Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-11-14
Why Judge Bradley Instead of Davis
Was Placed ON the Commission.
THE DEMOCRACY's MISTAKE.
Justice Miller's Influence Over Brad.
ley the Factor in the Decision.
INTERESTING CHAPTEI
That Shows the Degradation to Which
Partisanship Can Descend.
Especial Telegram to the Globe.


New YORK, Nov. 13.-.Some important
aud interesting secrets of the electoral
commission and its accompanying events
have fallen into my possession through
long conversation held recently with
member of that body. The gentleman
was not only member of the commission
but of the committee of conference ap-
pointed by the house and senate to draft
the electoral commission bill, or rather to
consider the matter of counting the cleo
toral vote and report to congress their
recommendations. He was there
fore in the contest from first to
last on the floor of congress, in the COM
mittee rooms and in the electoral commits
sion. He objects, however, for various rea-
sons, to the use of his name, and he can
not here be more particularly des-
signated than by saying that he is Demo
crat OF the highest prominence in his
party and a possible nominee for the
elections and of the increased chances of
Mr.. Tllden's nomination next year on &C.
count thereof, the conversation
easily tu bed to the exciting period
Immediately following the presidential
election of 1876. On this topic the gen
tleman soon became free talker, as most
men are, Of great scenes or incidents of
which they have been an eyewitness, or in
which they have been active, and he soon
so warmed to his work that an acute ear
and quick BRAIN were necessary to follow
and to commit to memory's care his words.
The substance of the distinguished gentle
mans conversation is as follows:
Almost daily my mind reverts to the
period of the contested election between
Tilden and Hayes, and never without
feeling of thankfulness that the great
contest was settled in peace.
do not believe the country ever knew or
yet knows over what a volcano it rested at
that time,--what narrow escape was had
from terrific eruption that might have
swept this republic into oblivion. 1 was
member of the select conference com
mittee appointed by the two houses in the
latter part of December, to report on the
counting of the electoral votes. You will
remember the house committee was Dem
ocratic. The great parties, therefore,
stood represented in these two commit
ees, which were to meet together and en-
deavor to agree upon some means of avert
ing the vague but fearful troubles inevitable
on the decision of the contest in the ordi-
nary way. All the fierce desires of both
parties were concentrated upon this little
committee of fourteen, and can tell you
we ali felt the pressure and responsibility.
For nearly a month this committee labor
ed hard, meanwhile the country seemed to
be growing more excited about the matter.
and toward the very last, very impatient.
Finally near tthe, middle eff January ar
rived, and no conclusion had
been reached. The two com
mittees representing the two parties
could not agree. 1t was but six weeks to
the inaugural day, and not a practical
step had been taken toward solving the
question as to who the president should
| be.
At this crisis l am happy to say, though
| a Democrat, it was very fortunate thing
for this country that at the time this com
mittee was selected Senator Logan hap
pened to be ill. He was to have been a
member of the committee, but Senator
Conkling was put on in his stead. Senator
Morton was an unyielding, inplacable
| partisan, whose opposition to any plan
that might have made it possible
! for Tilden to be elected was a constant
source of trouble. and if he had had Logan
to back him We certainly could not have
got on at all"
"You see the bitter Republicans did not
wish to give an inch. They had the game
| counting electoral votes the senate
through its president, did it all, and the
senate was Republican In the hands of
the president of the senate were returns
sufficiently formal on which to declare
Hayes and Wheeler elected. Through all
this committee work Mr.. Conkling proved
himself statesman. 1t was in the rooms
OF Henry B. Payne, of Ohio, at the Riggs
house. We had been in session all the
evening, ard it was now midnight. We
| thought 1t useless to longer continue the
effort. When we met IN the evening We
were all detected and fearful. There ws7
little prospect ef agreement, and failure
meant we knew not what and scarcely dare
| think Mr. Morton had just finished One
| of his unyieldIrg efforts, and all hope
seemed lost. Then Mr.. Edmunds made
the formal statement in behalf of
the senate committee that the latest
proposition of the house committee
could not be accepted. But as Mr.. Ed
munds finished, ne said: Il believe Senator
Conkling has something to say to you"
Senator Conkling. who was sitting lit
tie in the background, turned, threw one
leg over the arm of his chair, and in the
most easy manner possible began his
views. He spoke for full twenty minutes,
and do rot think ever listened to an I'D
dress more eloquent and effective. He
spoke as never heard him speak before
nor since. Every man present listened
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