Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1915-current, 1916-11-16
ONLY TWO PARALLELS
TO ELECTION SUSPENSE

parallels are found in American his !
tory to the long suspense experienced
this year in determining the result OF
the presidential election.
In 1884 it took three days TO learn
that Grover Cleveland had won by !
gaining New York States electoral
vote from James c. Blaine with only |
100 majority. In 1876 it took an
Electoral Commission to decide the
famous rilden-Hayes contest.
II Is interesting to note that the con
tests Of 1876, 1884 and 1916 were con
sonality played large part This is |
particularly true OF 1854 and 1915
Roscoe Conkling. the brilliant Senator
from New York. had much TO do with
,he eventual outcome OF these two con
tests.
In the case of the Tilden- Hayes
fight, It was said Mr.. Conkling was of
the opinion Mr.. Hayes had not been
elected President and therefore should
not be declared the victor. If Senator
Conkling had acted on this view nc
could have marshalled enough votes in
he Senate 10 throw the electoral vote
IF Louisiana to Mr Tilden But he
failed 10 act on the matter, and ira
Hilton says that in so doing he was in
Iluenced by a brilliant woman who
ook .hat means Of venting upon Mr.
Tilden her anger because he had
caused the defeat Of her father Sal.
mon p. Chase. in the Democratic Presi.
lential Convention oG 1858.
Prior 10 1916 the Blaine Cleveland
,amp,ign OF 1854 was easily the most
sensational Presidential campaign in
| fifty years. Blaine was the idol of tho
Republican hosts and undoubtedly
would have been President had it no,
occn for the unfortunate Rum. Ro
nanism and Rebellion" utterance Of
)r. RuCEard in the Fifth Avenue Hotel
IN the evening or election. Mr.. Blaine
reelected to repudiate his sentiment.
md as n result more than enough
| ,Oies were turned in New York alone
! 10 defeat him. The Buchard episode
! coupled with the relentless hostility OF
| Roscoe Conkling. made the defeat Of
| Mr.. Bdainc, a. II afterward turned ont.
| inevitable
The enmity between the two men OF
dominating personality went back 10
their rivalry for the leadership of Con
Srcss. Efforts were made by friends
4 - ,.,r;,,,- t;,,g- ID, natal, ,,,, fI. ,,r.,.
| rel. but Mr.. Conkling was implacablc.
His bitterness toward Mr.. Blaine
| caused more than 1000 OF his suppor,.
| tcrs in his home county, Onside, 70
vote directly for Mr.. Cleveland. there
| by furnishing enough votes to turn
the tide Of battle.
As II became evident that the race
| would be close to the last. the excite.
ment throughout the nation. and par
| ticularly i'm New York, was intense
| On the day after election Il was an.
! nounCod that Mr Cleveland had car
rlod New York. Indiana, New Jersey
and Connecticut, together with the
| solid South" thereby winning 226 cleo
toral votes 10 10 for Mr.. Bdainc.
The Republican managers disputed
| these figures. They said that late re
| turns from upstate New York would
| show plurality for Mr. Blaine. And.
indeed. for time 1t looked as II their
predictions would be fulfilled. The
| Democrats charged that Jay Gould. a
warm friend and political supporter Of
Mr.. BdainC was using tho Western
Union Telegraph Company, which he
controlled, 10 hold back tho election
returns.
| The situation became so serious that
A. =. German, chairman of tho Demo.
cratic Executive Committee. on Fri.
day November 4. issued the following
statement:
The National Democratic Commit.
tee announces TO the people of the
United States that Grover Cleveland
and Thomas A. Hendricks have car
rled 2t9 electoral votes for the offices
of President and Vice-Prosidcnt.
"'rhc states which have declared In
their favor are Alabama. Arkansas
Connecticut. Delaware. Florida, GCOr
gia. Indiana. Kentucky. Louisiana
Maryland. Mississippi. Missouri, New
Jersey. New York. North Carolinn
South Carolina. Tennessee. Texas, Nir
ginia and West Virginia, carrying all
219 electoral votes eighteen votes
. more than sufficient to elect
; mo fraud or connlvanco can defeat