The Dolores star., 1924-06-13

! I'LL publican and Democratic National Con
ventons 1t is dollars to doughnuts that
these interesting facts never men
toned: The Constitution has nothing to say about
presidential nominations. 1t makes provision
for nominating conventions. 1t is silent on the
subject of party platforms. In fact the Const-
tuition Ignores all three completely as It does
woman suffrage, national committees, keynotersr
and broadcusting of proceedings.
1t is interesting to how George Washington,
the first president, elected. There were no
conventions, no platforms no nominations There
was probably no need of nominations There were
two parties-FeGeralists and Antl-Federalists-but
they were divided the subject of the Consttu-
ton rather than the choice for president Pres
idental electors chosen January T. lTS9. This
was done by the Legislatures in Connecticut Della
ware, New Jersey, South Carolina md Georgia; by
popular vote in Massachusetts, New Hampshire
Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia. In New
York quarrel between the senate and house pre-
vented action by the legislature. North Carolina
and Rhode Island had yet adopted the Co.lsti-
tuition.
In the electoral college each elector voted for
two candidates for president, the receiving the
majority of the votes to be declared president and
the one receiving the next largest number Of votes
TO be declared vice president. Sxty-nine OF
ty-three electors were present. Washington
ceived so votes and John Adams "a Washington
and Adams were declared president and vice pres
ident. 1t evident that by this method o.
voting the vice president elected the leading
opponent of the president Under the Twelfth
Amendment to the Constitution, which went 1to
effect September 25, 1904, the electors vote fOr
president and vice president separately and both
must be of the same party. Washington EsE In
augurated April 30, 1883, in Federal Hall Wall
Street, New York. December G, 1870, the SCAT Q.
government was moved to Philadelphia
The campaign of 1900 the first domination.
They made in congressional caucu~es-Adaras
and Pinckney by the FederaIists. Jefferson and
Purr hy he Penn 4 u
ferson end Burr in the electoral college threw the
election into the house which chose the former
president and the Latter vice president.
The first convention marked the campaign Of
1872. The Federalists nominated Clinton, frs, by
caucus of New York state legislators at Albany
and then formally by convention In New York
Madison, the winning candidate, was nominated by
congressional caucus Of the Republicans
II not until 1892 that the nominating con-
venton again appeared and then for the first time
all the candidates nominated by conventions
held in Baltimore-the Anti-Masonic (Wirt) Ma
tional Republican Wing (Cay) and National
Democratic (Jackson, renomlnated). The Repub-
llcan Convention put forth ten resolutions, con-
stltuting the first convention platform issued
The Anti-Afasonlc Convention issued an address
to the public, but adopted platform.
The National Republican Convention of 1856 was
the first convention of the present-day Republican
party. 1t a great year for conventions no
less than five being held. They are interesting
Lincoln in 1860.
The American (Know- -Nothing) Convention, with
a platform of America for Americans" met in
February in Philadelphia. There were 227 dele
gates from 81 states. They nominated former
President Fillmore QSi9-53). rump Know
Nothing Convention nominated Fremoat
The Democratic Convention met lime 90 in
Cincinnati and nominated Buchanan The oIa.
form denounced Know-Nothlnslsm, warned the
country that continued Interference by Congress
with slavery and armed resistance to law as m
fugitive slaves would end In civil war and di..
union and upheld the right of every state seekiny
admission to the Union TO bar permit slavery
The Wing Convention met In September In Ba.
more and ratified the KnowNothing nomination n,
Fillmore.
This first Republican Convention met June II II,
Philadelphia under the chalrrnanship Of forrne,
Congressman Henry S. Lane Und) BY formal
ballot II unanimously nominated Fremont and nav
ton. On the informal ballot for vice presiden,
Abraham Lincoln received 40 votes ag against 11a
for Dayton. The Republican platform opposed tho
repeal Of ths Missouri Compromise of 1920 In re-