The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1896-11-15
A CLOSE CALL.


How Near the Democratic Candidate Came
to Being Elected,
Cincinnati Enquirer.
The democrats have reason to congratu-
late themselves on the magnificent show
ing made by them in the recent contest.
Prior TO the converting of either OF the
National conventions no person on earth
had the courage TO predict that there was
Il, possible chance to elect democrat as
president OF the United States. on tho
contrary, 1t was on the lips of every demo-
crat that by reason of differences between
President Cleveland ana democratic
congress, growing out of opposite views on
the tarilf and financial questions in which
Mr.. Cleveland. with an Iron hand and
bulldog tenacty. attempted to override
congress and compel 1t to vote as he e.
rected-legislatiou was blocked to such an
extent as to stampede the business inter
ests OF the country, a tariff bill was
forced through congress which did not pro
vide sufficient revenue for the running of
the government. To this was added de
pleted treasury. lett SO by the former re-
publican administration tor which We
were not responsibility Bond issues be.
came necessary, and all of this WAS in the
face of hard times A general panic had
spread all over the country, The general
cry went up for a change in the admins
tratoh, and everything pointed to the
election of a republican president.
When the convention met nt Chicago the
friends OF Mr., Cleveland and almost all OF
the officials under him. made desperate
effort to control IL. and IN their efforts to
indorse the single standard platform they
were actuated by the same influences
"a Cf hat lI...l 1.
the st Louis convention. hut. Fortunate
ly the people had some honest representa-
uVos there. who were elected In their re-
speclive localities to make platform for
the common people. and not for the bank
ers, aud when, by more than a two thirds
vote, they nominated William j. Bryan,
the goidbug delegates latter having re-
NAMED in their seats during all OF the
proceedings), boltcd the convention and
held another OF their own liking. and
Bryan. being too young, or, as they
termed him. the boy orator." they nom-
mated two Rip Van Wrinkles who. not hav-
ing any further future. had nothing to sac
rifice, and Palmer and Bucknor became
a convenient annex to the republican cam
pagn committee.
The readers OF this article will discover,
when the official returns are completed.
that William J. Bryan received more votes
in the United States than were ever east
for any president heretofore elected. He
viii have more electoral votes than any
candidate who was defeated. According
to the returns as they are now reported,
change of 10000 votes. distributed IN the
states of Indiana North Dakota Oregon
and West Virginia. would secure him the
requisite number of electors TO make his
election a certainty.
In the State OF Ohio he received more
votes than Bushnell for governor last
year, whose plurality was $4,000.
In Hamilton county he received the
largest vote ever east for democratic
presidential candidate. and notwtn-
standing the determined efforts OF the
boilers. and money without limit 10 as
sst them aided by the outrageous intimi-
dalton and coercion OF employees or cor
porations, bankers. manufacturers. etc, he
received 1000 more votes than were cast
for Governor Campbell last year when
this county recorded her largest vote
Tho democrats OF Ohio can feel specially
proud, having made a gain OF four con
gressmen, and in addition to gains In al
most every county In the State reduced
the majority 100 in Stark county, the
home Of Mckinley, and n gain of over 5000
In cuyahuga county. the residence OF
Mark Hanna. To this must be added a
gain of over $4,000 In the State II other
States had done this well there would be
a different tale to tell