Omaha daily bee., 1916-06-06
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pemoeratie Conventions.

Omaha, June 8.--To the Editor Of The
Bee. The national democratic convention
Is about TO assemble in ST. Louis. Three
times before In 1876. 1858 and IN 1903, 81,
Louis has entertained tho party Of Jefferson
and jackson. II Ia a perhaps ominous fact
that on each Of these occasions the eandi-
date chosen has met defeat. Another cur
ious fact IL that two Of the st. Louis nom
inees received a larger popular vote than
their successful republican rivals. In 1876
Mr. Tilden's majority over Hayes was ZbO,-
gsB. In 1883 Cleveland received 9s,0l7
more votes than General Harrison
This will be demoeracys twenty-seeond
gathering Of it, kind Other cities have been
hosts 10 It's Representatives convened Nine
times the democrats have assembled in BATH
more. the first six conventions being held
there II was not until 1855 that another
city, Cincinnati, shared In the honors. Vic
torious in that year, they were doomed to
defeat when again they met In CINCINNATI
In 1880. other cities wherein democracy
has gathered ares Chicago four times in
the Windy City. once in Charleston, s. G..
In New York City once, in Kansas City
once, and once In Denver In 1850 one
division Of the party met In Richmond and
the other In Baltimore after Joint session
at Charleston failed TO produce results,
In the twenty.one previous campaigns,
twenty two candidates we're selected. begin
ming with Andrew Jackson in 1873 and on
10 1870 with Van Buren,. Then the wings
with Harrison and Tyler broke In, but IN
four more years democracy returned 70
mower with President Polk. AZ the next
election following the wings won again, their
last victory. Then In 1852 Franklin Pierce
hogan another period Of successful demo-
eraev. After Buchanan, twenty-four years
pasaed before another democratic president
came In. The republican party born the
vear Of Buchanan's election, Was inNlneiple
for six campaigns.
In ali these years there is one Of the
thirteen original states that has always cast
lis vote for the democratic candidate ms
constant commonwealth is Georgia Another
~ the thirteen, Vermont, has always voted
for the opposition, whig or republican Texas
admitted during democratic administra-
lion, has added her yotes faithfully, with
onIv the lspse caused by the war. Most
~ the younger generation would risk some
thing on their belief that all the southern
states have always been solid" They
might be surprised 20 learn that all except
Georgia voted republican for campaign or
two following the civil war
The year 1919 saw democratic victories
flor the presidency In eight states that
had voted whig and republican for two or
triumph of democracy in Maasnchusetts u
was the first In Ohio since lsAs, the first
In Maine Rhode Island and lows since 1852,
the first In New Hampshire since 1875 II
waa the Arst In North Dakota since its adj
mission. Michigan gave Pierce part Of its
electoral vote in 1862, but none to demo-
erat since
Andrew Jackson began the organization
Of The democratic party during his terms OF
~ Fs1tF al an
dIdate by a convention, but In 1882 eon-
vention was called 10 nominate candidate
for the vice presidency. Martin Van Buren,
was chosen. Thereafter the nominees, both
for the presidency and the vice presidency,
were elected At the quadrenniar gatherings.
At the hrst election after the organlza-
ton Of the party, only twenty-four states
voted Jackson was the choice Of fourteen.
Az the last election, twice ~ many states
voted, and again all but ten Of them cast
their votes for the democratic candidate.
OF the twenty-four states admitted dur
ing this period ten came into the union
under democratic auspices. These states are
Arkansas, Michigan, Florida, Texas, Iowa,
Wisconsin, Minnesota, Oregon, Kansas and
Utah.
The total electoral vote for the eighty
eight years has been 1871 for democratic
candidates and 4.21s for all opponents. This
IL heavy majority against, ana u aes
cumulated mostly just after the war and
during the free silver period. Up TO the
civil war the aggregate vote was in favor
OF the democrats. II was 1895 for and
1909 against.
Mr. Wilson received the largest electoral
vote yet given TO any president, AS votes
in 1912, General Mcclellan received but
twenty one electoral votes, the least given
To any democratic candidate. With the ex-
eeption Of Roosevelt's election in 1904 Presi-
dent Wilson's plurality in 1912 was the
largest popular vote.
Democracy has numbered only one war
rior, General Jackson, among It's presidents.
Two noted civil war generals, George b. Nc
Clellan and Winfield Scott Hancock. were
among the unsuccessful democratic asprants
to the presidency. Only one war, the
Mexican occurred in democratic years.
A.