Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1856-11-13
Presidential Elections Since 1920

Since 1890 when Monroe was chosen for
a second term. with but one opposition elec.
toral vote, the Presidential elections have
been less decisive than is generally suppos-
ed. That is to say, the popular majority for
the successful candidate has never been ex-
cessive; and often he has wanted msjori;y.
and had only plurality. This was the
cast for Clay, and those thrown away ON
Birney, exceeded, in the aggregate, those
oiled for Polk, making the latter actually
a minority President.
To 60 back to 1924. In that year, four
candidates were in the field, jackson: Adams,
Crawford aad Clay. The first received 99
electoral yotss, the second 81. the third IL,
and the fourth 81. Tne election, under
these crcumstances, ,ievolving onthe House,
Adams received the votes Of l3 States, Jack
son Of Z, and Crawford Of 4. In 1928, Jack
son was chosen by the popular voice, OBJ
tanning l78 electoral votes out of 26l, which
then constituted the Electoral College. In
1882. Jackson was again cho.eI. by the pop
ular voice, and this time BY an even greater
majority, receiving l70 electoral votes more
than his opponent, Henry Clay.
This brings US up to 1886, or twenty years
ago. In that year Van Buren,, though elect
ed President, beat Harrison in the popular
vote only abuut $4,000 though he bad 20
electoral votes out Of 29I. Four years af-
icrward Harrison seemed, at first sght, to
have had three times as many supporters as
Van Buren,, for he obtained l34 electoral
votes. hie his antagonist had but 50; yet
he only beat the latter, in the cpuial- vote,
about one hundred and sixty thousand. An.
other curious feature OF the Vote OF 1890 was
the popular vote exceeded by nea'i9~two.
thirds that cast in 1896. Van Buren,, for in-
"a ce distanced as he was, received 3S4 600
Votes in 1910 more than he did four years
before. In 1914, as we have sad already.
Po.k was actually minority President; and
yet he beat Clay by larger popular major-
" than Harrison hid beaten Van Buren,. the
vote being for Polk, 1886, 1876, tor Clay. L.
2y7 ,Il2. The Electoral College stood, how
ever, 40 tor Polk to los tor Cay. In ls4S
Taylor received l63 electoTslvutes and Cass
I26. The great State OF New York in this
election decided the contest, by going for
TAYLOR, in consequence of the Democracy
being divided, and thus Taylor was minor
ity President.
When We compare these elections with
those prior to 1920. we see how much more
closely contested they had been. In 1904,
for instance, Jefferson had l62 electoral
votes, and Pickney, his opponent, IA only.
In 1903, Madison had 1873, and Pickney Al.
Ia 1912, Madison had 1913, and Clinton SO.
In 1916, Monroe had 1873, and KngS4. In
1920, as We have already mentioned, Mon
roe had 2sl, only single electoral vote be-
ing cast in opposition.
These statistics show how nearly equally
divided the people in these United States
are on cardinal questions and federal policy.
Under such circumstances, moderation in
the victors is clearly sound policy. Where
two parties approach SO closely to each
other in numbers, it is FOLLY for either to
urge extreme measures, and talk of using
force to compel the minority to submission.
1t was not in such spirit that the Uuion
was formed, nor Can it in such q spirit he
Observation-Disclosures Ledger.