CHAPTER XXI The Bishop Regime-The Democratic State Convention of 1877— The Workingmen's Party-The Hayes Usurpation and Hard Times Factors in the Campaign Sketch of Governor BishopElection of Bishop-Pendleton Elected United States Senator -Formation of the National Party at Toledo-The BlandAllison Bill-The Democratic State Convention of 1878-Conflict Between the President and the Democratic Congress-Failure of Appropriations The Democratic State Convention of 1879-Contest for the Gubernatorial Nomination-Thomas Ewing Selected-The National Greenback Party-The Republican State Convention of 1879-Charles Foster Elected Governor-The Socialists Nominate a Candidate for Governor. The Democratic State Convention met at Columbus, July 25, 1877. Warren P. Noble of Seneca County, was elected temporary chairman and J. Frank McKinney of Miami, permanent chairman. There was an unusual number of candidates for the gubernatorial nomination at this convention and each of the following gentlemen had considerable support among the delegates: R. M. Bishop of Cincinnati, George L. Converse of Franklin County, John L. Vance of Gallia, Durbin Ward of Warren, George W. Geddes of Richland, Thomas Ewing of Fairfield, E. D. Potter, Sr., of Lucas, John W. Heisley of Cuyahoga, and A. Sanders Piatt of Logan. The nominations of the convention for state offices were: For Governor Richard M. Bishop of Hamilton County, on the sixth ballot; Lieutenant-Governor Jabez W. Fitch of Cuyahoga; Judge of the Supreme Court John W. Okey of Monroe; Clerk of the Supreme Court Richard J. Fanning of Franklin; Attorney-General Isaiah Pillars of Allen; Treasurer of State Anthony Howells of Stark; Commissioner of Common Schools James J. Burns of Belmont; Member of Board of Public Works Martin Schilder of Ross. The Republican Convention nominated Judge William West for Governor and Ferdinand Vogeler of Hamilton for Lieutenant-Governor. The balance of the ticket was: For Judge of the Supreme Court William Johnson of Lawrence; Attorney-General George K. Nash of Franklin; Clerk of the Supreme Court Dwight Crowell of Ashtabula; School Commissioner Joseph F. Lukens; Member of Board of Public Works Augustus W. Luckey of Ottawa. A convention of the Workingmen's Party was held in Cincinnati in September of that year and nominated a complete ticket with Lewis H. Bond of Cuyahoga as candidate for Governor. The Prohibitionists had a full ticket in the field. National politics played a prominent part in the state campaign of that year. The hard times, the money question and the usurpation of the Presidency by Hayes were forceful arguments for the Democrats. The Republicans were on the defensive; they had to explain and a party cannot conduct an aggressive campaign with explanations and bald statements. Also there was much dissatisfaction within the ranks of the Republican Party caused by some of the policies of the Hayes administration. Bishop was elected by a plurality of 22,520 and the balance of the Democratic ticket by pluralities ranging from 17,000 to 20,000. The Legislature was strongly Democratic, the Senate standing 26 Democrats to 10 Republicans and the House 66 Democrats to 41 Republicans and 3 Nationals. RICHARD MOORE BISHOP was born in Fleming County, Kentucky, November 4, 1812. His parents were Virginians of English and German descent. Governor Bishop received a business training in his youth and in 1848 settled in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he entered the wholesale grocery business and became not only successful but wealthy. In 1859 he was elected Mayor of Cincinnati and filled the office two years, after which he declined a re-nomination tendered to him by both parties. When the war broke out he took his stand uncompromisingly for the Union and when President Lincoln passed through Cincinnati in February, 1861, on his way to his inauguration, he was welcomed to that city in a speech by Mayor Bishop. From 1859 to 1869 he was President of the Ohio Missionary State Society and also served as President of the General Christian Missionary Convention. He was |