Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, 1920-05-27
Seventh Convention.


The seventh republican national con,
vention, which met in Chicago, June
2, 1880, will always remain historic.
Not only did it result in the party's
nomination of its first dark horse, y
but also it marked the beginning and
the end of third-term presidential as
pirations.
Once more James G. Blaine was the
paramount leader of his party, and
once more Roscoe Conkling, in his
embittered personal antagonism, un-
dertook to foil his hated party rivel.
He used General Grant as the means
to thisend--ably seconded by Cameron
and Logan and other deathless Grant
adherents. "a
Grant had just returned from a rrl-
umphal tour around the world and
stood upon pinnacle. The fact that
an early Pennsylvania state convention
declared against third terms ,and that
the House of representatives. made
similar proclamation by vote of 234
to IS, did not stop the Grant campaign.
He went into the convention with
SO4 votes. Sharp practices were used in
seating SOME contested delegates ana
in seeking to break the inhibition
against the unit rule" and in a sem
sational attempt by Conkling to force
a pledge that every delegate would be
bound by its decision and would sup
port the nominee.
but, these things aside, the fidelity
of the Grant forces was marvellous.
they never broke. Grant still had his
3O4 yotes-wth two added--on the fl
nal ballot. once he reached 313-
necessary to choice, 379.) Conkling
presented his name in speech which
will live second only to Ingersolls eff
fort on behalf of Blaine, in 1876.
James A. Garfield of Ohio presented
the name Of John Sherman also of
Ohio, in another great speech which
probably had much to do with tho ul-
Innate outcome, although not as Gar
ueld originally intended. Washburne,
Edmunds and Window also were for
mally presented.
On the first ballot Blaine had 2S4I
votes-a figure which never grew. On
the second ballot one lone delegate
swung to Garfield. Thus dead-locked,
there were few changes through one
roll call after another. on the 2Srd
ballot Garfield rose to two votes. On
the thirty-fifth ballot Blaine's strength
switched to Garfield, to be followed on
the next test by practically all save the
old. original Grant group.
Thus Garfield was nominated. And
on one ballot Chester A. Arthur of
New York was put in second place
his nearest contender being Elihu P.
Washburne of Illinois. The platform
followed closely the outline of four
years previous, the only novelty being
q mandate in favor of Chinese exclu-
sion.
Eighth Convention.
The eighth republican national con-
vention, meeting June 3. 1884, at Chi
cago, finally gave Blaine the decora-
tion which two previous conventions
had denied-gave it to HIM by strange
prank of fate, the first time in "a
years that the republican nominee was
to fail of election.
Blaine's strongest opposition came
from Arthur, who had succeeded to
the presidency upon the death of Gar
field and who contrary to precedent,
had been very acceptable in meeting
his graduated responsibilities. Arthur
was from New York. Yet 1t was New
York which ultimately gave Blaine the
nomination, only to defeat him later
at the polls by giving Cleveland a scant
majority of 114s in the great Empire
state-small enough in a single county,
yet big enough in this instance to over
run the country.
George F. Edmunds. of Vermont.
John A. Logan of Illinois. John Sher-
man Of Ohio, Joseph r. Hawley Of
Connecticut, Robert I. Lincoln of Ilu-
nols. and William T. sherman of Mis-
souri, also were candidates before the
But Blaine led from the first ballot /
For once his opposition could not nm
lte. on the fourth roll call he was nom
mated; and Immediately. on a single i
General Logan Was over
designated for second
place
One Of the bittersst contests Of this
was for the comparatively
neunseQuential pnH * temporary
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