The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1920-06-05
WIN AS DARK HORSES.

Washington, ID. c., June LIN view
of the possibility that the Republican
national convention about to assemble
in Chicago may nominate dark
horse" for the presidency, interest has
been renewed in the proceedings of
former conventions where the best laid
schemes of politicians have gon awry.
James X. Pold, Franklin Pierce and
James A. Garfield became President
following their appearance as dark
horses" in conventions. Horatio Sey-
mour and William ]. Bryan, on the &C.
oosion of his first nomination, may be
mentioned as candidates who were
picked as dark horses" in the presi-
dental race, but who failed of election.
Martin Van Buren, seemed certain of
the nomination for President by the
Democratic convention that met at
Baltimore in 1914. If all the delegates
instructed for him had cast their votes
in accordance with instructions Van
Buren, would have been nominated;
but bitter opposition to him had been
engenedered and the question Of the
annexation of TeXas-soon afterward
to provoke war-proved his undoing.
In the convention of 1885 that NOM
mated Van Buren, the two-thirds rule
was enforced in his interest, although
strongly opposed as unrepublican. In
1874 he was sure of nomination If the
same rule were rejected. There was
an exciting debate and the rule was
adopted. Van Buren, received major
ity of twenty-six on the first ballot.
After seven ballots one of the dele
gated submitted a resolution that Van
Buren, be declared the candidate, as
he had received majority of votes on
the first ballot. This precipitated an
angry debate over points of parlia-
mentary law and eventually the con-
vention returned to balloting.
On the eighth ballot appeared the
first dark hosre" in the history of
political conventions. When New
Hampshire was called all its delegates
gave their votes for James X. Polg of
Tennessee. Some other states follow
ed. During the ninth roll call there
was great excitement. New York's del
egation retired for consultation. When
it returned B. F. Butler made speech
and read a letter received by him be-
fore the convention met from Mr.. Van
Buren, authorizing that his name be
withdrawn. He then cast the vote of
the New York delegation for Polk. A
general stampede followed and when
the result was announced Polk had
evrey vote.
General Cass was the leading Demo-
cratic candidate when the convention
met in 1852, James Buchanan, stephen
A. Douglas and William l.. Marcy had
each their following. The convention
met June 1. On the first ballot Cass
had 116, Buchanan SO, Marcy 81 and
Douglas 20. On the twenty-ninth bal
lot Cass had fallen to 81, Buchanan
had SO, Douglas 81, and no other can
didate more than &c. Cass then gained
for a time, and othe thirty-fifth ballot
had 131. On that ballot Virginia cast
Is votes for Franklin Pierce. The for
ty-eighth ballot was: Cass 20, Buchan-
an %; Douglas, SO; Marcy, 80; Pierce,
55; all others, s. Then followed the
stampede for Pierce, who was given
2S2 votes to for all others.
General James A. Garfield was not
mentioned as a candidate when the
Republican national convention met at
Chicago, June 2, 1880. AS chairman of
the committee on rules of that body
he reported an amendment to previous
rules, which in effect was a fatal blow
to the unit rule, and helped to prevent
the nomination of General Grant for a
third term.
Voting for candidates did not begin
until Monday of the second week of the
convention. Grant had a good lead the
first day. During twenty-eight trial
his strength fiuctuated between 3O2
and 300 votes. Blaine varied from 2S5
to 275. Other candidates with consid-
cradle followings were John Sherman
OF Ohio, E. B. Washburne, of Illinois,
Senator Window of Minnesota and
Senator Edmonds. The number neces-
sary to nominate was 37S.
Tuesday morning some votes we're
thrown to Sherman, increasing his to-
tai to 12O on the thirtieth ballot. This
move failed to weaken either the
Blaine or Grant following and again
the votes were scattered. On the thir-
ty-fourth ballot seventeen votes were
given Garfield. He had received one
vote on the second ballot and two
votes on several other ballots On the
thirty-fifth ballot some OF Blaine's fol-
lowers voted for him and his total was
80. On the thirty-sixth ballot came the
stampede that made Garfield the party
nominee with 399 votes.
Since the Declaration OF Independ-
enee was signed nearly 35.OOO.OO0 peO-