The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1916-11-10

Taft's 3,4S4,9S6 and Roosevelt's
4.119.507. In the campaign JUS,
ended. however. there were cross cur
rents that never before had been en-
countered, problems that never have
arisen.
Some of these related to the eXAc'
vote value. of the Progressive sup
port to Republicans and Democrats
Of the labor vote to the Democrats: {"
the-SocialiSt vote to the same party
the effect of the "peace and proSp' ="
ity" policy and the record Of the vii
son administration: Of the influence
of the Republican criticism Of th'
Mexican and international undertak
ings Of the Democratic controlled gov
ernment; Of the extent Of diSsatisfac
iton among northern and western
voters with the alleged control Of tht
government by the southern states.
Claims and Counter-Claims.
Republican forecasters gave out as
surances that all these things would
work out to their partisan advantage
while the Democrats made the oppo
site claim.
The big fight by both parties wa:
waged in what was claimed to bt
the four doubtful states Of Indiana
New York, Ohio and Illinois. The
total electoral votes Of these state!
is 113. New York and Indiana par
ticularly were made battlefields.
There is an old saying of nationa
elections that cas- goes New York Sc
goes the nation" and the early re
turns from the Empire State were
closely watched.
Never in the history Of nationa
elections was so much interest Sh0wr
in the result. The Democratic party
realized that it had to fight for its
very existence. while the supporters
of Mr.. Hughes were Sanguine up tt
the last minute. Immediately thai
the result was definitely known there
was a deluge Of congratulatory tele
grams for Mr. Wilson and Mr.. Mar
shall. Both remained up late to gel
the returns.
Chairmen of both national commit
tees claimed handsome majoritieS il
the electoral college for their candi
date, but the actual figures made goO(
the claims of neither. They did
however. show a steady trend toward
President Wilson all through the
west. Aside from the uncertainty o1
the result the most remarkable thins
about the election was the SuddeI
wiping out of the Hughes majorities
piled up in the east by the returns
coming in from the west.
When the Republican landslide ir
New York became known and was
quickly followed by the heavy Re
publican victories in New England
there was veritable stampede to an.
nounce the election of Mr.. Hughes
and the defeat Of President Wilson
As every hour saw the Hughes leaG
melting down it became clear that the
president was not to be defeated sc
easily and then at daylight without
any decisive result it became appar.
ent that the battle was being fought
out in the doubtful states with the
advantage decidedly in favor Of Mr.
Wilson
Not since a next days revision Of
the returns seated Grover Cleveland
in the contest Of 1884 has the country
been compelled to wait so long tt
know the result More than twelve
hours after the polls had closed Pres
ident Wilson ard Mr.. Hughes were
running a neck -and-neck race II
doubtful states.
Congress returns were equally un
certain. but on their face the Repub
licans had not been able to overthrow
the Democratic majority. although
they did succeed in reducing it in tht
house. In the senate the Republicans
appeared to have gained seven seats
Despite the lack Of certain returns
from the states which will turn the
scale Of victory or defeat neither o,
the national chairmen hesitated Il
claim t1e election.