GAZETTE AND MERCURY.
GREENFIELD,
Tuesday, September 8, 1840.
HARRISON AND TYLER

"Hang out our banner on the outer wall,
Our Castle's strength will laugh the siege to scorn."

WHIG NOMINATIONS.

FOR PRESIDENT,
William H. Harrison, of Ohio.

FOR VICE PRESDENT,
John Tyler, of Virginia.

FOR GOVERNOR
JOHN DAVIS.

FOR LIEUT. GOVERNOR
GEORGE HULL.

The Whig convention held at Westfield last Thursday, was most numerously attended. The number present is estimated at upwards of 5000, who were distinct from the loco foco crowd around the post-office, headed by that pink of decency and integrity, Matthew Ives, postmaster. A fellow under Ives' auspices raised a petticoat on a pole and paraded by the side of the whig procession; but as the whigs did not assemble to fight or retaliate insults, they took no notice of it, but allowed the self-degrading being to march in true Van Buren triumph, carrying his precious spoils. A female in Northampton had the modesty to stick out a petticoat on a pole [or broomstick?] when the delegation from that town passed. We like to see these emblems growing numerous. It is a good sign. Our revolutionary fathers were often materially aided by the women on several occasions by the dedication of their nether garments to the use of the artillery, though they were more modest about it than some at the present day. So it will be now; every such display will knock down more or less of the enemy, and help Harrison on faster, than his friends could otherwise promote his election. Let the loco women beware lest, instead of harming Harrison they bring infamy upon themselves and promote the prosperity of that very cause which they strive to ridicule. No modest woman would do it.
(c) Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association, Deerfield MA. All rights reserved.
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This article from the Greenfield Gazette and Courier reports on some aspects related to the Whig convention which was held in Westfield, Massachusetts, in September 1840. The newspaper was blatantly in favor of the Whig Party candidate William Henry Harrison. The Locofocos were a radical wing of the Democratic Party, whose candidate, Martin Van Buren, was running for reelection. The Democrats used petticoats on poles as a derisive comment on "Granny" Harrison, who was 67 years old. A Democratic newspaper had suggested that "Granny" Harrison would be happy to retire to his "log cabin" if someone gave him a pension and a barrel of hard cider. The Whigs turned this to their advantage, claiming that they were the party of the working man and small farmer. Harrison won the election by a landslide in the Electoral College--234 to 60--but only by 145,579 of the 2,405,645 popular votes.

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