The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1920-11-26
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THE GREAT REFERENDUM
Haryey's Weekly.

HarVey's weekly
The magnitude of the nation s
verdict against wisconsin is SO ire,
mendous as to be almost beyond
ordinary comprehension; like the
statistics of the great war, sor the
measurements of interstellar spaces:
It will be an aid to appreciation OF
it, however, to compare or to con-
trast 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 votes could be
counted, twelve presidents were
chosen by minorities of that vote
and twelve by majorities. Three
of the former did not even have plu-
ralities, namely j ohm Quincy Adams
Rutherford B. Hayes, and BenJa-
men Harrison. Jackson had ma
iorities of 1879 PIP in 1928 and 49,
313 in 1882. Van Buren, had only
27,O27. Harrison, in the famous
log cabin and hard cider campaign
secured a majority of 1854.
Polk. the first dark horse" won
by a plurality of 3S,1S1, but
was in a decided minority of the
whole vote. Taylor, with a plu-
rality of l39 $50, was also minor
ity president. Pierce had a plurality
of PA, 1914, by far the largest thus
far and also a clear majority; due to
the decadence of the wing party.
Buchanan had plurality OF 1885,
9O5 over Fremont, but was IN a de-
cided minority of the whole.
The first republican president,
Lincoln, had a plurality OF 4o9, ago
but was a minority president, In
his second election, however, he
had a majority of 494,567; by far
the most overW helming victory thus
far on record. Grant had only 800
456 plurality in 1868, but a major
ity OF all, and in 1872 his plurality
over Greeley was 762,96l. There
followed five minority presidents
Hayes did not have even plurality
falling $50, 935 short of it. Garfeld's
plurality was only 9,464; Cleve.
lands 23,0O5. Harrison fell 80, 7l5
short Of getting even a plurality
Cleveland for his second term had
363.612 plurality-a Landslide, il
was considered-but was still il
the minority. Mckinley in 1896
had SCI ,692 plurality, and in 1900
$50, 1888; and both times clear ma.
jorities. Roosevelt in 1904 eclipsec
all records with a plurality Of
2,544,343, and of course an immense
majority; and Taft in 1908 die
nearly half as we'll with a plurality
of 1869, 500. Wilson was both
times a minority president, in 1915
being in a small minority, though
he had a plurality, due to the re
publican split, of 2,123,lSS. In
1916 his plurality was 5S1 ,941.
By the side of these Mr.. Hard.
ing's plurality, which appears tc
approximate 100000, stands il
a class of its own. Allowing fol
the virtual doubling of the elector.
ate by the enfranchisement Of
women, it still far exceeds ever
Colonel Roosevelt's figures in 1904
1t amounts to nearly seven pei
cent of the entire population, anC
to 20 or % per cent of the entire
electorate. In many important
states his plurality equals ten pc
cent of the entire population
Moreover, it was won in a straight
uncomphcated fight. There wer,
no states out of the union or undo
military rule. as in 1864, 1868, anC
1872. There was no such adoption
Of an outside candidate as in 1872
There was no such excitement owe
a strenuous personality as in 1904
There was no schism OF the oppos
ing party as in 1912; no such cam
paign of camoufage as in 1916
There was just the direct issue
For or against Wisconsin Oh
that the nation delivered the great
est referendum ever known in tn
history of the world.
The electoral vote, while com
pletely overwhelming, is for obvi
Gus reasons less impressive, and
more decisive than on some othe
occasions. Mr.. Wilson in 1912 ha'
435 votes to 96 for the other tw'
candidates. Roosevelt in 1904 ho'
336 to 140. Grant in 1872 ha'
206 against 60, and in 1868 he ha'
pa against Il. Lincoln in lS6-
had the greatest preponderance Oh
record, 2l2 to 81, OF fully ten Il
one. Pierce had 254 to AZ. Har
rison beat Van Buren, 234 to 60