The Irish standard., 1908-10-10

rim that state, and for while Clinton's
supporters imagined they would carry
it. They had a fairly strong org ,n:za-
tion, but the Democrats We're ably led
there. and gave Madison their electors
al votes. Pennsylvania and Virginia
each had 25 electoral votes in the
canvass Of 1872. but the hardest part
of tho fight was in Pennsylvania. And
when the full returns came in Penn.
isylvania did more rejoicing than did
Virginia or any other states wfficn
were carried by Madison.
In 1900 New York for the first
time became pivotal. The spring
elections for members of the legisla.
ture, which cast the electoral vote Of
New York at that time. determined
the action OF the state in the presi.
dental division. Thc Democrats
carried the legislature. and thus JET.
ferson could count on getting that
state in the election few months Ia.
ter. Adams was a candidate for re..
election. He had carried New York
in 1896 as against Jefferson, but when
New York turned against him in the
spring Of 1900 his friends began Ia
feel downcast for even with New
York on his side in 1896 he had Il mar.
gin of only three electoral votes over
Jefferson. In 1900, as in 1886. New
York had only ~ electoral votes, as
compared with q for Virginia, 16 for
Massachusetts and Is for Pennsylva.
mia. The swing of New York over to
inc Democratic side, however, in the
spring canvass of 1900, was deemed
to be SO important in the narrow mar.
gin between the parties in those days
that d feeling Of dcspondency seized
many OF the Fcdcralist leaders when
the returns came in. In the canvass
in New York, in which the Democrats
won, Burr was their leader, and
Hamilton was the directing head OF
the Fcdcrplists. Burrs adroit work
as the head Of Tammany, which then
made its first appearance as a pOliti.
cal organization, gavc him the candi.
dacy, in association with Jefferson,
And in tho election in which Jefferson
and Burr beat Adams and Pinckney,
tho Fedcralist candidates, they had Il
tic vote. This sent the election to
the House of Representatives, for up.
der The law at that time the electors
did not specify which one of the two
candidates for whom they cast their.
ballots was intended to be president
and which vice president.
New York State in 1914.
In 1874, however, New York, as a
pivotal state, first appeared in a con.
spjcuous way. In that year tho
Wings had placed their favorite son,
Clay, at the head of their ticket by the
unanimous vote Of their convention.
New York's Democratic favorite, ex.
President Van Buren,, who was also
ed against him because, through H.
the masses. Of the Democratic party
OF the country, was beaten for the
candidacy through the detection OF,
Southern delegates. The South turn.
ed aaginst him because, through 4.
letter extorted from him by some Of
his Democratic enemies a few weeks
previous to the convention, he ex-
pressed some opposition to the an.
neXation of Texas, which was tho,
paramount issue in that year. The is.
sue was unwelcome to both Clay and
Van Buren,. of opposite sides. At the
outset in the convention Van Bursa
led. despite his letter OH annexation.e
He had a majority Of all the votes cast
IN the convention, and thus. under the
Whig or the Republican rules. would,
have been nominated. The. two-thirds
requirement was invoked anew in that
convention and this defeated him. His
leading opponents in the convention
were cass. ex-yice President RICHARD
n. johnson and Buchanan. Cass' pres.