Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page. It is also available as plain text as well as XML.

THE SUN. NEWBERRY. S. C» FRIDAY. SEPTEMBER 20, 1940 This 1940 Campaign May Seem Exciting But It's Pretty lame Compared to the Riotous Harrison-Van Buren Race in 1840 By ELMO SCOTT WATSON '(Released by Western Newspaper Union.) W ITH two such colorful personalities as Presi dent Roosevelt and Wendell Willkie as opposing candidates and the third term issue supplying material for heated debate, this year’s campaign promises to be come one of the hottest presi dential contests in recent years. But it is doubtful if it will be as exacting as the one which stirred America 100 years ago when Martin Van Buren was the Democratic nominee and Gen. William Henry Harrison was the champion of the Whigs. Although the campaigns of 1840 and 1940 are a full century apart, they offer some interesting paral lels. In both cases there has been a crossing of party lines in in the selection of presidential or vice presidential candidates. In 1840 Harrison’s running mate on the Whig ticket was John Ty ler, a Democrat. In 1940 the Democratic vice presidential nominee is a former Republican and the Republican candidate for President is a former Democrat. In 1840 the Democrats, who had been in power for 12 years, were trying to keep a President in the White House for another four years. Opposed to them was a young, vigorous party which had been defeated four years earlier. In 1940 the Democrats, who have been in power for eight years, are trying to extend that period to 12 years under the same lead er. Pitted against them is a re juvenated Republican party, striving to stage a comeback aft er two successive defeats. A ‘Packed’ Convention. For a proper understanding of the tumultuous 1840 campaign it is necessary to go back to the 1836 presidential race. Before the end of his second term Presi dent Andrew Jackson had deter mined to make Vice President •1% MARGIN VAN BUREN Martin Van Buren his successor in the White House. So “Old Hickory” arranged to have a nominating convention held a year and a half before the elec tion. By “packing” this conven tion, which was held in Baltimore in May, 1835, with delegates which he controlled, Jackson dic tated the nomination of Van Bu- xen for President and Richard M. Johnson of Kentucky for vice president despite the opposition of the southern wing of the party. This wing bolted the party and nominated Sen. Hugh L. White of Tennessee for President and John Tyler of Virginia for vice presi dent. Despite this defection in the party ranks, Van Buren and John son managed to win the election of 1836 because the Whigs were also split. They had nominated Gen. William Henry Harrison of Ohio for President and Francis Granger for vice president, but there was another Whig ticket in the field headed by Daniel Web ster of Massachusetts for Presi dent and the same vice presiden tial nominee, Francis Granger. In the election Van Buren car ried 15 states and received 170 electoral votes, enough to win for him over Harrison’s 73 electoral votes, Webster’s 14, White’s 26, and the 11 of South Carolina which went to Willis P. Mangum of North Carolina. An Unhappy Administration. Van Buren’s administration was an unhappy one. He inherit ed all of the difficulties growing out of Jackson’s financial policies. Then came the panic of 1837 which resulted from a boom pe riod caused by the craze for in ternal improvements. Despite these troubles and a growing dis sension within the Democratic party, Van Buren managed to win the nomination for re-election in 1840. The Whigs again nominated Harrison and, in an attempt to at tract the dissatisfied Democrats to their banner, they chose for fCmtrt Ink ST OX C A.WO* ^ TI** * * T Z. COMmtD AMO RtlftCTfUUI tLOlCATO T# CtN* W? H . HARRISON, JIT nr* C . RAY1V E R TROY. rUUsM if Join’ C . Anirart. Title page of a campaign song of 1840. Harrison’s running mate the Democrat John Tyler. Harri son’s military record was his chief recommendation as a pres idential candidate. The son of Benjamin Harrison of Virginia, a signer of the Declaration of In dependence, he had joined the army as an ensign at the age of 19, and had served against the In dians in Ohio under St. Clair and Wayne. In 1795 he was promoted to captain and placed in com mand of Fort Washington on the present site of Cincinnati. Two years later he resigned his commission and was appointed secretary of the Northwest Terri tory from which in 1790 he was chosen a delegate to congress. When the territory was divided in 1801 he was made governor of the new Territory of Indiana and in that position won the victory over the Indians which gave him the sobriquet of “Old Tippe canoe.” At the outbreak of the War of 1812 he was appointed brigadier general, placed in command of the Northwest frontier and de feated the British and Indians at the Battle of the Thames at which the famous Shawnee chief, Tecumseh, was killed. Promoted to the rank of major-general, he resigned from the army in 1816 when he was elected to congress from Ohio. After serving three years in congress, he was elected a state senator in 1819 and five years later he was sent to the United States senate. In 1828 he was appointed minister to Colom bia but he was recalled when Jaekson became President. A Candidate Minus a Platform. In nominating Harrison for President in 1840 the Whigs failed to provide him with any platform of party principles for the vAy good reason that they had none except that of wanting to be in power. But, as it turned out, they didn’t need a platform. Despite the fact that there was great dissatisfaction with Van Buren’s administration, largely due to the depression which fol lowed the panic of 1837 and a growing feeling that Van Buren had become “too aristocratic” for the common people, the Dem ocrats might easily have won the election. They were the party in power, had all the resources of patronage and their leader was known as the “Little Magician,” a tribute to his astuteness as a politician. But Van Buren’s followers made several very bad political blun ders and the Whigs were quick to take advantage of them. One of the Whig newspapers, which was not very enthusiastic about the party’s candidate, printed the statement that “give him a bar rel of hard cider and a pension of $2,000 a year and, our word for it, he will sit the remainder of his days in a log cabin by the side of a ‘sea coal’ fire and study mor al philosophy.” Candidate of the ‘Plain People.’ Despite the fact that Harrison lived as a well-to-do country gen tleman at his home, North Bend, in Ohio, the Whigs industriously cultivated the idea that he lived in a log cabin, toiled in the fields as a simple farmer and was in deed one of the "plain people.” In contrast to his simplicity was the palatial luxury in which the aristocratic Van Buren was said to be living at the White House. Whig orators denounced the Democratic candidate’s extrava gance. They declared he was "maintaining a royal establish ment at the cost of the nation. Will the people feel inclined to support their chief servant in a palace as splendid as that of the Caesars and as richly adorned as the proudest Asiatic mansion?” Instead of defending their can didate from such exaggerated charges as this, the Democrats added fuel to the flame by the names they called Harrison—“a super-annuated old wbman,” “a pitiable dotard,” “a granny,” “a red-petticoat general,” and “the hero of forty defeats.” All of this, plus the Whigs depicting him as a great military hero and a sim ple farmer, served to endear Har rison to the “common pee-pul,” especially the farmers and back woodsmen. The alliterative “Tippecanoe and Tyler, Too!” became their favorite slogan and when they weren’t shouting that, they were chanting “Van, Van is a used-up man!” or “With Tip and Tyler, We’ll Bust Van’s Biler!” A Stirring Symbol. Not only did the Whigs have such effective slogans as those quoted above but they also had a striking symbol for their cause. They mounted log cabins on wheels and drew them through the streets with teams of white horses. At their rallies hard cider was freely dispensed—in fact, the campaign of 1840 has come down in history as the “Log Cabin-Hard Cider Campaign.” Never before—and never since —had there been such a noisy campaign and one so completely dominated by emotion. And so William Henry Harrison was borne into the White Hojise on this flood of ballyhoo (even though that word hadn’t yet been coined). But it was a hollow vic tory for the Whigs. Within a month after Harrison’s inaugura tion, he died—and John Tyler, the Democrat, became President. Throughout his administration he quarreled with the leaders of the party that had elected him. So four years later they turned at last to Henry Clay but he was de feated by James K. Polk, the Democratic nominee, and the first “dark horse” in American polit ical history. T WO football coaches visiting in New York recently know all the hazards of the preseason tom-tom. They are none too keen about it. One is Carl Snavely of Cornell and the other is Homer Norton of Texas A. and M. Both face the new season with vet eran squads that were untied and unbeaten a year ago. Both have been picked for a mop-up campaign, which is always dangerous. Snave ly and Norton lose only one or two men from brilliant teams—but foot ball is a funny game. It would be something of a record for two unbeaten teams to go un beaten another year, so both know the law of averages is all against them. Too many things can hap pen. And there are many times when senior teams dip below the level of junior play. I asked Bob Zuppke about this once, when one of his senior teams cracked up. “Sometimes,” Zup said, “as sen iors they get too smart to keep tak ing a beating—to keep sticking their heads into a jolt.” The Rasping Angle “Who can pick any team to beat that Ohio State bunch?” Cornell Carl asks you morosely. “Look at that backfield, headed by 215-pound quarterback Don Scott. They are all fast, all experienced and they’ll average around 205 pounds. Our backfield average may be under 170. Ohio State should be one of the best teams in football this fall. And Ohio State isn’t the only team on our schedule. They can all be tough.” “All you have to do is look at our schedule,” Homer Norton of Texas A. and M. says. “We are in the top-flight sector of football. Each and every game is hard to win—much less all of them. Don’t let anybody tell you Southern Meth odist will be any setup this fall. They have a fine line and a pair of backs that will match anybody in football.” “How about matching that run away giant of yours—Kimbrough?” “That’s different. But S. M. U.’s Johnston is still one of the best. Kimbrough is about as good a back as you ever saw.” Talking It Over In the group of select coaches now at the New York Herald Tribune football coaching school there was the usual talk back and forth about the stronger teams. Bo McMillin of Indiana tells every rival to look out for Ohio State, Min nesota and Michigan in the Big Ten. Bill Alexander, the keen sage from Georgia Tech, warns all comer* BO McMILLIN against Duke, Tennessee, Tulane and possibly Alabama. “What about your Ramblin’ Wreck?” I asked Alex. Alex grins. “Pretty small and light,” he says, “but we’ll still keep reporting for every game.” Georgia Tech has one of those baffling attacks that keep a defense thinking of a will-o’-the-wisp in a midnight swamp. “And don’t overlook Mississippi State,” another Southerner says. “Here’s a team that will be full of headaches for anybody they meet. And that means anybody.” Harry Mehre’s Old Miss will be another troublemaker. They all rated Tulane’s outlook one of the best in years—power plus speed, and both plus experience un der Red Dawson’s direction. “Don’t miss that Duke-Tennessee game,” they all advise. They’ll tell you, too, about Biff Jones’ Nebraska outfit. They were talking about the stars of 1940. Don Scott, Tom Harmon of Michi gan, Kimbrough of Texas A. and M. drew the leading backfield votes. But there was also a Nebraska en try, and Johnston of S. M. U., and others from the Far West. Net overlooking Paul Christman of Mis souri. Best Pro Yearling “I’ll name you the best freshman pro football entry,” one coach said. “He is Kay Eakin of Arkan sas, now with Mara’s Giants. He was the best all-around back 1 saw all year. Here is a great runner, a fine passer and a good spirit. He is every bit as good as Tuffy Leemans, one of the bqst. This Arkansas kid will be a sei*ation.'Be sure to keep an eye on him this season.” This is about the same story I got from coaches throughout the entire Southwest last fall. Have you ever juggled a cup of coffee in one hand, a salad plate in the other, and at the same time attempted to eat the appetizing food the hostess has served you? It is a feat that even the most experi enced cannot of ten manage. To save a guest the embarrass ment of having his suit ruined by a cup of coffee tipping over, or salad dressing trickling over the side of the plate which is being pre cariously balanced on the knees, serve your supper on individual trays. Simplicity is the keynote of the Sunday night supper. That is why the “meal-on-the-tray” has become so popular. Plan your Sunday supper around one central dish. It may be a salad, a creamed dish served on toast, or even a casserole dish. Here is a favorite supper menu for warm fall evenings which easily adapts itself to buffet style of serv ing, or a tray supper. Cranberry Molded Salad Cottage Cheese with Chives Olives Relishes Potato Chips Hot Rolls Butter Coffee As you glance through the menu you can see that nothing in the meal, with the exception of the hot rolls, requires last minute prepara tion in the kitchen. The buffet should be as inviting as it is possible to make it. The cran berry molded salad with a mound of cottage cheese and chives in the center of the ring mold makes an especially attractive center piece for serving table. The rolls may be placed in a cunning bread basket, covered with a napkin to keep them hot. The serving table must also have the neces sary silverware, dishes, napkins and trays on it. When the meal is ready, each guest helps him self, and delights in the informality of the occasion. Instead of using the buffet style of serving, you may want to pre pare the trays in the kitchen. Then with the aid of the members of the family, the trays are served to the guests. The following menu is an excel lent one to serve when fall evenings are a little nippy, and a warm dish is appealing. Welsh Rabbit on Toast Cole Slaw Baked Apple Coffee Tea Molded Cranberry Salad. (Serves 8) 1 package lemon flavored gelatin dessert 1% cups boiling water 1 cup crapberry sauce Vi cup pineapple (diced) % cup nuts (chopped fine) Pour boiling water over gelatin and stir until dissolved. Crush cran berry sauce with a fork and add to the gelatin mixture. Pour into a ring mold and let stand until par tially set. Fold in pineapple and nuts. Chill until firm. Unmold on crisp lettuce. Fill ring with chilled cottage cheese to which finely chopped chives have been added; or use any other salad mixture which may be desirable. Stuffed Tomato Salad. (Serves 5) 5 medium sized tomatoes Dash celery, onion or garlic salt 1 cup canned kidney beans 2 tablespoons celery (chopped) 2 tablespoons green onion (minced) 2 tablespoons ripe olives (chopped fine) 2 tablespoons mayonnaise 1 hard cooked egg (grated) Select firm, medium sized toma toes and peel. Hollow out the inte riors and sprinkle with celery, gar lic or onion salt. Mix together the kidney beans, celery, onion, olives and mayonnaise, and stuff the to matoes with this mixture. Chill, and serve on lettuce leaves. Garnish with hard cooked egg, which has been put through potato ricer or coarse strainer. Eggs a la King. (Serves 4-8) 6 eggs % cup mushroom caps 3 tablespoons butter 3 tablespoons flour 1% cups milk % cup cream Vi cup green peas (drained) % cup green pepper (chopped fine) 1 tablespoon pimiento (chopped fine) 1 tablespoon parsley (chopped fine) 1 teaspoon salt Vi teaspoon pepper Dash paprika Vi teaspoon lemon juice Hard cook the eggs, peel and slice. Saute the mushroom caps in the butter, over low heat, in the top part of double boiler (directly over flame). Add flour, and blend well, cooking over hot water. Add milk and cream, stirring constantly until mixture thickens and is smooth. Add peas, green pepper, pimiento, pars ley and sliced eggs, and stir gently to avoid breaking the egg slices. Season with salt, pepper, paprika and lemon juice. Serve hot on but tered toast. Cole Slaw. (Serves 6-8) 1% quarts cabbage (sliced finely) 1 cup green peppers (cut in thin slices) V* cup stuffed olives (sliced thin) 5 or 6 small green onions (cut fine) Toss cabbage, pepper, olives and green onions lightly together. Serve cold with french dressing. Devonshire Buns. (Makes 2’& dozen small buns) 1 cup milk 2 cakes yeast V* cup butter (softened) % cup sugar Dash of salt 3Vi cups flour (sifted) Heat milk to lukewarm. Add crumbled yeast and stir until dis solved. Add but ter and sugar. Blend. Add salt. When liquid is cool, add flour and beat until smooth. Knead 4 minutes, or until satiny to the touch. Cut across each way with a knife, rub with fat and cover with a cloth. Let rise 1 hour, or until doubled in bulk. Form into small narrow rolls, about 3 inches long. Brush with melted fat and let rise 1 hour, or until doubled in bulk. Bake in a hot oven (400 degrees) for about 18 minutes. When cold split and spread with raspberry jam and clotted cream. Replace tops and serve. Hot Muffins. (Makes 10 medium sized muffins) 2 cups flour Vfc teaspoon salt 2 teaspoons baking powder 2 tablespoons sugar Vi cup shortening 1 egg (beaten) % cup milk Mix and sift together the flour, salt, baking powder and sugar. Cut in the shortening. Combine beaten egg and milk, and add to mixture. Mix lightly, blending only until the dry ingredients are moistened. Place in greased muffin pans and bake in a hot oven (400 degrees) approx imately 25 minutes. Tomato French Dressing. (Makes 2 cups) Vi can condensed tomato soup (% cup) % cup vinegar % cup oil 2 tablespoons sugar 1% tablespoons lemon juice Vi teaspoon Worcestershire sauce % teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon dry mustard % teaspoon paprika Place all of the ingredients in a mixing bowl and beat until blended. Store in refrigerator in a quart jar. Household Hints. Miss Howe, in her book, “House hold Hints,” gives you some short cuts to sewing which will prove ben eficial when you start giving the children’s clothes the once-over. You may obtain your copy by sending 10 cents, in coin, to Eleanor Howe, 919 North Michigan Ave., Chicago, Illi nois. (Releawd by Wcitern Newspaper Union.) Rug to Crochet in Simple Crochet Stitch /’'’HOOSE three colors or two shades and white for this easy shell stitch rug crocheted in sec tions for easy handling. Use four strands of string, candlewick or rags. • • • Pattern 6601 contains directions for mak ing rug; illustrations of it and stitches; materials required; color schemes. Send order to: Sewing Circle Needlecraft Dept, tz Eighth Ave. New York Enclose IS cents In coins for Pat tern No Name Address Strange Facts ! Sun, Moon Eclipses Luminous Frog Foreign Invasion ! C. Although there are fewer lunar than solar eclipses, more people have observed the former, for an eclipse of the sun lasts only a few minutes and is visible from only a narrow path on the earth’s surface. An eclipse of the moon is longer in duration and may be observed from more than half the world. C. A certain species of frog, after a heavy meal of fireflies, may be seen in the dark by the light of these insects shining through the walls of its stomach. C. Custom officers on the Ameri- can-Canadian border insist upon cattle staying on their own side of the frontier, even when their own er’s pasture lies in both countries. When cattle are suspected of hav ing strayed into the “foreign” part of the farm, their tails are doused in a solution of washing soda. If they are Canadian animals, the tails, having been treated with a chemical, turn a bright red.—Col lier’s. For Rose Fever runny nose NOSE DROPS. PENETR0 D Seed of Science Men love to wonder and that is the seed of our science.—Emer son. For Only 10/Now Less than G a dose Dr. Hitchcocks LAXATIVE POWDER By the Will ’Tis the will that makes the ac tion good or ill. WNU—7 38—40 TEACHING A CHILD • VALUE OF PENNIES • A child of a wise mother will be • taught from early childhood to be- • come a regular reader of the adver- # tisements. In that way better perhaps • than in any other can the child be # taught the great value of pennies and • the permanent benefit which comes • from making every penny count. •