1888 Republican National Convention

(which housed the Auditorium Theatre, the main venue of the convention) The convention was held in Chicago's Auditorium Theatre. Since the construction on the theater had not been completed in time for the convention, a tent canvas was utilized as a temporary roof during the convention. Controversy was generated, with labor movement supporters taking issue with the non trade union labor utilized in the construction of the Auditorium Building (which the theater is a component of). ==Issues addressed==

Issues addressed in the convention included support for protective tariffs, repeal of taxes on tobacco, support for the use of gold and silver as currency and support for pensions for veterans. The party also expressed its opposition to polygamy. ==Presidential nomination==

delegation's convention headquarters featuring Murat Halstead, Benjamin Butterworth, William McKinley, Joseph B. Foraker, and Frederick Douglass Nominated Image:BHarrison.jpg|Former U.S. SenatorBenjamin Harrisonof Indiana Image:JohnSherman.png|U.S. SenatorJohn Shermanof Ohio Image:Russell Alexander Alger by by The Detroit Publishing Co..jpg| Former GovernorRussell A. Algerof Michigan Image:Walter Q. Gresham - Brady-Handy.jpg| Former Secretary of the TreasuryWalter Q. Greshamof Indiana Image:William Boyd Allison.jpg|U.S. SenatorWilliam B. Allisonof Iowa(Withdrew after 7th Ballot) Image:YoungerDepew.jpg|NYC RR PresidentChauncey Depewof New York(Withdrew after 3rd Ballot) Image:Jeremiah McLain Rusk - Brady-Handy.jpg|GovernorJeremiah M. Ruskof Wisconsin(Withdrew after 3rd Ballot) Image:Edwin H. Fitler (Philadelphia Mayor).jpg|MayorEdwin Henry Fitlerof Pennsylvania(Withdrew after 1st Ballot) File:Joseph Roswell Hawley - Brady-Handy.jpg|SenatorJoseph R. Hawleyfrom Connecticut(Withdrew after 1st Ballot) Not Nominated File:Unsuccessful 1884.jpg|Former Secretary of StateJames G. Blaineof Maine(Declined to Contest)(Recommended Harrison) File:John James Ingalls - Brady-Handy.jpg|U.S. SenatorJohn J. Ingallsof Kansas File:William Walter Phelps - Brady-Handy.jpg|RepresentativeWilliam Walter Phelpsof New Jersey File:Mckin.jpg|RepresentativeWilliam McKinleyof Ohio(Endorsed John Sherman) File:Frederick Douglass (circa 1879).jpg|SuffragistFrederick Douglassof Washington, D.C. The early favorite for the nomination was James G. Blaine. After he disclaimed interest, several candidates vied for the prize, with the frontrunners being Russell A. Alger, Walter Q. Gresham, Chauncey Depew, and John Sherman. Republicans were dispirited after losing the presidency in 1884 and were attracted to Harrison because of the speech announcing his presidential candidacy, in which he described himself as a "living and rejuvenated Republican." Harrison won the nomination on the eighth ballot and "Rejuvenated Republicanism" became the party's campaign slogan. Presidential Balloting / 4th Day of Convention (June 22, 1888) File:1888RepublicanPresidentialNomination1stBallot.png|1st Presidential Ballot File:1888RepublicanPresidentialNomination2ndBallot.png|2nd Presidential Ballot File:1888RepublicanPresidentialNomination3rdBallot.png|3rd Presidential Ballot Presidential Balloting / 5th Day of Convention (June 23, 1888) File:1888RepublicanPresidentialNomination4thBallot.png|4th Presidential Ballot File:1888RepublicanPresidentialNomination5thBallot.png|5th Presidential Ballot Presidential Balloting / 6th Day of Convention (June 25, 1888) File:1888RepublicanPresidentialNomination6thBallot.png|6th Presidential Ballot File:1888RepublicanPresidentialNomination7thBallot.png|7th Presidential Ballot File:1888RepublicanPresidentialNomination8thBallot.png|8th Presidential Ballot == Vice presidential nomination ==

Vice presidential candidates Image:Levi Morton - Brady-Handy portrait - tight 3x4 crop.jpg|Former MinisterLevi P. Mortonof New York Image:William Walter Phelps - Brady-Handy.jpg|RepresentativeWilliam W. Phelpsof New Jersey Image:William Bradley.jpg|Gubernatorial CandidateWilliam O. Bradleyof Kentucky Blaine, who had recommended Harrison for the presidential nomination, suggested former Representative and Minister to Austria-Hungary William Walter Phelps of New Jersey for vice president. Thomas C. Platt, an influential political boss in New York State, supported fellow New Yorker Levi P. Morton, a former Representative and Minister to France. He had been asked in 1880, but declined. This time Morton decided to accept. He was easily elected on the first ballot as Platt's support of Morton helped him defeat Phelps by a margin of five to one. Vice Presidential Balloting / 6th Day of Convention (June 25, 1888) File:1888RepublicanVicePresidentialNomination1stBallot.png|1stVice Presidential Ballot ==Accusation of delegate vote-buying==

Nearly a decade later, Ohio candidate John Sherman accused Michigan candidate millionaire Russell A. Alger of buying the votes of Southern delegates who had already confirmed their vote for Sherman. In Sherman's 1895 two-volume book "Recollections" he asserted, "I believe, and had, as I thought, conclusive proof, that the friends of Gen. Alger substantially purchased the votes of many of the delegates from the Southern States who had been instructed by their conventions to vote for me." Once accused, Alger submitted correspondence to the New York Times, who published one letter from 1888, written after the convention to Alger, where Sherman states, "if you bought some [votes], according to universal usage, surely I don't blame you." Later in the same New York Times article, Alger insisted neither he or friends bought a single vote. The article also quotes another delegate, James Lewis, who claimed that "the colored delegates of the South will unite on a Union soldier in preference" instead of a civilian. When Sherman introduced his antitrust legislation two years later, his main example of unlawful combination drew from a Michigan Supreme Court case involving Diamond Match Company and Alger's participation as president and stock holder. ==See also==