Evening star., 1936-02-15

Party Plan Was Born as Result of Conflict Over Masonry
Which Had Only Brief Course, and Was Inspired by
Famous Mystery Case Surrounding Alleged kidnapping.

nal, of outstanding interest, discloses
various elements of convention action
which have endured to the present.
Likewise, it brings to light numerous
contrasts with the procedure of today.
That there we're travel perils even
in that day, so far anterior to the
gasoline age, is shown by one of the
first entries in the journal. This was
a motion that ION information that
Robert Hanna. delegate from Cadiz.
Ohio, is 8 miles from this city, de-
tanned by fractured limb occasioned
by the breaking down of the state
COACH while on his way to attend
this convention, resolved. that the
name of Robert Hanna be recorded as
a delegate, with the testimony of our
deep regret for his misfortune
Chief among the contrasts was the
total absence of oratorical flights plac-
ing in nomination such material for
head of the party ticket as was avail
able. Less than page of the pro
ceedings" was sufficient to record the
steps of the convention in selecting
William Writ of Maryland as the
party's nominee for the White House
and Amos Ellmaker Of Pennsylvania
as his running mate.
But If oratory was lacking in the
proposing of these names, the only
ones balloted upon, there was no
dearth of "keynoting." In fact, the
convention, replete with reports and
addresses on the self-assigned task
of curbing. if not extirpating, Masonry
as an element in the public life of the
Nation, had one long-sustained and
emphatic keynote of bitter condemna-
ton. The journal closes with an "ad-
dress to the American voter" urging
support of the ticket, a document not
entirely unlike the party platforms of
today.
1t is not easy now to visualize the
political situation of a century ago,
and the spectacular effort to convert
a crusade against a fraternal order
into the ruling issue of the day. 1t is
necessary, therefore, to sketch briefly
the inception of this weird movement
which, seeming to have q single aim,
was destined to become political foot
ball, utilized with varying cleverness
and success by scheming politicians,
with which the period was richly en-
dowed, and finally booted right of the
field.
Students differ as to the direct bear
ing the celebrated Morgan CASE had
upon subsequent political events, par
ticularly when they assumed national
scope, but it cannot be gainsaid that
that episode was the spark that
touched of the anti-Masonic fire.
works, which commanded universal
attention for more than a decade.
The anti-Masonic party rose and
fell as factor in national politics.
In its feverish career it had created
widespread and venomous dissention
and had drawn to its standard such
towering and national figures as John
Marshall, illustrious Chief Justice OF
the United States, who was, indeed,
an approving attendant at the Balti-
more convention; Millard Fillmore
later to become President on another
ticket; William H. Seward, subsequent
ly member of Lincoln's cabinet;
Daniel Webster, whose long, vain quest
OF the presidency became entangled in
the briars of anti-Masonry; not tc
speak OF a host of others of lesser
celebrity.
But with all its ambition and preten-
sion. all that the party really added
to the political advancement of the
Nation was the national convention,
recurrence of which is just around the
corner with bag full of excitement
for all, an idea conceived by one in It's
ranks, some shadowy individual as un-
known to fame as the nameless I'M
mortal who first perceived the TOOTH
SOn1eneSS nf hiYtfar sy,raad ,RhOn bread