The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1916-06-14


ing the last time that Democratic
candidate was nominated as president
by acclamation until 1888, when Gro
yer Cleveland was similarly honored.
Though unanimous IN its choice for
the presidency, no vice presidential
candidate could muster enough votes
to give him the desired office. In ex-
PLANTATION Of their failure TO nominate a
vice president the convention Of 1910
adopted the following resolution:
Resolved. That the convention deem II
oxpedient at the present time not TO choose
between the individuals In nomination.
but TO leave the decision to their Reuub-
Ucar fellow citizens IN the several states,
trusting that before the eiectinn shall take
place this opinion viii become so ccnccn-
trated as to secure tine choice of "A vice
president by the electoral college.
IN 1914 the two-tblrds rule was bit
tagly. even savngcly. opposed Ivy the
friends Of Van Buren. who bad ma.
jority of the votes on the first ballot,
but at no time could muster two
thirds The vote to sustain the two
thirds rule was really test of Van
Buren's strength in the convention. II
was upheld 10y n vote of 1fS to lis,
and from that moment his defeat was
assured. The convention of 1910 was
the first to bring about a nomination
by means of a stampede. the first to
develop n dark horse and the first to
have its proceedings reported by tcle-
graph. Every state was represented
except South Carolina. Three hun
bred and twenty-five delegates were In
attendance. but they cast only 2GG
votes. On hundred and seventy-eight
were necessary to choice. Seven
ballots were taken without results and
until the eight ballot the name Of
James X. Polk of Tennessee had been
ONLY mentioned modestly as possible
candidate for vice president. BY the
tune that the convention was ready
for the eighth ballot great bitterness of
feeling had developed between the sup
portcrs of Van Buren, and his chief
competitor. General Lewis Cass of
Michigan, who on the seventh ballot
led Van Buren, by twenty-four votes.
Van Buren, in favor of Polk was
started by a delegate from Pennsyl-
yana. Polk was given forty-four votes
and on the ninth ballot was nominated.
Silas Wright. senator from New York,
was named as vice president News
Of his nomination was sent to Wash
ington over the telegraph line and he
peremptorily telegraphed back his dec
lination of the honor feeling that his
friend Van Buren, had been betrayed
George NJ. Dallas of Pennsylvania was
then selected to complete the ticket
which was successful.
First National Committee.
The Democratic convention Of 1S4S
/ which nominated Lewis Cass OF Michi
gan for president and william o. But
, Ter of Kentucky for vice president. oil
rected the appointment Of the first
national committee ever organized. Its
, candidate. like the Democratic candi
date Of 1910. was defeated by VIII.
soldier candidate. General Taylor. who
like General Harrison. had no prepare
ton for the executive Office and wa!
nominated by the Wings in obedience
to the doctrine Of availability.
N1he convention Of 1852. held in
Baltimore. there occurred another o.
those strange and sudden movement!
by which the contest between prOmi
nent and favored candidates causes
them all to be discarded and the posi-
lion to be given to some heretofore un
known quantity. To use an old ant
much used II not abused figure, whel
the tournament opened four ren0wne<
knights entered the lists. They wer,
Lewis Cass of Michigan. the defeatet
candidate of 1913; James Buchanan o
Pennsylvania, Stephen A. Douglas o
Illinois and william l.. Marcy Of New
York. After many exciting tits
knight who had remained in the shad
ow with visor down dashed in, un
hOrsed his opponents and won.
Franklin Pierce of New Hampshir
was not even named as a candidate I'LL
til the thirty ballot, when he re
ceived one vote. which deserted him o.
the next ballot. ON the thirty-sixt
ballot the votes of Virginia were give
TO Pierce. His strength gradually In
creased until on the forty ninth ballO
there was u wild rush to get into hi
band wagon and he was given 2S
votes, only 1888 being necessary to
choice.
1t took seventeen ballots to nominal
James Buchanan Of Pennsylvania
the Cincinnati convention Of 1851
From the first he was the leading car
: didate, but could not control two-third
of the votes. On the sixteenth ballot tn
contest had narrowed down to BuchaI
an and Douglas. On the next balle
delegation after delegation changed II
vote until the entire number, 296, wei
cast for Buchanan. Stephen Dougls
Of Illinois, who had twice been q pres
Dental candidate, at last succeeded
winning the nomination In 1850. BIZ
! the shadow of secession was over th
: land, and the party, like the countr,
was suffering. The convention assen
7 bled In Charleston April %. 1860, an
a continued uuttl Nav z flor Ar,