The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-09-24

v.sAiastos. b. O. sspt. M
"0ld aiekopyr esalnse "Hassy Of
the West; AatianAl convsatteps
against national conventions; the
rpee-ppT .ssaiask To '.mensy
power; the opts sSeinst the t4s,
and al with The federal oelses st
stekp az sure pFiEss f9r the via
pefs, Mada the caDDetGn q lSSs
the fiercest Of American histprS pp
to that time. PR A14rey 5ecksop
had hardly AvyiyAd IN The WAtte
house on March !, 4saa, he6ers hs
had fred . whole Paft II A4ape
oflce-holders and Aad replseed
them With loyal Jseksalites.
ITO the vtct0rs hAlanG TIE
sppils,' said he promulgsting the
doctrine Of rotation in olics end w.
stitpting the political method OF
| rewarding partisan activity With 2
public Job. Its effect Vas trsmen-
dous, and vhila Jackson did not
have the committee form Of party
organization which hacks up IN ad-
mfnistBation today, As did have
Martin Van BuEel n bio councils,
add Van Buren, HaS ~ vtse In
practical politics - was Napoleon
in strategy.
This campaign Of 1882 was the
first in which <aational nominating
conventions figured. The anti Ma
sons held the first aad nominated
William Writ, who had been attor-
| ney-genefal Of the United. States
under Monroe and Adams, for press
ident, and Amos Ellmaksr Of Penn
sylvania for vice president. The
National Republicans, already call
ed the wings" in ordinary epnver.
sation, nominated Henry Clay Of
Kentucky for president, and John
Sergeant Of Pennsylvania for vice
president. The Democrats held q
convention, but did not nominate q
candidate for president as Jackson
was the unanimous choice Of the
party. Martin Van Buren, was
named for vice president and the
famous tvo-thirds rule, which aft
erward proved Van Buren's undo
ing, was adopted. The state oil
South Carolina still chose its cleo
tors by the legislature, as it did
until after the Civil var, and 1t had
10 party all Of its own, with JOAN
Floyd of Virginia for president and
Henry Lee of Massachusetts, for
vice president.
A Stormy Session.
Jsckson's administration had
Ibeen the stormiest ever kHewn and
| the conservative statesmen Of ths
old school we're in despair HI
had quarreled with the vice presi-
dent, John C. Calhoun, by PREFER.
ing Van Buren, as . chief counsel.
Tor. He hid broken up his OWE
cabinet and had precipitated the
most violent social war of Washing.
tons history by insisting upon the
acceptance OF Mrs. Eaton, wife Of
his secretary Of war, by the ofacial
circles Of the capital. He had
turned out all the old oflace-holdera
and had given their places to the
friends. He had violated every
precedent Of presidential behavior
and had transgressed every trsdi'
ton Of statecraft.
| His greatest fight had beer
against the bank Of the uRited
States. When he first became
president he had some corresponds
ence with the bank insisting thai
the national government had some
right to say who should be chosen
officers of the bank. To this claim
Nicholas Biddle, head Of the bank
set. up an absolute denial. Then
reports came in from all over the
country that the various branches
of the bank were discriminating
against Jackson men in business
ffelatiops, and that the bank was
building up q machine to over.
throw Jackson, This federal hant
had been chartered in 1916 for q
period of 20 years, and II must OBJ.
tain 4 new lease Of life from tn
government during the administPa.
ton Of that president to be elected
| in 1928.
| Henry Clay, hating Jackson will
all his soul, and arm in the BELLE
that the people would not re-eleci
an uncouth monster to the high Of
fee OF president, decided to forcl
the fighting. 1t was by his advice
that the bill to recharter the bani
was introduced and passed by con
gress during Jscksen's FIRST term
Thomas H. Benton, senator FROM
Missouri. was fighting against tn,
recharter i9 the senate. declsrinl
for . gold currency and gainip1
! his sohriquet Of ".Old Bullion" Bul
the bank had friends In copgyes.
and the bill extending its charter
was passed.
| Swatting the Money Devil.
i Jackson promptly vetoed it. Tha
veto was given in July, 1928, w6er
the presidential campaign was al
ready vel lin progress. In tbest
! advanced and enlightened days til,
, president alWa9s sees to It thar
) congress has adjourned before tn,
nominations are made, 20 - to pre-
vent big questions coming up. But
Jackson didn't care. He said h,
had swatted the Money Devil ant
he had. The campaign was on, AND
SO far rs jackson men were con,
cerned, there was but one issue