Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1924-06-19

XNE1V various factions among the deega-
lions as if the Fathers of the Repub
lie had made the keynoter the key
stone of the political structure. To be sure they
neglected to mention him in arranging the politi
cal machinery for the election of the President of
the nation But neither did they mention nominat
ing conventions or platforms or national commit
tees In fact the Democratic party, which had it's
beginning away back in 1900 in the administration
of Thomas Jefferson, never held convention
til 1882 and was gultless of platform until 1840
The Democratic Convention of 1868, which
mated Horatio Seymour of New York against Gen.
eral Grant, was notable only for one fact-that for
the first time the Democrats met in New York city.
why the Democrats have never gone back there in
lifty-sfx years nobody seems to know. The hUmor-
lists have it that "Jeffersonian simplicity has been
scared to death of wicked Wall Street" and the
Tammany tiger 1t was in 1870, it will be remem-
bered, thAt the Tweed exposures startled the coun
try and Wall Street had already demonstrated its
financial power Anyway they do say now that
Gotham, before, during and after the 1924 conven-
tion going to do it's darnedest to prove to inno
cent and tind country Democrats, both delegates
and visitors, that these sinister influences are
nothing but bugaboos. Doubtless New York Will
make glorious success Of this laudable undertake
Ing Anyway, the convention will probably be as
chaste as Diana"-whose l8-foot statue tops Mad
ison Square Garden.
It would be interesting If some Of the delegates
to the 1868 convention could attend the 1924 con-
venton. They would find the New YORK OF To-Day
much like another world.
The first national nominating convention ever
held dates back to 1872. The Federalists that
year nominated Lieut.. Gov De Witt Clinton OF
New York for President and Attorney General
Jared Ingersoll of Pennsylvania for vice president
These nominations were first made by caucus OF
state legislators at Albany, N Y. For some reason,
more formality was desired and the nominations
were made over again by convention assembled
in New York. Madison, nominated by the RepuD-
Iicans in congressional caucus beat Clinton easily.
SO the convention idea got bad send off. Perhaps
that is the reason why the next twenty years were
without conventions The campaign or 1857 saw
the real start of national conventions. There were
three parties -AntiMasonic, National Repubncan
or Whig and Democratic-and all three conventions
ton was held May 81. There then twenty
four states and all except Missouri sent delegates.
The two-thirds rule was adopted. NO PLATFORM
was Issued Andrew Jackson was UNANIMOUSLY
renominated for President, The nominee for vice
president was former Secretary Of State Martin
Van Buren, Of New York The election was held
November 6 and the people voted in every state
except South Carolina where the legislature chose
the electors Jackson and Van Buren, were elected.
The campaign of 1882 also saw the hrst party
platform After the National Republican Conven-
ton had nominated Henry Clay for PRESIDENT and
John Sergeant of Pennsylvania for vice president
the adoption of platform was left to the National
Assembly of Young Men, which met at Washing
fon and put forth resolutions, constituting the
first platform ever issued in the United States
The resolutions urged adequate protection to
American industry favored a system of internal
improvements by the general government, upheld
the respective powers of the Supreme court and
the senate and condemned the indiscr1mnate re-