The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-06-09
By RODNEY BUTCHER NEA Service Wrgtcr

NEA Service Wracr
 tCopyright. 1892, EEA Service, Incl
 W as h ington, June Andrew Jackson, who was called "Old Hickory" and Martin Van Buren. sometimes called the Little Ma gician" and sometimes the Red Fox" were the dominant national political bosses during the period of the first national political con ventions.
 Jackson, the old soldier, was ab- solute ruler of his party during his two presidential terms and an in- fuence in it for some time there- after. He exerted strict party dis cipline and his popularity with the masses of voters was tremendous.
 Van Buren was something of a statesman, but he was first of all wizard in politics. Never pop plar idol and always bitterly op- posed by men he had outwitted. dIc became boss of New York state. fhe friend and closest adviser of Iackson and finally the generals appointed successor ns president. y A master of strategy and MIr- prise, he nevertheless succumbed to that tricky democratic two . khirds rule--which has been q po- Genital weapon in the hands of po- Ilticai bosses ever since--aDd be- same the first and only candidate Nvcr fo enter political convention Xith first ballot majority and Then be defeated.
 @ Tn Van Buren'sy period politics Began to be q game in which the Flank and file voters, finally en- X.a s.t.t II,k | of property restrictions, had to be Nltisfied. The patronage orchard Became a rcvered national lnstltu- Wffice holding politician came into bclng.
 V Van Buren was an intellectual, Humorous man who never lost Ais temper or quarrcIed. His poll ficaI methods often were uDscrup- bIlous, but lie had great c0draR" End frequently dernonstfated II In lighting for principles. He was conetnntIy fooling his opponents ky his unexpected moves and in tho end 1t was only his own firm 5yeuH and the rising power Of the not,thern slavery interests which dcfeated him.
 s44 ' youth he had campaigned for 1efferson and at IS was elected 10 M republican congressional caucus ht Albany. He became fl leader Of thc Tammany organization, though never a member.
 = When he opposed Dewitt Clin- tbn for tho governorship of New York. Clinton won. But Clinton Vent into office with ma1orities in both houses of the legislature and within "A hours after they met Wan Buren had. by fast. clever work, changed those majorities 10 5I1inoritics.
 A man of guile, with his eye Always on patronage power, he Manipulated in advance so that council of appointment, inductcd under the impression that It stood four members to one for Inc gov ernor, promptly turned out to be lined up three to two for Van Buren.
 2 Van Buren said at about thai lime. Those who feed men and cnjoy the privilege of dispensing the public bounty will In q greater or less degree influence and con" trol them"
 z The spells system really was launched by Van Burcn under Iackson. Van Buren extended it from New York to the federal government and managed 1t from Washington. He saw early how 4 national political machine could 6e built up through the postofiice department. Under his system even the humbleh government clerks in the capital were tossed into the street and replaced by dcserving party men.
 sa The first political convention, in 1892, apparently was called for the purpose of nominating Van Eurcn for vice president. Jack spn wanted him in that job and Van Buren wasn't popular enough to be nominated under the old Congregational caucus method. There tN some evidence that Jackson wasn't sure he would live through A second term and wanted to make sure Van Bnren would succeed hjm.
 The convention, composcd most N of jobholders. adopted the two thirds rule. apparently 10 make it