The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1894-11-10
VALUE OF A SINGLE VOTE.
A Majority of One That Decided
Important Events in American
History

INDIANAPOLIS, Nov, "a circular sent out
the last week by Chairman Taggart of the Dem
ocratic State Central Committee contained an
interesting bit of Indiana history of the Mexi-
can war period. Mr.. Taggart prefaced his
story by saying that the Republicans were
making most strenuous endeavors in behalf Of
the Congressional candidates, and that there
was strong probability that the next Presi-
Dental election would be thrown into the
House of Representatives.
Then each voter is reminded that his individ-
ual vote may decide great events just as one
vote did in 1874. In that year, one vote cast
in Switzerland county cut tremendous figure
| in national affairs.
David Kelso was the Democratic candidate
for State Senator in Switzerland county, and
David Hanery was running on the Wing ticket.
Some time before the election there had been
a sensational shooting in the county, one Young
man Staying false friend who had betrayed
him in love affair." Keso defended and saw
ed the prisoner, who, though poor in purse,
was rich in gratitude, and promised that he
would spare no pains to repay the valuable
service Kelso had rendered him. Keso's
client was in bed with dangerous fever when
election day came, but, against the protests of
the physicians he announced his purpose of
going TO the polls in an improvised ambulance
bed, with the patient, was placed on a wagon
and driven to the polls. When he arrived he
was too weak to get up, but he had the salts
faction of seeing his ballot deposited Then
he went home and died. The official count
showed that Kelso was victorious by Just one
vote.
Then chain of singular events began. 1t
devolved on the Senate to which Kelso was
elected to choose o United States Senator.
The Democrats had meagre majority of the
two branches of the Legislature. Tilman A.
Howard, Wing, and Oliver Smith, Democrat,
were the regular candidates. Kelso bolted
the Democratic caucus and announced that he
would not vote for Smith under any cir
cumstanees. He brought over to his side
another Democrat named Hoover and for
many days and weeks the balloting went on,
always with this result Howard "a, Smith IA,
Hannigan 2, seventy-six votes were necessary
to elect. Edward A. Hannigan was brilliant
young lawyer and Kelso selected him as his
without consulting him in the begin
ming of the long struggle. The greater the |
Efforts TO bring Kelso over to the Smith side |
he more stubborn he became. Finally he |
that the farce had to end, that he |
would cast his vote for the Wings if the Dem
,crats did not come to terms. The Demo-
ratio caucus was re-convened, and Hannigan
gas made the party candidate and was elected
United States Senator the following day.
A fierce controversy took place in the United
tates Senate the next year over the admission
{ Texas into the Union. Her admission was
nally secured by majority of one vote, and
lat one vote was cast by Hannigan. Smith
I'D previously promised that he would vote
,ainst admitting the State if he were elected.
hus the vote cast up in the wooded hills of
witzerland county by dying man led up to
e admission of Texas into the sisterhood of
ates. From this vote also resulted the war
tween the United States and Mexico