The Washington herald., 1916-10-05
AFTER-DINNER POLITICS.
A Surprised Presidential Candidate.
BY DR.. Il. J. EDWARDS.

Many candidates for the nomination for
President have been grievously disap-
pointed because their ambition was not
realized. But there is only one case on
record where a candidate nominated for
the Presidency was so greatly surprised
at the action of the convention that he
seemed for a time bewildered.
Sometimes It has been said that Frank
lin Pierce, Of New Hampshire, was as
tonished when he heard that the Demo-
cratic national convention, in 1852, had
nominated him for the Presidency. This
statement. however cannot be accepted
as entirely accurate because Gen. Pierce
knew that he had very able friends in
that convention who might be able TO
make such a combination as would re-
suit in his nomination
The nomination Of Gen. Winfield Scott
Hancock, in 1880, not only astonished
Gen. Hancock. but also many Of the lead
ing politicians Of the United States. II
was true that with some desire to Offset
the populariy OF Gen. Grant some Dem
ocrats IN 1868 suggested the nomination
OF Gen. Hancock. They regarded him as
an available candidate, especially in view
Of the fact that he was one OF the popu-
lar heroes Of the civil war. Moreover
he was man OF personal charm, having
the faculty OF winning friends and keep
Ing them
However, in 1865, there was no we'll
organized attempt by the Democracy 70
nominate Gen. Hancock for the Presi-
dency. His friends said he looked upon
the mention Of his name in that connec-
ton as something not worthy OF serious
consideration
In 1880 Gen. Hancock was in command
Of the Eastern division OF the Federal
army with headquarters at Governors
Island, New York. He was so little in
terested in the Democratic national con-
"ention that he only read the headlines
Of the newspaper reports. His impression
was that Gov. TiIden would be renomi-
mated by the Democrats at the St Louis
convention in 1880, and II. as had been
hinted. Tflden. on account OF poor health.
would decline that nomins ton. then In
all probability Senator Thomas T. Bsv-
ard. of Delaware would be the nominee.
By a mistake-either Intentional or
otherwise-of those who had TiIden's in
terest in charge at the St Louis con-
vention, it became current that IL the
latter were nominated he would decline
the nomination. Therefore sentiment
seemed to be settled in favor Of the
nomination Of Senator Bayard. A very
effective nomination speech in support
Of the nomination Of Gen. Hancock was
made by Daniel Dougherty, Of Philadel-
phia. And It was said that Nj. DouCherty
took the nominating speech for Blaine
which was made by Col. Robert G.
Ingersol at Cincinnati, four years earlier,
as his model
Dougherty characterized the candidate
for whom he spoke as Hancock the
Superb" and that characterization was
very effective. so that upon the first
ballot Hancock received a hundred and
seventy-one votes and Senator Bayard
a hundred and fifty-three and a half
The convention was swept OF its feet
as the saying is, by this vote, and on
the third ballot. to the surprise OF the
delegates themselves, the convention
gave Hancock a two-thirds vote and
nominated him. When Hancock was in
formed that he was nominated upon the
third ballot he seemed bewlldered. not
knowing what TO say Afterward he con-
fessed that he had no idea that be would
be placed in nomination for the Presi-
denCy.
Copyright 1916. hy the Mcclure Sews7sPeE