Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1920-11-19
THE GREAT REFERENDUM

aeust as TO be almost beyond ordinary
comprehension: like the statistics OF
the great war or the measurements OF
jntcrstellar spaces 1t viii be an aid
to appreciation OF II, however to com
pare or to contrast It with former
electoral results. some of which were
regarded as overwhelming.
In the twenty four Presidential
elections preceding this one in which
the popular vote could he counted,
.w,ive Presidents were chosen by
n inorites OF that vote, and twelve
Ly majoritics Three of the forine,
did not even have pluralities, namely,
Jnhn Quincy Adams, Rutherford b.
Bayos and Benjamin Harrison. jack
son had maiorities of 1929 in 1928
and 1888 in 1892 YanBuren had
only 27,os7. Harrison in the famous
og Cabin and Hard Cider campaign.
secured q majority OF 1894 Polk
the first dark horse" won by plu-
gality of sS1S1, but was in decided
minority of the whole vote. Taylor
with a plurality of 1879, $50, was also
minority President Pierce had
plurality Of 2fA694. by far the largest
t,us far and also clear majority:
due to the decadence OF the Wing
paity. Buchanan had a plurality Of
4oe,0O5 over Fremont. but is was in
- hrf
The first Republican President
Lincoln, had plurality Of 4s9.495, but
was minority President. In his
second election. however he had
majority Of f9i5e7; by far the most
overwhelming victory thus far on rec
ord Grant had only sO5.456 plurality
IN 1868. but majority of ALL and in
1872 his plurality over Greeley was
1921 There followed five minority
Presidents. Hayes did not have even |
a plurality. falling i5O,9s5 short of it. |
Garheld's plurality was only s.ie4.
Cleveland's 2s.0O5 Harrison fell
o. 7tS short OF getting even plurality |
Cleveland for his second term had
aes,612 plurality landslide 1t was
considered but was still in the min
or'ty Mckinley in 1896 had SGT 500
plurality. and in 1900. s60.7sS; anC
both times clear majorities. Roosevelt
IN 1904 eclpsed all records with a plu-
rlity OF 9.5iLsis. and Of course an
Immense majority: and Taft in 1908
aid nearly half as well with plu-
rullty OF 1898. SOC Wilson was both
timos minority President in 1912
being In small minority though he
had a plurality, due to the Republican
split. OF e.i231sS In 1916 his plurality
was 5s1.9t.
BY the side OF these Mr.. Hardings
lS'rality. which appears to approx.
mate 100000. stands in class Of irs
own. ALLOWING for the virtual doub-
linr OF the electorate by the enfran-
chisement Of women. It still far ex-
.eeds even Colonel Roosevelt's figures
In 1904 It amounts TO nearly seven
per cont Of the entire population. and
to 20 or % per cent Of the entire cleo
'crate. In many important States his
lurality equals 10 per cent of the en-
lire population. Moreover. II was won In
, straight uncomplicated fight There
we're no States out of the Union or UNI
Ter military rule. as in 1864 1868. and
S12 There were no such adoption OF |
IN outside candidate as in 1872 There
1as no such excitement over a siren |
ms prsonality as In 1904 There was }
"a schism Of the opposing party as in Z
.ei2' no such campaign Of camou- !
age as in 1916. There was just the !
irect issue; For or against Wilson \
SIN. on that the Notion delivered
he greatest referendum ever known
a the history Of the world.
The electoral vote. while completely
erwhelming. Is for obvious reasons
IS Impressive. and is no more deci.
I've than on some other occasions.
Ir. Wilson in 1915 had sS5 to 90 for
" other two candidates. Roosevelt IN &
'oi had ss6 10 40. Grant in 1S7s had Y
'6 against 6s. and in 1865 he had 21l =
spinst II. Lincoln In 1854 had the
-eatest preponderance on record, sia y
Fl. or fully ten to one. Pierce had r
= to - Harrison beat Van Buren, HI
! sfto co. jackson in 1888 had "
j 10 81. Some OF the earlier dlvis /.
ms were even moro striking. but
e method Of election was then 50
rerent from the present that COM
rison would be irrelevant. After z
II was a referendum. a plebiscite.
popular vote. that the President
Inted. and Il was that which he had
st against him with a numerical -.
iphasis never before known In ~,