Evening journal., 1913-07-29
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
How the Danger Of a Con-
tested Election Was Ayerted
BY Holland

ton that Il was largely due TO the ad-
vice OF Jay Gould that the Republican
party decided TO accept without seri-
Gus question the officially announced
results of the vote of New York state
in the presidential election of 1884
I'm the conversation which I once
had with the late William r. Grace.
who was elected mayor of New York
city on the day of the presidential
election of 1884 and who had been
nominated as the candidate Of the
Cleveland or County Democracy for
Mayor he told me that It was not
entirely due or in any considerable
measure due TO the advice OF Jay
Gould that some Of the more impet-
uous Republicans who thought of
contesting the election abandoned
that purpose.
You remember" said Mayor Grace.
that for several days the election
was very doubtful The figures We're
very close. At one time it seemed
almost certain that Blaine had car
ried the State by 4 plurality less than
thousand Then came reports
which indicated that Cleveland had
carried 1t by an equally small plural
ity There was, as always Is the
fraud and ballot-box stufing.
MY own party had not got over
its feeling thai Governor Tilden had
been deprived Of the presidency
through skilful Republican tactics
II was certain that II. eight years
later, an attempt were made to con-
test the presidential vote there might
be danger of civil war A secret con
ference held by several citizens of
New York who were Of influence, and
who represented different parties,
was held, aud II was decided to COM
municate informally with some of the
leading Republicans in washington
~ presume it will never be known
who these men were They were
actuated by the profoundest patriotic
motives I think a good many per-
sons felt that. as Tilden lost the
presidency by reason Of the contested
election, il would even things up ~
Cleveland we're permitted without
test to take the place, although
there were some sincere doubts as TO
whether he had actually carried New
York State
These men went to Washington
and among others. who they saw,
was John Sherman. then a ln.'nf
States Senator Mr.. sherman learned
authoritatively upon the face - the
returns that Cleveland had carried
New York State by a little over l,0oc
plurality. To upset these returns II
would be necessary to bring a con-
test, order a recount and establish
charges of fraud.
Senator sherman said to these
gentlemen You go back TO New
York and say that Il is my opinion
and that Of my colleagues IN the
Senate with whom I have talked that
it is the duty Of the Republican party
to accept unQuestioned what the re-
turns in New York State show the
plurality TO have been Il is IN the
highest digree important that thig
be done. for ! fear that the country
could not stand again the strain of
a contested presidential election
81 have always suspected that jaw
Gould was aware that the Republican
Senators would not support any at
tempt 10 contest the election Of Grow
er Cleveland. in view OF what the
returns in New York State showed
the election to have been. but II
was chiefly the influence Of John
Sherman and two or three others AZ
Washington which served to cool the
impauence and put an end to the
irritation Of certain of the Repub-
licans who for time advocated
making a contest over the reported
return of the poll in New York State. "
Copyright, 1913. by L. j. Edwards.
All rights reserved)
Tomorrow Mr. Edwards will tell
"Hnw West virginia Came Into Be