Middletown transcript., 1916-11-11
PRESIDENCY HANGS ON VOTE
IN ONE OR TWO STATES
Both Parties Claim Victory, But Con-
test is Admitted to Be
Very Close.
RECOUNT IN SOME. STATES PROBABLE

New York-Thursday morning the,
closest Presidential. election in 81
pears appeared to hang upon the re-
suits In the States Of California and
New Mexico.
Wilson. leading in both these States,
had enough sure electoral votes to win,
IN the event Of his carrying them, with
their combined vote of 16. On the face
N scattering returns received from
New Mexico, Mr. Wilson appeared to
Aavs far the better chance in that
Btate.
In addition to California and New
Mexico, Minnesota, with IL votes; New
Hampshire, with A; North Dakota, with
g, and West Virginia, with 8, still re-
mained in the doubtful columns.
Furthermore it was announced by
Homer Cummins, Democratic cand1-
4lEte for United States Senator in Con-
meetlcut, that he intended to file con-
test against the casting Of the electoral
vote for Hughes on the ground of ir-
TegUlarlties.
In New Hampshire, the unofficial
count gave Hughes plurality Of 161.
Victory Hangs In Balance.
The big outstanding feature Of the
remarkable contest Wednesday mid
night was that, though Wilson had de-
saAedIy the better Of it on the face Of
Gha returns, there was still absolutely
an justification for a definite forecast
or victory for eiher candidate.
Claims Of the election by narrow
pauralitles were put forth by both par
1lss at midnight
President Wilson, through his secre-
aary, claimed his election on the
strength Of his apparent lead in Cali
fOTnia and Minnesota. Secretary Tu-
mnltT said:
1--WE are now certain of the Presi-
dents election by safe majority in
THE Electoral College. We are certain
N'Qf California and Minnesota. Besides
se. North Dakota. Kansas, New Mex
New Hampshire and West Vir-
hours.
ders and candidates were irri-
most beyond endurance at mid
when it was announced over the
that in Los Angeles, whose vote
decide the result in the now pivotal
te Of California, the counters haG
1t work and would not resume their
tremendously important task till morn
Glng.
At daybreak the result was so close
by conflicting and incomplete returns
That no one could base an opinion on
the result.
Gradually through the day Wilson be-
.Kan a renewal of the gains in doubt
3ul States which had been the feature
of the amazing reversal of form which
came shortly after midnight.
Interest centered On California. as
BOOa as 1t became clear that without
that State Wilson could not win, unless
he made unlooked-for gains in some of
the other doubtful states. Then the
returns from Minnesota, North Dakota
ana West Virginia showed that the
Hughes claims of those states were
without justification.
At 4 o'clock Wilson had enough states
In his certain list to make the acQuisi-
4im Of California and New Mexico, Cal
Norma and Oregon or California and
New Hampshire sufficient to insure
victory.
Oregon Goes To Hughes.
Oregon was soon eliminated as a pos
xibility, going to Hughes by 1000.
New Hampshire, by reason of a close
result, went into the doubtful column,
where it must remain till the official
count
This left California and New Mexico
pivotal, and in both states Wilson had
a decided lead.
In both the count was exasperating-
~ slow. California, by reason of many
constitutional amendments, counted
slowly. Returns from remote mountain
counties were also slow in coming in.
New Mexico, a mountain and desert
State, naturally gave slow returns, and
Ut midnight neither State could be
eOunted for sure by either side.
4AHCA CudlS0U Lly CldlulS al dlI,
declared Vance C. Mccormick, chair
man OF the Democratic National Com
mittee in a statement late Returns
are coming in slowly, but can see no
reason to change my estimate that
President Wilson will have 288 votes
IN the Electoral College. We have
carried New Hampshire and West Vir-
ginfa, New Mexico and North Dakota "
Mr.. Mccormick expressed the belief
that the votes of State soldiers now on
the Mexican border would have little
effect on the outcome of the election
He believed, he said, President Wilson'S
margin Of victory in the States now
Classed as doubtful would be sufficient
TO onset any possible change in the
result by the soldier vote.
Vigilant At Headquarters.
Tireless vigils were kept by anx-
Ions watchers at night at headquarters
OF both the Democratic and Republican
National Committees Both Chairman
Vance c. Mccormick, for the Demo.
rErats, and William r. Wilcox, for the
Republicans, professed undiminished
canhdence in the outcome The former