Changes

The big issue in 1880 was the "spoils system," which was an important part of these political machines and the view of many politicians, from President Andrew Jackson to President Ulysses S. Grant, that the victor in the election should be able to "clean house" and install his supporters in the new Administration.  In 1880, the Republican Party Senator from New York, Roscoe Conkling, supported the "spoils system" and opposed Garfield and Blaine over it.  Under the "spoils system" or "patronage system, the winner of an election gets to hand out government jobs to his supporters.  "To the victors go the spoils," is the famous saying.  The "Stalwarts" in the Republican Party favored this system, which insured that holdovers who disagreed with the winner would be fired and everyone in the new administration would agree with the new leader.  Former Radical Republicans were "Stalwarts".  Against the Stalwarts were moderates like Blaine and Garfield who wanted a civil service system where a government employee would keep his job even after a new leader is elected.  They sought so-called "reform" of the spoils system to stop the corruption that a spoils system might lead to.

The big issue in 1880 was the "spoils system," which was an important part of these political machines and the view of many politicians, from President Andrew Jackson to President Ulysses S. Grant, that the victor in the election should be able to "clean house" and install his supporters in the new Administration.  In 1880, the Republican Party Senator from New York, Roscoe Conkling, supported the "spoils system" and opposed Garfield and Blaine over it.  Under the "spoils system" or "patronage system, the winner of an election gets to hand out government jobs to his supporters.  "To the victors go the spoils," is the famous saying.  The "Stalwarts" in the Republican Party favored this system, which insured that holdovers who disagreed with the winner would be fired and everyone in the new administration would agree with the new leader.  Former Radical Republicans were "Stalwarts".  Against the Stalwarts were moderates like Blaine and Garfield who wanted a civil service system where a government employee would keep his job even after a new leader is elected.  They sought so-called "reform" of the spoils system to stop the corruption that a spoils system might lead to.

Finally, when Blaine realized he could not win, he and Sherman withdrew their candidacies and threw there support behind a "dark horse" candidate, James Garfield.  Garfield was finally elected on the 36th ballot!  In other words, the delegates met for days in a hot summer convention center, without air conditioning, and debated and voted 36 times before nominating James Garfield, who was a former Union general and a current Republican congressman.

Finally, when Blaine realized he could not win, he and Sherman withdrew their candidacies and threw their support behind a "dark horse" candidate, James Garfield.  Garfield was finally elected on the 36th ballot!  In other words, the delegates met for days in a hot summer convention center, without air conditioning, and debated and voted 36 times before nominating James Garfield, who was a former Union general and a current Republican congressman.

So Congressman James Garfield was nominated by the Republican Party for president in 1880.  To appease the Stalwarts and try to earn their support, Garfield picked a Stalwart, Chester Arthur, as his Vice President.   

So Congressman James Garfield was nominated by the Republican Party for president in 1880.  To appease the Stalwarts and try to earn their support, Garfield picked a Stalwart, Chester Arthur, as his Vice President.