The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-10-14

PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGNS
xxI-The Roosevelt-Parker Race q ~


times in the history Of the United
States has the dee president been
called upon to assume the once OF
president. Each time the "presi-
dent by accident" has endeavored
to obtain election to the highest
ONCE In his own right John Tyler.
elected vice president as . Whig.
broke with his party and attempt
ed to get the Democratic nomfna-
ton. Willard Fillmore fought hard
for the Wing nomination in 1852.
Andrew johnson, elected with LIN
coin on the Union ticket In 1864,
was an avowed candidate for the
regular Democratic nomination IN
1865. Chester A. Arthur used all
the force OF the administration to
bring about his nomination in 1884,
but was defeated by Blaine's great
popularity.
These were the precedents which
men called to mind when Theodore
Roosevelt became president Of the
United States upon the death o.
william Mckinley. II there WAS
anything in the world which Theo>
dore Roosevelt did not respect 1t
was a precedent. From the begin
ming 1t was his purpose to break
the bonds Of the vice presidential
hoodoo. No less . captain than
Senator Hanna began to plot for
the defeat Of Roosevelt In the Re-
publican convention Of 1904. The
old Vine Republican leaders feared
Roosevelt and they hoped to stop
his program. But Mr.. Hanna died.
and the Roosevelt politicians
could find NO leader willing to be
sacrificed. Teddy" was popular
all over the country. the nation
was more prosperous than ever be-
fore in its history. and everybody
was saying. Let we'll enough
alone"
So it came about that the Re-
publican convention which met in
Chicago was the most harmonious
national convention ever held by
that party. The nomination Of Mr..
Roosevelt was assured. and every
body had agreed on Mr.. Fairbanks
for second place before the con-
vention was we'll organized. 1t was
thu only Republican national con-
vention in which not one single
! question was contested on the floor.
The national committee had prom
Used to give Chicago . three-days'
convention, and it WAS only to full
fill that promise that the conven-
ton lasted more than two days.
Democratic Disagreement.
Such harmony WAS not the por-
ton of the poor Democrats. While
Mr.. Bryan still held a great per-
sonal following among the. voters
Of his party. the politicians looked
upon him as . sure loser. He was
not a candidate for the nomination.
nor would he espouse the cause Of
any other candidate. He did, how
ever, insist that the nominee should
not be taken from that faction Of
the party which had been out Of
accord with the majority Of Demo-
Gratis since the Cleveland days.
Alton B. Parker had been elected
chief Judge Of the court Of appeals
of New York state BY q great pa-
jority in the very year after NC
Kinley had swept the state. A man
of ability, with a good record on
the bench and in politics, the poll
ticians looked to him as q Demo-
cratic Moses. Sentiment did not
crystalline on Parker, however. un-
til the southern and western lead
! ers saw that it was necessary to
agree upon some one candidate to
head of the stampede for William
Randolph Heart Mr.. Hearst was
making. an earnest campaign for
the nomination, and was spending
money and splitting printers ink
without stint. A coterie OF New
York Democrats Of great wealth
headed by August Belmont. backed
the Parker boom with plenty Of
money.
When the convention met at St
Louis it was practically certain
that Parker would be nominated
but it was also certain that there
would be a great fight on the plat.
form. In the committee on resolu.
tons the radicals and the conserv.
atives once more met in pitched
battle. Mr.. Bryan and ex-senator
David Bennett Hill were the gen
erals of the opposing forces. Ate,
a long drawn out fight it wa.
agreed that the platform should b.
silent on the question Of the gold
standard. A tariff plank prepared
bby Mr.. Bryan was inserted. Ths
Fcommittee was unanimous On tht
report. Out Of what seemed to b.
Iimplacable enmity there had com,
perfect peace.
The Silver Ghost Again.
! Next day the peace and tranquil
ity turned into anger and chagrin
The convention was preparing Il
nominate its candidate for vic,
president when it was thrown int
a whjrl by the rumor that Judg,
Parker had telegraphed that b,