Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1916-11-09
UNCERTAIN ELECTION
HAS HAD Parallels
Same Doubt Prevailed After
1'ilden-Hayes and Cleye-
land.BIalne Campaigns
INTENSE FEELING
THEN FOR DAYS

The undecided outcome of the battle
OF the ballots between President
Woodrow Wilson and Charles Evans
Fughes recalls two previous close
elections-that of Rutherford b.
Hayes. Republican. over Samuel J.
III lden. Democrat. in 1876, which was
not decided for months, and that. of
Grover Cleveland, Democrat. over
James G. Blaine, Republican in 1884.
which was not confirmed for two days.
To this day Democrats maintain
that Tilden was wrongfully kept from
the presidency, and the aftermath of
the momentous decision which was
made by a special electoral commits
sion, created by an act of Congress,
was a general conviction that. while
technically Hayes was elected, nor
mally Tilden was the victor Hayes
was chosen by the margin OF one
electoral vote. according TO the find
ings Of the commission.
The election of 1884 which went to
Cleveland by the small margin of
1O47 popular votes. bears the closer
analogy to the present situation, as
first reports. then as now had il that
the Republicans had swept the coun-
try
The Hayes-Iilden Issue.
In the more prolonged election
finale of 1876. charges of fraud and
iHegality were made by the Demo
Gratis. and feeling ran high. Tilden. a
New Yorker. opposed Hayes, who vas
from Ohio. and apparently was
elected. A dispute arose over the
conflicting electoral certificates OF
louisiana. Florida, Oregon and South
Carolina. One set, advocated by the
Democrats. would have elected Til
den: the other set. backed by the
Republicans, meant the election OF
HAYES. The certificates named by the
Republican party as authentic. we're
technically the legal certificates, but
the Democrats alleged that. particu-
larlv in Louisiana. frauds had accom-
Dlished the election Of the Republican
electors. Thousands of Democratic
votes were thrown out by the Repub-
lican returning boards, they main
tanned.
For a time charges flew thick and
fast. and fearing a violent outbreak,
Congress took action The House Of
REPRESENTATIVE at that time was
Democratic and the Senate Republi-
can. The combined houses, by an act
approved January o. 1877, created
the Electoral Commission consisting
Of five Senators. five Representatives
and FIVE associate justices OF the
United States Supreme Court. This
body with the exception of one JUS
tice was chosen on strictly partisan
lines The Republican Senate named
three Republican and two Democratic
Senators. the Democratic House or
REPRESENTATIVES named three Demo
crat and two Republican Representa-
tives and the two houses. in conjunc-
ton, named two Republican and TWO
Democratic justices. The fifth justice
and final member Of the commission
was chosen by the four justices. He
was a Republican.
This commissions verdict was to be
irrevocable unless both houses OF
Congress dissented.
After a memorable series OF near
inrs. i'm which the rival parties we're
represented by the best legal talent
i'm the country. the election was
awarded 10 HAYES. 1S5 to lSf electoral
votes. The ballot of the commission
shaved that il voted along partisan
lines the vote in the case OF each
state in question being TO Z, when
was the ratio of Republicans to Demo
Gratis on The board. The House OF
REPRESENTATIVES, objected to the de-
cision hut the Senate appio'eu
The case was ended
The crux Of the situation wa.
whether OF not the commission hat
tho mower 90 inquire INTO the ALLEGED
frauds committed before the electola
rcrfi6cates were issued. II decided
in tho negative. The board was com
rosed of Justices Clifford, Strong. NIL
Ter Field and Bradley. the last named
beinr the fifteenth member sen
ators Edmunds. Morton. Frelinghuy
sen Bavard and Herman. who tool
the Mace of Senator Thurman. whit
was IN. and Representatives Payne
Hunton Abbott. Garfield and Hoar.
Tbe Democrats evinced great dis
satisfaction al the decision. 1ildel
received the verdict with dignity. III
declined the democratic nomination
i'm 1880 and 1884
The Cleveland Victory.
Cleveland victory over blalhe
which became known two days afte
Inc election. was the climax OF tn
most bitter presidential campaign
The history of the country. The Demo
Gratis accused the brilliant and mag
netic Blaine Of personal and poli;ica
d dishonesty. Blaine, who had bee
HAYES rival for the Republican nomi
nation in 1876 and the rival OF Gran
and Garfield in 1850, retaliated Wit
attacks OH the character OF Cleyelan'
Personal antagonism arose TO ieVe
height and malignant accusations III
paralleled in Amer can politics wer
made in regard to the private lives q
both candidates. Late on electio
night the Republicans, basins thel
claim on early returns, announced
landslide for Blaine
This was accepted as final untl RI
turns showed a surprising trend &c
ward Cleveland whose vigorous an
independent personality had attracte
the support OF the "mugwumps,' or II
dependent Republicans. The day ate
election Blainea' lead had been Gu