Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-04-29
"ANYTAlNo 70 BEAT GRANT"
A Famous Political slogan Recalled.
Grant and Z Third Term-Ment.
orIss Of Don Cameron, Quay,
james MeManss and David
~ Lam

BY GEORGE NOX mccall

pNAeA Eeherehce " tuiS WuE CEy Va S"o
eighties.
And vet It was once the rancorous, un.
rsslentins ,sls partisan cry q political cal faction
The word "Stalwarts'' to designate fac.
tion had its birth then.
.cit Its counterpa,rt today is found In the term
The famous "3O6," immortalized in Re
publican history and linked with the name
of General Grant, have in this city all passed
away with one exception.
The medal that really commemorated
Grants Grants. political Appomattox has become
David II. Lane Is the sole survivor Of that
noted band in Philadelphia.
TT IS story Of partisan fidelity well worth
L repeating today.
The episodes connected with It paved the
way for the martyrdom of President and
the exile of a brilliant but irreconcilable
Senator.
They were James A: Garfield, Of Ohio,
1t tore the Republican Party into frag.
ments for time In the country.
Hatreds were engendered that were ex-
tinguished only by death:
responsible for their inception or ultimate
trend, cast a shadow over the name OF
Ulysses 8. Grant.
And vet in its way 1t accomplished great
gOO0.
'Third termism," as applied to the presi-
dency of the United States, received blow
that 1t is believed has prostrated 1t for oil
time.
Briefly, this is the almost forgotten story
of the famous campaign of
Anything to beat Grant"
TN 1880, at the close of President Hayes
1 term, the Republican Party had presi-
dental timber to burn.
General Grant, after the close Of his Sec
ond term, had started on tour Of the world.
1t was the most remarkable triumph ever
accorded-up to that time-a human being
by the nations and Governments Of the world.
1t began at Philadelphia and ended at
Philadelphia.
With the triumphs Of this globe. encir-
cling ovation still fresh, Senator Roscoe
Conkling, of New York. and a group of his
friends seized upon General Grant as their
candidate for the presidency.
1t would have been Grants third term
as President had he been nominated and
elected.
Conking, brilliant, vindictive, uncon-
trollable and an unapproachable orator,
hated James G. Blaine.
Blaine was a potential candidate for the
presidency.
Grant was the most popular, and thus the
most available, man then before the public.
1t was not that Conkling loved Grant,
but that he hated Blaine.
General Grant was not aware of the sen.
timent being worked up quietly by Conkling
until he returned from his world tour, and
it has generally, been conceded that Grant
did not greatly desire to become candidate.
Don Cameron. of Pennsylvania, was
Conkling's side partner in the scheme from
its inception.
Quay was then forty seven years Of age.
MATTHEW STANLEY QUAY was at
AV1 this time Secretary of the Common.
wealth.
He was Don Cameron's principal lieu.
tenant for he was delegate at large to the
Convention of 1850, in which the "3O6'
made their dramatic but futile stand.
Besides Conking and Cameron there was
General John A. ("Black Jack") Logan,
afterward vice presidential candidate on the
ticket with James G. Blaine, who helped
in the work of gathering delegates to the
Grant standards.
The other candidates conspicuous for their
ability and following were John Sherman,
of Ohio, Secretary Of the Treasury; Senator
James G.. Blaine, of Maine, and Senator
George f. Edmunds, of Vermont.
Edmunds was the choice Of a group Of
independents.
Blaine had large following in the West
and friends scattered through every Eastern
| State.
| John Sherman was popular with the bank
ing and financial interests.
His candidacy was cared for by a quartet
Of Ohio men. delegates at large. among
James A. Garfield.
Sherman's friends afterward charged
! Foster with treachery by going over to
| Garfield early in the game.
THE third-term issue instantly became
L paramount.
Chicago was the scene of the National
Republican Convention of 1880.
1t opened on June Of that year.
| Conkling. fearing a bolt and an inde-
pendent candidate, early in its sessions In
troduced resolution p.edging the delegates
to accept and support the choice of the con.
| yention 1t passed with but three dissent
ing votes, 10 delegates being for it..
The unit rule, which compelled every
| delegation to vote as a majority Of dele
| gates dictated, was abandoned.
| Nineteen New York delegates broke away
from Grant at once. Later they voted for
| Blaine.
| Don Cameron. as head Of the Pennsylva-
MIA delegation, had equally hard luck hold
The sentiment of Pennsylvania was un-
mistakably for the brilliant and gifted
! Blaine.
aided by Quay and strongly backed by Chris.
A. Magee, of Pittsburgh, tried to hold the
delegation for Grant.
James McManes, of this city, notified
Like William II. Robertson, Of New York,
who deiied Conklng, McAIanes, then a
power in Philadelphia politics. deiied
| Cameron.
These notable defections from two of tho
greatest States precipitated the memorable
| convention fight.
Conkling and Cameron were confident of
success even with this loss.
As the balloting proceeded Grants sup.
port fuctuated.
On the first ballot he led. with Blaine a
close second. They maintained this posi- :
tion for thirty five ballots.
On the thirty fourth ballot Garfield, who
had been receiving two votes, gained fifteen
more.
That was the beginning of the end.
The Grant following cast solidly 800 votes
for their candidate and a third term 1t
was 3O6 to the end.
Garfield received 800 votes in the STAN +.
pede, twenty -one more than were neces-
sary to his choice.
Chester A. Arthur was named by Conk .
ling for Vice President