The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-09-27

manded that the people have a voice
in presidential elections AS q matter
of fact. up to that time, the people
had meyer shown any vital interest in
the presidential elections. Even in the
states where electors were chosen by
votes, the suffrage was SO limited by
property and other qualifications as to
make the result anything but popular.
The conservatives controlled the legis-
latures, however, and Indiana was the
only state to yield to the popular out
cry and change from legislative to
popular selection of electors during
that campaign.
In the New York legislature a Craw-
fordAdaWs combination was formed
and the bill providing for popular
election of electors was defeated by
II to IA in the senate. When the
New York legislature came to choose
electors there was another great fight
At the outset the Crawford people had
a lead, but not a majority, and a long
fight ensued. Then the Adams and
Clay supporters formed a coalition
votes: 26 for Adams, IS for Craw-
ford. 4 for Clay. and I for Jackson.
Three of the electors who were chosen
as Clay men divided their votes be-
tween Clay, Crawford and Jackson.
If these three electors had stood by
Quincy Adams would never have been
president.
When the election was over it was
found that Jackson was far in the lead
in the popular vote, but, as everybody
had known for months, the house of
representatives choose the presi-
dent. In the electoral colleges, Jack
son had received 80 votes. Adams S4,
Crawford Al, and Clay 81. AS the
house of representatives chooses from
among the three highest candidates,
Clay was dropped from further con-
sideration. If the three New York
electors had obeyed their instructions
Clay would have been third in the
race and Crawford would have been
dropped.
The Charge of Corruption.
Clay was speaker of the house of
election. There was a combination of
Clay and Adams forces which gave
the votes of thirteen states to Adams,
seven to Jackson and four TO Craw-
ford thereby electing Adams presi-
dent This combination was the basis
of the Corrupt bargain" charge that
clay had bartered away the votes of
the states he{controlled in return for
the promise of the premiership in
Adams's cabinet This charge of bar
ter and bargain was seized upon by
the friends of Jackson, and the cam
paigr of 1928 was initiated within a
week after Adams was inaugurated
and Clay was made secretary of state.
Inc pdlSH ndQ DSGD an SACCSO-
inglY bitter one. jackson had been
pooh-poohed and laughed at in the be-
ginning. and fiercely denounced as a
murderer and adventurer later on,
when his strength became apparent. q,
Adams was accused of traitorods
connection with the British government,
of treachery in the War of 1912 and
of designs upon the republican form
of government. He was a Unitarian,
and tho opposition press made the
most IF his unorthodox convictions,
declaring that he didn't believe in
Jesus Christ. In reply, the Adams
people published a correspondence be-
tween John Adams and his son, John
Quincy Adams. discussing religious
subjects at length. aOne Crawford
newspaper. a fair sample of the 9TH
ers. solemnly protested against bring
ing religion into sthe campaign and
then went on for two columns to char
acterize Mr.. Adams's religious views as
being inimical to true Christianity.
Yet this campaign brought into
prominence the first popular candidate
fof president and he received a plu-
rality of both popular and electoral
votes. altho losing the election. The
people of Blount county were forced to
wait another four years to see their
idea triumph.
(Tomorrow-Presid Campaigns
III. The Jackson-Adams Race of