Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-10-05

1T
but could not obtain majority. to
combine upon him MS compromise.
and he was nominated on tho sew
enth ballot, receiving asa votes to s5l
for Blaine and II for Conkling.
The ensuing campaign was Of I'M
usual interest and excitement. fca-
turcd largely by the aggressive con-
fidence OF the Democrats. And dur
ing tho closing hourJ of election day,
and all the day following, enthusiastic
Democrats all over the country re-
joiced at what they believed was
great national victory for their party
In the election Of the FIRST Democratic
President since the Civil War.
But brief WAS their season of re-
joicing. Two days after the election
the national leaders OF the Republican
party wore vocifcrously claiming the
election Of Hayes. While admitting
"a popular majority OF more than
quarter Of million votes for Tilden,
they claimed for Hayes 1856 Electoral
votes to 1874 for Tilden. a bare ma
jority OF one for their candidate.
This claim involved the Electoral
votes OF South Carolina. Louisiana and
Florida. three Southern States where
Republican carpet bag" rule was in
full force and effect. Democrats
claimed they had honestly carried
these three States not only for Presi-
dent but for the Democratic State and
legislative candidates, thus wipihg
out the offensive and extravagant
carpet bag" rule. But the returning
boards were In tho hands Of these
corrupt carpet bageers" and they
i
ruthlessly manipulated the returns 20
as to give the votes of all three States
to Hayes and to their own State and
Legislative candidates. Tho latter had
received even more votes than the
Hayes Electoral candidates.
Here was a grave contest which
threatened disaster. even revolution
Leaders of both parties were iercely
insistent. The United States Senate
at that time was Republican. the
House Democratic. so that agreement
by the two bodies over these disputed
State returns was practically impos.
sible.
Patriotic leaders Of both parties II
Congrees arose to the occasion by
creating an Electoral Commission L
pass upon these disputed returns. i
was composed of five Judges Of thu
United States Supreme Court, fiv'
Senators-three Republicans and tw'
Democrats-and five Representative
three Democrats and two Republi
cans. The Congress representation ol
this tribunal was evenly divided be
tween these two politicsl parties, an
the Judges were presumed to b. th
non-partisan arbiters.
Fate here interviewed to strike In
Democratic party a heavy blow. Juds
David Davis OF the Supreme Cour-
classed as an independent Democrat
was to be a member OF the Electors
Commission, but just then the Illinoi
; Legislature broke fierce and pro
tracted deadlock over the election Of
= Senator by choosing Justice Davf
> His successor on the Electoral Com
! mission was Justice Joseph P. ,Bradle
8 Of New Jersey, an acknowledged RI
/. publican. This made the Commissio
stand eight Republicans to seve
Democrats, and by this party divisio
all the disputed Electoral votes we,
= counted for Hayes and ne was declare
i elected President. The country a
: quiesced in the decision.
Despite the handicap Of his pure
partisan and actually dishonest tr
umph, President Hayes gave II
country a reputable and efficient a,
ministration, with some notable q
complishments, including the resumI
ton of specie payments. He select,
cabinet OF unusual ability. In 8
: cial matters the White House w
dominated by Mrs. Hayes. VINO, as
leading and active member Of 4
Women's Christian Temperan
Union. banished ali intoxicati,
liquors from the Presidential hor
during her term. Even State ba
quets were not permitted any indul