- vention was held in Baltimore on May 12, 1882. Previous to that time each party informally selected it's most con- spicuous man as candidate for the presidency, or choice of the nomi- tnee was made by caucus of the par tvs members in congress.
 The convention of 1852 was sum- moned not for the purpose of nomi hating candidate for president, for Andrew Jackson, then near the close of his first term, was the accepted candidate of his party, but to nominate candidate for vice president. In compliance with Jackson's wish, the second place was given to Martin Van | Buren.
 | The Democratic national convention was also held. in Baltimore on Hay 20, 1885. and Van Buren was nominated for president on the first ballot. Rich ard M. Johnson of Kentucky, was made the nominee for vice president. No platform was adopted.
 The third Democratic national con- vention, held in Baltimore on May 5, 1S40, renominated Van Buren, but made no nomination for vice pEesl- dent, leaving that to the several states.
 Texas Issue Beat Van Buren. l In 1844 the convention again as sembled at Baltimore. Van Buren had majority of the instructed delegates, but the annexation of Texas was the big issue, and Van Buren had ex- pressed his opposition to it. The adop-- tion of the twothirds rule assured Van Buren's defeat, and, after three days struggle, the nomination was given to James K. Polk, who had as- pired to nothing higher than the vice presidency. George M. Dallas of Pennsylvania, was named for vice president.
 Polk had an eye to his own renom- ination, but his self-seeking led him to make the fatal blunder of connect ing himself with one of the warning factions of the New York Democracy and at the national convention at Bal timore, May 22, 1848, Lewis Cass of Michigan, was nominated, and with him William o. Butler of Kentucky for vice president.
 Four prominent candidate-Cass, Buchanan, Marcy and Douglas-ap- peared in the Democratic national con- vention held at Baltimore on June 1, 1852. The factional fight resulted in the defeat of all of them, and on the 18th ballot the nomination went to Q dark horse-Franklin Pierce of New Hampshire, William King of Alabama was given the second place on the ticket.
 The Democratic national convention Iheld at Cincinnati on June 2. 1856, re- suited in the nomination of James Buchanan of Pennsylvania, over Pres ident Pierce and Stephen A. Douglas Second place on the ticket went to John C. Breckenridge of Kentucky.
 The national convention, which met at Charleston, S. C., April 23, 1860 was symbolic of the times. After wrangling many days without agree ment an adjournment was taken to Baltimore. When the convention met in that city on June IS, Stephen A. Douglas of Illinois, was declared the candidate. Herschell V. Johnson of Georgia, was afterward put on the ticket for vice president by the ma tional committee.
 The seceders from the Baltimore convention nominated John c. Breck- enridge for president and Joseph Lane of Oregon, for vice president.
 Perfunctory Convention.
 The main purpose of holding the Democratic national convention, which met in Chicago on August 30 1864, was to preserve the party organ |ization. It did little more than serve this purpose. Gen. George B. McClel- Ian, the best known of all the war Democrats, was named for president, and Gerge H. Pendleton of Ohio, for vice president.