Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-10-28
PRESIDENTIAL s.
CAMPAIGNS
By FREDERIC J. HASKlN
XVII. THE HARRISON
CLEVELAND RACE OF 1883

ANj Grover Cleveland was elected
w president the first time be-
cause of his Views on the
tariff question. Because he was too
tnsistent upon the expression of the
same views he was defeated for re-
election in 1883. Mr.. Cleveland was
the only president who ever devoted
an entire annual message to congress
to the discussion of one subject. The
fiftieth congress was the second of
Mr.. Cleveland's first term, and the
Democratic majority in the house
had been reelected, while the Repub-
lican majority in the senate had been
diminished.
The president believed that the re-
suit OF the 1885 elections meant that
his ideas on the tariff. Therefore
he devoted his entire annual mes
sage to the tariff, discussing moth
ing else and placing the tariff aues-
ton in position Of paramount i'm
any issue in the Legislative history
of the country. That message was
prepared and sent against the adj
vice of the leaders of the party. 1t
ala not meet with the reception
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
Era9dRon Of H7 William R IF 1n aa4r
son, "Old Tippecanoe,". and great
grandson of a Virginia signer of the
Declaration of independence, a direct
descendant of Pocahontas. and con-
nected with all of the prominent old
families of colonial days. He was
the first successful candidate for
president since Zachary Taylor, who
might claim to be of "aristocratic"
lineage.
Memories of the famous "Tippe-
canoe" campaign were revived by
ardent Republicans. while facetious
date. They were pleased to &C cali ' him
the midget grandson in the giant
grandfather's hat. Every cartoonist
accepted the "grandfather's hat" as
the badge of Harrison's candidacy.
became a campaign of hats.
A Campaign Of Hats
The Republican marching clubs
and "rooters" affected big hats of
worn by Grandfather "Tippecanoe"
Harrison in the campaign of 1910.
me Democrats, adopted the white
ret ret "t0pper which was fayorite
country rural Democrats who would
have tainted at the notion of black
silk top-hat, bought the white
cleveland hats" and swore them
summer sr,l 4e and winter, day and night.
president pr.s was Allen 6. Thurman, Of
Ohlo' whom men loved to call the
"Old Roman" Senator Thurman's
ilnseparable companion was a red
bandanna handkerchief. So to the
white top-hat, every loyal Democrat
inv 49,
Dana; Then he was ready to hike
and hurrah and harangue for Cleve-
land and Thurman
The campaign OF 1883 was a vast
Improvement over the scandal-rno on
ggSe l e contest Of four years before,
Of the country by his administration
of affairs. whether he had it's ap-
proval or not. Mr.. Harrison had
both the respect and confidence of
the country. The campaign was con-
Quoted with great dignity. The ri
t Eaars pe5We e. the parties was sharp;
either side overwhelming It was,
however, battle of parties and not
OF candidates. The tariff issue was
a real issue. Neither of the candi-
dates appealed to the enthusiasm of
the masses of their followers. There
WaSS no great popular outburst for
either one. 1t was the coolest of
the close presidential contests.
The First Porch Campaign
BENJAMIN Harrison was one of the
ablest Of the men who have occupied
the White House. His state papers
are 1T to rank with the best in the
Jefferson or John Quincy Adams. His Hi:
administration was far from tran
gull, yet it's sharpest conflicts arose
from the fact that Harrison, in the
posed the scheme Of certain of his
party leaders, advocates of the inter
est of a very few.
Better campaign speeches have
never been made than those which
BENJAMIN Harrison delivered at his
nome In Indianapolis, originating the
er candidates had spoken from their
verandas, but Harrison was the first
who did it systemati cauy and to
whose home special trains brought
thousands of excursio1ists every
Pften made up with free passes and
paid delegations, for the effect the
reports of the tremendous authorizing
would have on distant states, is I'M
doubtedly true, but politics, was be-
coming advanced in that day.
Harrison won his nomination in
the Republican convention was the
choice Of those elements opposed to
the nomination of John Sherman, Of
Ohio. Sherman went into the con-
vention with more than twice as many
vote votes as his next highest competitor,
T XaeF g. the rsea S o6 dndapa
Depew, of New York. fourth was
General Russell A. Alger, of Mich
lgan; fifth was Benjamin Harrison;
sixth was William B. Allison, of
Iowa, and then a dozen other smaller
Blaine, 1.-The Henry Clay of the Re-
publican party wanted the nomina-
tion. But he had written letters say
Ing he wouldn't take it, and al
his messages to his friends, he final
ly cabled 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 nom
mated without any serious opposi-
ton. Tammany Hall still hated
Cleveland, but there was no open OPP
position in the convention which
nominated him by reclamation. He
still had the enmity Of the New
the leading Democratic editor in the
country, was not en- rapport with the
administration. The party believed
that Cleveland was the strongest
man to nominate, yet there was no
enthusiasm for him. Thurman, the
second man on the ticket excited
more popular interest than did Cleve-
land.
Senator Quay, of Pennsylvania,
was then at the apex of his glory as
the campaign he made a great effort
to cut the heart out of the Solid
South" The border stotes of the old
southern Democratic stronghold have
been carried often by abrasion, but
been untouched. Quay attempted by
the liberal use of money and the cor
ruption of election officers to carry