CHAPTER XXIII

The Democratic State Convention of 1883-The Candidates for Governor-Fight Against George Hoadly-The Platform-Hoadly Nominated for Governor-Sketch of Gen. Durbin Ward-Decline of the Greenback Party-Life of George Hoadly-Democrats Control the State-The Democratic State Convention of 1884-That Year a Disappointment to the Ohio Democracy.

The Democratic State Convention of 1883 met at Columbus, on June 20th, and brought together the greatest Democratic gathering that had been seen anywhere in Ohio in twenty years. The Columbus Times commenting upon the convention said that such an enthusiastic outpouring of Democrats indicated an interest in the affairs of the state that heralded success, and that although there were "a few interesting scenes which can be referred to but not described" it was a red letter day in the history of the Democratic Party of Ohio. There was such a tremendous crowd of people in the city that the sidewalks became jammed and impassable and pedestrians took to the

street.

There were three candidates in the field for Governor, two of whom were making an energetic struggle for the nomination. Those were George Hoadly and Durbin Ward. George W. Geddes was merely a receptive candidate, although he disclaimed that attitude but acknowledged his ambition to dictate the nomination.

The committee on permanent organization, rules and order of business, met in the office of the Insurance Commissioner the evening before the convention, with E. F. Poppleton of Delaware chairman. They arranged for the permanent order of the convention, naming John Sweeney of Wooster permanent chairman. The committee on resolutions met in the office of the Secretary of State as soon as the members were appointed and delegated the business of preparing the platform to a committee consisting of George W. Houk, R.

Brinkerhoff, A. J. Warner, John W. Heisley, G. H. Bargar, and Jacob Mueller. An incident of the evening before the convention met was the circulation among the delegates of a small blue card with the grim caption, "The Democratic Corpse," under which followed an extract from one of George Hoadly's speeches when he had been a Republican, in 1871 at a Republican County Convention in Cincinnati. It read:

"Gentlemen of the Republican Convention: It is with pleasure that I introduce your nominee for coroner, who, the day after the coming election, will hold an inquest on the body of the Democratic party."

The object of the card was to injure Hoadly with the delegates but it did not have any effect.

The duties of the temporary chairman omitted, the convention was called to order by the chairman of the central committee who introduced John Sweeney of Wooster as permanent chairman.

The convention made a strong declaration on the tariff question, declaring:

"We favor a tariff for revenue limited to the necessities of the government economically administered and so adjusted in its application as to prevent unequal burdens, encourage productive industries at home and afford a just compensation to labor but not to create or foster monopolies." They also declared that "the act of the Republican Congress reducing the tariff on wool while at the same time increasing that on woolen goods already highly protected was iniquitous legislation discriminating in favor of monopoly and against the agricultural interests of the country and ought to be corrected; and we heartily approve the action of the Democratic members of the Ohio delegation in Congress in voting against that measure.' This was a wise and strong plea to the farmers and all interested in sheep raising. When the campaign was under way a circular was issued and spread widecast giving the record of the Republican Party and especially that of Senator Sherman upon the protection of wool manufacturers to the detriment of wool growers. This circular drew many votes to the Democratic Party that year.

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When nominations were called for Durbin Ward was put in nomination by Thomas E. Powell in a speech which the Ohio State Journal characterized as "telling and effective" while the Columbus Times characterized it as "a gem." It was an oratorical effort which left such an impression upon the delegates that many of them retain a vivid memory of it down to this day. Judge Thurman seconded the nomination in one of his able speeches. Michael Ryan of Cincinnati nominated Judge George Hoadly and the motion was seconded by E. B. Findlay of Crawford County. Dr. Craven of Toledo then placed the name of Judge Geddes in nomination in a speech that was both eloquent and scholarly. This nomination was seconded by Gen. George W. Morgan of Knox County.

The contest developed tremendous excitement in the convention. The first ballot stood, Hoadly 290, Ward 261, Geddes 77. On the second ballot Hoadly had 332, Ward 245, scattering 60. Upon the announcement of this ballot Thomas E. Powell made a motion to make the nomination unanimous, which produced a scene of tremendous excitement and disorder. Allen O. Myers, with his coat off, mounted the platform and gave an imitation of the hero in his own projected drama, "A Reporter in Hell." According to the Columbus Times he "roared and tore like a madman," and pandemonium reigned in the convention for a time. The motion to make the nomination unanimous was finally carried and Judge Hoadly was escorted to the platform and made a speech which satisfied the convention that the right man had been nominated. Among other things he stated that he had left the Democratic Party on account of his hatred for slavery but had again returned to his own party when Democracy acceded to the Fourteenth Amendment.

The defeated candidates were also invited to address the convention and Durbin Ward made a speech in which he did not conceal his disappointment at losing the nomination for Governor, and declared that he then and there announced himself as candidate for United States Senator, boldly stating that if elected he would favor the doctrine that to the Democratic victors belong the spoils-a declaration which was not calculated to increase his popularity in that day when Civil Service Reform had already become a plank in national

platforms. It certainly gave him no prestige with the Legislature the following January. With all his other qualities Gen. Ward exhibited a lack of judgment and discernment in political affairs and this along with his attitude toward the temperance question prevented him from attaining a popularity that would otherwise have come to him. Judge Geddes made a humorous address.

John G. Warwick of Stark County was nominated for Lieutenant-Governor and the ticket was completed as follows: For Judge of the Supreme Bench, short term, Martin D. Follett of Wash-. ington County; for Judge of the Supreme Bench, long term, Selwyn N. Owen of Williams County; for Clerk of the Supreme Court, John W. Cruikshank; for Attorney-General, James Lawrence of Cleveland; for Auditor of State, Emil Kiesewetter; for Treasurer of State, Peter Brady; for Commissioner of Common Schools, Leroy D. Brown; for Member of Board of Public Works, John P. Martin.

Some account of Gen. Durbin Ward is appropriate at this juncture. He was a man who had large claims not only upon his party but upon the country. No braver soldier went out in defense of the Union in the war with the South, and, among the greatest, few equaled him in pluck. He was an eloquent orator, an able lawyer and a constructive statesman. He was the father of the present Circuit Court system of Ohio and in the State Legislature distinguished himself as an able legislator. He placed principle far above his personal popularity, indeed he did not seem to care for any popularity except that which came as a tribute to integrity and worth. He was a Kentuckian by birth but an Ohioan in education, training and patriotism. He was born February 11, 1819, and at the age of eighteen had prepared himself for college and entered Miami University where he paid his own way by teaching school during vacations. He left college at the end of two years and settled in Lebanon, where he studied law with Thomas Corwin and became a partner with Corwin when admitted to the bar in 1842. In 1845 he was elected Prosecuting Attorney of Warren County and dissolved the partnership with Corwin. In 1852 he was elected to the State Legislature and in 1856 was a Democratic candidate for Congress. In 1858 he was the Democratic candidate for Attorney-General of Ohio. In 1860