The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-10-08
Frederic Haslkin's Lett
PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGNS.
xy.-The C.r6eld-Eianeock Race Of Ism

Washington, d. c., Oct, THE
September election In Maine 10 one
Of the few ante-election :straws
still left from the old days. Twice
in the history Of the country the
news from Maine" in September
was portentious. In 1910 it accur-
ately indicated that Harrison would
sweep the country. In 1880. 40
years later, it showed that the Re-
publicans were in . terrible condi-
ton and In danger Of being wiped
OF the earth. The Democrats be-
came too confident, the Republic
cans put almost superhuman en-
ergy into the fight. and GARFIELD
won by . very small majority.
Even then II 1t had not been for
the treachery Of Tammany hall.
the Republican tight would have
been lost.
The campaign of 1880 stands out
a. the one presidential contest in
which political manipulation and
chicanery overshadowed everything
else. Both GARFIELD and Hancock
were nominated by shrewd manip-
ulation in the face of the fact that
the majority in each party prefer
red another man. Garfield faced
what seemed certain defeat from
knifing by great leaders in his own
party. The Republican breach was
closed by the making Of many
promises, most of which could not
be fulfilled. In the Democratic
party the leaders who we're bat
thing for reform" were outwitted
by the practical politicians, and
the very same practical politicians
committed party suicide in the
closing days of the campaign:
The Republican national conven-
ton at Chicago in 1880 was the
scene Of the greatest battle ever
fought for . political nomination.
General Grant, having returned
from a triumphal tour around the
world. was an active candidate for
a third term. He had the support
Of hosts Of the Republican voters
and Of the shouting masses. James
G. Blaine was the favorite of the
politicians and o. a majority of the
Republicans who were not carried
away by the glamor of Grants mil
itary fame. Blaine was the most
magnetic leader his party has had
and his following was a personal
/, one.
A Poetic Politician.
Opposed to Blaine was the able
Roscoe Conkling, senator from
New York. Because he hated Blaine
rather than because he loved Grant
Conkling led the Grant forces iI
the convention. He placed Grant
lin nomination in the famous
speech beginning:
III you ask what state he halls
| from.
Our sole reply shall be,
He comes from Appomattox =
And its famous apple tree"
But in the closing sentence Of
his speech he MORALLY offended
Blaine supporters and they swore
that Grant should be defeated. even
If Blaine could not win. For days
and days the battle waged, the
Grant and Blaine forces holding
| firm, and each Of a dozen other
candidates hoping to be the lucky
dark horse.
John Sherman of Ohio was 4
serious candidate, he thought, ant
his name had been placed in nom
ination by James A. Garfield. Gar
fields speech was adroit and con
ciliatory and while he was speak
ing for Sherman there were re
sponsive cries from the house To-
i Garfield. At the beginning Of tn
second week, ON the 36th ballot, tn,
Blaine column marched solidly I,
Garfield, the break having been lie,
by Wisconsin. The Wisconsin del
egation decided upon Garfield owe
} William Window by a margin o
but one vote. Had Window re
ceived that state he might hav
captured the nomination. Whel
. Garfield was nominated there wer
. still 306 delegates voting for Gran,
"The Immortal 800" they wer
called. and gold medals wer
struck for them in commemorate
of the stand they made. 1t was tn
first effort to obtain a third teri
ever made by any man who ha
been president.
Conkling was furious over tn
nomination Of Garfield, whom b
did not trust. He refused to sc
lect the vice presidential candidat,
but the convention named Cheste
, A. Arthur. just because he was
; friend Of Conkling. We sometime