The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-10-14
TOPEKA STATE JOURNAL
Information Bureau
FREDERIC j. HAsKIN, Director.
Washington, ID. @.
PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGNS.
The Harrison Cleveland Race of 1888

Washington, D. c., Oct. 11.-Grover
Cleveland was elected president the
| first time because of his views on the
tariff question. Because he was too
insistent upon the expression of the
same views he was defeated for re-
election in 1888. Mr.. Cleveland was
the only president who. ever devoted
an entire annual message to congress
to the discussion of one subject. The
F'iftieth congress was the second of
Mr.. Cleveland's first term, and the
Democratic majority in the house had
been reelected, while the Republican
majority in the senate had been di-
minished.
The president believed that the re-
suit of the 1886 elections meant that
the people wished him to carry out
his ideas on the tariff. Therefore he
devoted his entire annual message to
the tariff; discussing nothing else and
placing the tariff question in a posi-
ton of paramount importance never
before occupied by any issue in the
legislative history of the country. That
message was prepared and sent
against the advice of the leaders of the
party. 1t did not meet with the recep
ton hoped for, and the tide turned
against the Democrats. But even
with that complication in the way,
Cleveland would have been reelected
but for the treachery of Tammany
Hall.
The Republican candidate was Ben
jamin Harrison of Indiana-grandson
of William Henry Harrison, "Old Tip
pecanoe," and great grandson of a Vir-
gihia signer of the Declaration of IN
dependence, a direct descendant of
Pocahontas. and connected with all of
the prominent old families of colonial
days. He was the first successful can
didate for president since Zachary
| Taylor. who might claim to be of
"aristocratic' lineage.
Memories of the famous "Tippeca-
noe campaign were revived by ar
dent Republicans, while facetious
Democrats poked fun at the candidate.
| They were pleased to call him the
midget grandson in the giant grand
fathers hat. Every cartoenist accept
| ed the "grandfather's hat as the
badge of Harrisons cagdidacy. As a
result the campaign of 1888 became
a campaign of hats.
A Campaign of Hats.
The /ReRSblican marching clubs
| and ''rootefs&a affected big hats of the
| bee hive variety such as were worn by
Grandfather "Tippecanoe'' Harrison in
the campaign of 1910. The Democrats
adopted the white felt topper" which
twas e. favorite with Mr.. Cleveland.
! ALI over the country rural Democrats
! who would have tainted at the notion
of black silk top-hat bought the
summer and winter, day and night
The Democratic candidate for vice
president was Allen G. Thurman of
| Ohio, whom men loved to call the
| tOld Roman" Senator Thurn1an's in
/ separable companion was red ban
top-hat, every loyal Democrat added
| the equipment of red bandana.
| Then he was ready to hike and hur-
| rah and harangue for Cleveland and
| Thurman.
! The campaign of 1888 was a vast
| Improvement over the scandal-mon-
gering of four years before. Mr..
| Cleveland had gained the respect of
| the country by his administration of
affairs whether he had it's approval
or not. Mr.. Harrison had both the
respect and confidence of the country
The campaign was conducted with
| great dignity. The rivalry between
/ tMe parties was sharp, there were
many doubtful states and in none of
them was victory for either side over
whelming. 1t was, however a battle
| of parties and not of candidates. The
tariff issue was real issue. Neither
| of the candidates appealed to the en-
| thusiasm of the masses of their fol-
lowers. There was no great popular
outburst for either one 1t was the
! coolest of the close presidential con-
! tests.
I He
Benjamin Harrison was one of the
ablest of the men who have occupied
the White House. His state papers
| are fit to rank with the best in the
| archives of the Republic, not except
| ing those penned by Washington, JEFF
ferson or John Quincy Adams His
| administration was far from TRANQUIL.
yet its sharpest conflicts arose from
the fact that Harrison, in the interest
| or the whole people, opposed the
| schemes of certain of his party lead
! ers. advocates of the interests Of a
very few.
Better campaign speeches have new
| er been made than those which Ben
! 5amin Harrison delivered at his home
! In indianapolis, originating the front
porch" campaign system. Other can
dldates had spoken from their veran-
das' but Harrison was the first who
did 1t Systematically and to whose
nome special trains brought thousands
of excursionists every week That
these excursions were often made up
with free passes and paid delegat ions,
for the effect the reports of the. ire
nendous outpouring would have on
distant states, is Undoubtedly true, but
politics was becoming advanced in that
day.
Harrison won his nomination in the
Republican convention as the choice
of those elements opposed to the nomi-
iidtlOH OIL JODH sherman OF ONO
Sherman went into the convention
with more than twice as many votes
as his next highest competitor, Walter
@. Gresham, of Indiana. Third in the
race was Chauncey NJ. Depew, of New
York; fourth was Gen. Russell A AL
ger, of Michigan; fiftf@~was Benjamin
HarFiseni sixth was William B. ALI
son, of Iowa, and then a dozen other
smaller ones. each of whom hoped te
be the successful dark horse" James
G. Blaine, 1.-THE Henry Clay of the Re-
publican party wanted the nomina.
tion.s. But he had written letters say
ing he wouldn't take it and aItho ht
wavered and wobbled in his messag es
to his friends. he finally cabied from
Europe that he was not in the race
. His state voted for him to the last
Notwithstanding his withdrawal.
Quay's Methods
Cleveland and Thurman were nomi-
mated erifhnlIf sarin1ls -nr,lansi tis,.