The Boomtown Spirit: Black Diamond Cheers a Presidential Ticket
While the nation looked to Chicago for the 1888 Republican ticket, the coal-mining town of Black Diamond organized a rousing local celebration to back Harrison and Morton.
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When the Republican convention turned to the vice presidency, Denny of Kentucky nominated Bradley, and Griffin of Kansas, Warner of Alabama, Houk of Tennessee, Watt of Georgia and Atkins of Michigan seconded. A large floral cushion with white peonies on a base of lilies of the valley was carried to the platform; its center was a photograph of Gen. Harrison, and below it was a card reading "California." It was heartily cheered. New Jersey's Sewall then said his delegation intended to present William Walter Phelps and moved a recess; the convention adjourned.
Reassembled at 10 minutes past 4, the convention heard Griggs of New Jersey present Phelps. Phelps was seconded by speakers from Ohio, Nebraska, Iowa, Texas, North Carolina, Maine and Virginia; Rosenthal of Texas spoke for German-Americans, and Boutelle of Maine praised Phelps's ability, patriotism and Republicanism. New York's Warner Miller was called, and after his remarks California seconded Morton's nomination. Blaine, Foraker of Ohio, South Carolina, Kansas, Pennsylvania's Hastings, Illinois's Marsh and Mississippi's Chalmers spoke for Morton; Moore of Mississippi withdrew his own name.
On the first and only ballot Morton was nominated, with Phelps and Bradley trailing and Bruce and Walter F. Thomas receiving scattering votes. Penny of Kentucky moved to make the nomination unanimous; Sewall seconded the motion and promised Phelps's support, and the chair declared Morton the nominee. The convention appointed a notification committee, directed that Alaska have two delegates in the next call, and after objection added a temperance resolution to the platform. In Oregon the ticket was called a strong one; a well-known Democratic newspaperman was quoted as saying "We are beaten," and George J. Williams predicted Harrison would carry California, Oregon and his own state by a large majority.
“A rousing ratification meeting, with bonfires and speeches by the Republican club in honor of the nominations, is in progress.”
In 1888, Black Diamond was a remote coal camp, yet its residents were instantly plugged into national political currents. Today, Black Diamond grapples with its transition from a resource-extraction town to a center of suburban development, illustrating the enduring tension between local identity and the pressures of regional growth.
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