The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1916-11-16
ONLY TWO PARALLELS
TO ELECTION SUSPENSE
Hayes-Tilden Contest in 1876 and
Cleveland-B Blaine Fight in 1884
Notable Exceptions.

allels are found in American history
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 G.. Blaine with only
1,1O0 majority. In 1876 it took an
electoral commission to decide the fa-
mous TildenHayes contest.
1t is interesting to note that the
contests Of men, in which dominat-
ing personality played large part.
= This is particularly true of the 1884
and 1876. Roscoe Conkling, the bril-
liant senator from New York, had
much to do with the eventful outcome
of these two contests.
In the case of the Tilden-Hayes
fight, it was said Mr.. Conkling was
of the opinion that Mr.. Hayes had
not been elected president and there
fore should not be declared the VIC
tor. II Senator Conkling had acted
on this view he could have marshalcd
enough votes in the senate to throw
the electoral vote of Louisiana to Mr..
Tilden. But he failed to act on the
matter, and tradition says that in
SO dong he was influenced by bril-
liant woman who took that means
or venting upon Mr.. Tildcn her anger
because he had caused the defeat of
her father, Salmon P. Chase, in the
Democratic presidential convention
Of 1868.
Blaine Cleveland Campaign.
Prior to 1916 the Blaine Cleveland
campaign OF 1884 was easily the
most sensational presidential cam
palgn in SO years. Blaine was the
idol of the Republican hosts and un-
doubtedly would have been presi-
dent had it not been for the unfor-
tun2te "Rum, Romanism and rebel
lion" utterance of Dr. Burchard in
the Fifth Avenue hotel on the eve
or election. Mr.. Blaine neglected to
repudiate his sentiment, and as q re-
suit more than enough votes were
turned in New York alone to defeat
nm. The Burchard episode, coupled
with the relentless hostility of Roscoe
Conkllng, made the defeat of Mr..
Blaine, as it aftcrward turned out,
inevitable.
The enmity between the two men
OF dominating personally went bacl;
TO their rivalry for the leadership of
congress. Efforts were made by
1rlent's at various times to patch 10
the quarrel, but Mr.. Conklinp was
mp!acab!e. His bitterness toward
MI. Blaine caused more than 1000
OF MS supporters in his home county,
Oneida, to vote directly for Mr..
Cleveland, thereby furnishing enough
votes to turn the tide Of battle.
AS it became evident that the race
would be close to the last, the ex-
cltcment throughout the nation, and
particularly in New York, was in
tense On the day after election il
was announced that Mr.. Cleveland
had carried New York, Indiana, New
Jersey and Connetiiut, together with
"thc solid South" thereby winning
22G electoral votes to ITO for Mr..
Blaine.
Figures Disputed.
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 it looked as if
their predictions would be fulfilled.
The Democrats charged that jay
GoIld, warm friend and political
supporter of Mr.. Blaine, was using
the Western Union Telegraph com.
pany, which he controlled, to hold
back the election returns.
The situation became so serious
that a. p. German, chairman of the
Democratic executive committee, en-
Friday, November 4, issued the fol-
lowing statement:
THE national Democratic commit
tee announces to the people Of the
United States that Grover Cleveland
and Thomas A. Hendricks have car
!, rled 219 electoral votes for the office
!. OF president and vice-president.
The states which have declared
in thair fouo, ,,,o A1o6o,>,o .,Ixo..