The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1916-11-10
HEAVIEST VOTE IN
NATIONS HISTORY
Republican Landslide in East is Nu||i-
fled by Losses in West
Hughes Carries Some Doubtful States---There
Was Strong Drift Toward Wilson in
Minnesota, No. Dakota and Oregon

the returns seated Grover Cleveland
in the contest Of 1892 has the country
been compelled TO wait so long to
know the result of presidential cleo
ton. More than "a hours after the
polls had closed President Wilson and
Mr.. Hughes were running a neck-and-
neck race i'm doubtful States.
Aside from the uncertainty OF the
result the most remarkable thing
about the election was the sudden
wiping out of the Hughes majoritics
piled up i'm the East by the returns
coming i'm from the West. When the
Republican landslide i'm New York
became known and was quickly fol-
lowed by the heavy Republican yicto-
ries i'm New England, there was
veritable stampede TO announce the
election of Mr. Hughes and the defeat
of President Wilson.
Hundreds OF thousands waiting In
the streets saw the signal lights fash
the defeat OF the President. New
York newspapers which have been
prominent in their support of him con
fore some Of the Western States had
been heard from. Thousands OF per
sons in the East went TO bed believ-
Ing Mr.. Hughes elected, and woke mp
Wednesday morning TO find the result
apparently changed while they slept.
The first figures of Wilson majori-
ties through the West did not shake
the confidence of those who were pre-
dieting the election Of Mr.. Hughes,
and not until the steady stream OF
Wilson majorities began eating the
Hughes columns piled up in the East
did any of them suspect that the re-
sult was in danger.
AT midnight Tuesday IL was apparr
ent that the free predictions of
sweeping Republican victory through
out the country were being contra
diCtcd by the results from the West.
AS every hour saw the Hughes lead
melting down II became clear that the
President was not to be defeated so
easily, and the" at daylight. without
any decisive result, il became appar-
ent that the battle was being fought
out in the doubtful states with the
advantage decidedly in favor Of Mr..
Wilson
A great majority Of the Progress
sives followed the lead Of Theodore
Roosevelt back into the Republican
party and cast their votes for Hughes.
In the suffrage States the women
divided almost evenly between the
two candidates.
New England remained true TO It's
traditions and went Republican from
Maine to Rhode Island. although by
reduced majorties. particularly in
Maine and Massachusetts.
The tremendous vote In New YORK
State showed that the Republicans
there were making the fight of their
lives to put Hughes into the Whlte
House, and the vote there, followed
by the mounting Hughes returns from
Illinois, another pivotal state, saus-
fed everybody that Wilson had lost
his battle.
The vote all over the country was
Of record breaking proportions. In
many of the pivotal States the poll
ticians were amazed at the size OF
the early vote and in some good slzed
Western communities more IMAM '"|r
Of the registered vote was cast be-
fore ten O'Clock in the morning. In
others the number of ballots cast by
noon exceeded by n good margin the
number cast during the whole OF the
last election day. Heaviest vote
ever known" was q common report.
Both President Wilson and Cover
nor Hughes cast their ballots early
I'm the morning. The President voted
in Princeton. where large number
Of students greeted and cheered him
Mr.. Hughes voted in laundry IN
New York and was not disturbed be
cause the number Of his ballot was
thirteen He declared. indeed, that
thirteen always was his lucky mum
ber.
Never was there so much betting
on the result OF an election. Con
servative estimates made In New
York are 10 the effect that some
thing like $6O.O0O,OO0 changed hands
Up 10 the very last the odds were on