The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1894-03-18
THE ELECTORS OF '76.
MINIsCENCEs or THE FAMOUS
HAYEs-TILDEN CAMPAIGN.
ineioou Doubtful votes, which Were
Finally Swung Into The Republican
CoIumu-An Episode Of Two Elec-
tors Very Close In a Panic,
washington Post.

Washington Post
The "Ides Of November" In the year
1876 had been reached and on the nth day
The voting that was 10 make either Mr.
Tndcn or MI Hayes president of the
United states had been fully accom-
plished IT was soon aacertained. how
ever that there was q vast difference be-
tween casting ballots and counting them,
1t took two on three days tl get even an
approximation Of the result Then II was
found that Mr Tlden had Isl electoral
votes Mr.. Hayes 1865 aud there were 10
doubtful Tho total electoral vote was
$685. necessary TO choice. l65. The doubt
ful votes were 4 IN l0londa. 2 In South
Carolina and $ In Louisiana. Mr. Tilden
had lSi without, either Of them; Mr.Hayes
had 1875 without either Of them. but with
them he had $50, just enough 10 elect him,
Huch Chandler, secretary OF the interior
was chairman OF the republican cJmmit-
tee, with headquarters az 1904 F street.
lie claimed the election for Hayes and
posted d large bulletin IN front Of head
quarters. reading: Rutherford b. Hayes
has la votes and rs elected" and this
WAS autographed all over the country, and
with a Characteristic pertinaclty he stuck
10 1t. and kept the bulletin there day
after day About this time Mast made
his famous cartoon IN liarpers Weeiuy,
IN wnlgn nc portrayed Chandler h5ldin6 a
plE elephant by the tai over "a rhY.he.
and tryuB 10 lana nina on 5Jud ground.
Interest az once conferred m the doubt
ful StateB, ana u was DIG race 70 see
Wnlch party could count them ~ In
pert politicians from both parties has
tened 10 the scene OF action ana thr in-
tercst and excitement hourly increased.
President Grant Was IN Philadelphia, and
on the l0th he telegraphed 70 General
Sherman who was IN this city. mat
memorable dispatch, a. follows;
instruct General AuBur III Louisiana
ana General Huger Ia Florida 20 be- vigil
ant with the force at their command 70
preserve peace and good order. ana % see
that The proper and legal boards or can
Fassef6 arc unmll8sted in tbs perform
Hnce OF their duties Should there be any
grounds of suspicion on either side it
should be reported and denounced at
once no man worthy or the once OF
president should be willing 10 hold It II
counted In on placed there by fraud.
Either party can afford % be dlsappoint-
el ~ the result but the country can not
hll<fd - have the result tainted by the
suspicion OF Illegal or false returns
The afr was fun of rumors and predic-
lions and interesting questions. Early IN
the following week a serious ana lmpor-
tani question arose in regard 10 the ELI
slbihy OF two Of the presidential electors
of the republican side-J2hn W. Watts,
postmaster AT Lafayette, ore, and w. N.
Soiiace postmaster at Bridgeport. VI
Article II Of the constitution forbids that
any person holding an office Of trust OF
prohi under the United states shall he
appointed an electOr. Both the above men
were holding an office OF trust ana profit
under the United states upon ana snbse-
quent 70 the e,ectlon. The democrats con-
the appointment contemplated by the CON
sLtulon- TINS frightened the REPUBLICANS