The evening herald. (Klamath Falls, Or.) 1906-1942, 1920-05-22
FAMOUS CHICAGO
Convention Of
80 RECALLED

lnE OF lne hNluNI'Hus VI NhANatHt
June &, to nominate candidate Ter
president recalls aftcsh at this timo
the Republican convention opening
hcro 60 years ago which nominated
Abraham Lincoln. This was the sec
ond national Republican convention
and the first of the many which have
since been held in Chicago.
The convention assembled on May
l6. 1880, and Lincoln was minated
on May 10, the third and last day.
After his election feeling aroused by
the slavery issue ran quickly into
civil war,
Relies of the campaign OF 1850.
Including the oil painting OF the rail
splitter" are preserved by the Chi
cago Historical society. r. 4. Wood,
field secretary OF the society. has
just prepared what he regards as
the most complete account OF the
events OF the convention OF 60 years
ago. In this he calls attention to
! Addison @. Proctor. OF Ann Arbor. |
Mich. who. Mr.. Wood believes. is the |
only surviving delegate of the con /
yention.
Chicago In 1850 was a promising .
city OF 10000 not quite 25 years .
old II had wen the voncention by
the offer to build the largest assem-
bly, hall In the country and fiji Il at .
every session. Accordingly the wig
wan" arose at the southwest corner
OF Lake and Market streets. occupy
Ing space 100 by $50 feet. II was
temporary wooden structure cost
ing little over the estimated $1,000,
The balance was made up by charg-
ing 25 cents admission on It's formal
opening the Saturday before the csn-
vention.
Few Republican conventions, II
any. have been so charged with ex-
element or had so spectacular an
ending. Lincoln's prospects appeared
small enough before the convention
opened. The favorite was william
II. Seward. senator from New York.
He had a great asset In the ability
Of Thurlow Weed. who prosecuted
his campaign among the delegates.
He suffered q handicap In the de-
termined opposition OF Horace Gree
ley. the famous New York editor.
who had no candidate OF his own I
but refused to have Seward. Both
Greeley and Weed were early on the
ground and according TO Mr.. Woods ,
review. the centers OF interest. He
notes, however. that other. and non
political attractions. were numerous.
among them being Zouaves. circus
band. minstreis, and such well-known
theatrical pieces OF the day as "Lu- +.
cretia BorgIa" and THE Hidden
Hand" !,
The slavery issue came up quickly :,
on the first day OF the convention,
when David wilmot Of Pennsylvania
on taking the chair as temporary 3
chairman made a l0-minute anti
speech. mo extension of
became an essential part OF
the platform next day.
In view OF the many days now !
spent In hearing delegate contests,
this convention OF 80 years ago Of v
fered something novel. There were I
no contested delegates. There were. b
however. some "contesting" states. I
Whether to admit Maryland. vir- g
sinia. Kentucky and Texas was a o
question that occupied most Of the j
lirst day and was still undecided
when adjournment came for the day. 8
The next day the convention de- C.
,ided to admit the border states" I,
rhe platform committee then brought c.
IN Its report. II was amended to
include reassertion Of the self evi- J
lent truths" OF the constitution. At
adjournment little remained beyond
the candidate, and Mr.
Wood characterizes that night as
umultuous one filled with band mu-
tc and professions until almost day.
for Seward. well worked .
Ip In his behalf. was at high tide. .
ireeley telegraphed his paper that :
'eward's nomination appeared cer-' =
ain. Incidentally. remarks Mr.. s
Wood, this convention was the first 3
t which the telegraph was employed. Z
How Lincoln came into the nom 9
nation is now for many a familiar q
tory. Seward led on the first ballot q
73h with Lincoln next best at l02.
nd 233 necessary for choice. A few