Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-11-08
UNCERTAIN ELECTION
DECISION MATCHED BY
HISTORIC PARALLELS
Same Doubt Prevailed After
Tilden-Hayes and Cleveland
Blaine Campaigns in
1876 and 1884
TENSE FEELING FOR DAYS

The undecided outcome Of the battle Of
ballots between President Woodrow Wilson
and Charles Evans Hughes recalls two
previous close elections-that Of Rutherford
H. Hayes, Republican. over Samuel J. TIL
den, Democrat, in 1876. which was not de-
cded for months. and that Of Grover Cleve-
land, Democrat, over James q. Blaine. Re
publican, in 1884, which was not confirmed
for two days.
To this day Democrats maintain that
Tlden was wrongfully kept from the presi-
dency, and the aftermath Of the momentous
decision, which was made by special cleo
toral commission created by an act OF Con-
gress was a general conviction that, while
technically Hayes was elected, morally TIL
den was the victor. Hayes was chosen by
the margin OF one electoral vote. according
TO the findings of the commission.
The election Of 1884, which went 20 Cleve.
land by the small margin OF iOI7 popular
votes bears the closer analogy to the pres.
ent situation. as hrst reports, then as now.
had IL that the Republicans had swept the
country.
THE HAYES.TILDEN ISSUE
In the more prolonged election finale OF
1876 charges of fraud and illegality were
made by the Democrats, and feeling ran
high. Tilden, New Yorker, opposed
Hayes who was from Ohio and apparently
was elected dispute arose over the CON
Florida, oregon and South Carolina. one
set advocated by the Democrats would
have elected Tilden; the other set, backed
by the Republicans, meant the election of
Hayes The certificates named by the Re
publican party as authentic were technically
the legal certificates, but the Democrats al
legged that, particularly in Louisiana, frauds
had accomplished the election OF the Re.
publican electors. Thousands of Democratic
votes were thrown out by the Republican
returning boards, they maintained
For time charges few thick and fast,
ana fearing violent outbreak, Congress
took action. The House of Representatives
at that time was Democratic and the Senate
Republican. The combined houses by an
act approved January 20, 1877. created the
Electoral Commission, consisting of Ave
Senators. five representatives and fve as
sociate justices OF the United States Su-
preme Court This body with the exception
OF one justice, was chosen on strictly par
tisan lines. The Republican Senate named
three Republican and two Democratic Sem
ators, the Democratic House of Represen-
tatives named three Democrat and two Re-
publican Representatives and the two
houses in conjunction, named two Repub-
lican and two Democratic Justices. The
NTH Justice and final member OF the com
mission was chosen by the four Justices
Tie was a Republican.
This commissions verdict was to be ir-
revocable unless both houses of Congress
dissented
After a memorable series of hearings, in
winch the rival parties were represented by
the best legal talent in the country the
election was awarded to Hayes. lS5 TO 1874
electoral votes. The ballot Of the com
mission showed that II voted along partisan
INES the vote in the case of each State
in question being 8 to T. which was the
ratio OF Republicans to Democrats on the
board The House OF Representatives OBJ
Jected TO the decision, but the Senate ap-
proved II. The case was ended.
The cruX OF the situation was whether
or not the commission had the power to
inquire into the alleged frauds committed
before the electoral certificates were issued
II decided in the negative. The board was
composed of Justices Clifford, Strong Mil
Ter. Field and Bradley. the last named being
the hfteenth member; Senators Edmunds
Morton, Frelinghuysen, Bayard and Ker-
nan, who took the place OF Senator Thur
man. who was i'll, and Representatives
Payne. Hunton, Abbott Garfield and Hoar.
The Democrats evnced great dissatisfac-
tion at the decision. Tilden received the
verdict with dignity. He declined the
Democratic nominations in 1880 and 1884.
THE CLEVELAND VICTORY
Cievelands victory over Blaine. which be-
came known two days after the election
was the climax of the most bitter pres-
dental campaign In the history of the coun-
try. The Democrats accused the brilliant
ana magnetic Blaine or personal and polit-
ical dishonesty. Blaine, who had been
Hayes's rival for the Republican nominal
tion In 1876 and the rival of Grant and
Garfield In 1850, retaliated with attacks on
the character of Cleveland. Personal an
tagonism arose to a fever height and malig-
nant accusations unparalleled I'm American
politics were made In regard to the private
lives of both candidates.
Late on election night the Republicans,
basing their claim on early returns, an
nounced a landslide for Blaine.
This was accepted as final until returns
showed a surprising trend toward Cleve-
land, whose vigorous and independent per-
sonality had attracted the support OF the
'mugwumps." or independent Republicans
Tho day after election Blaines' lead had
been cut down so sharply that the result
of the election hinged on the vote In New
York State. which two years before had
chosen Cleveland Governor by the then
tremendous plurality OF 10000. ON the
second day returns showed that New York
had yielded him a small plurality swing ng
TO him a majority OF thirty-seven electoral
al,