Evening star., 1924-10-05
CAMPAIGN OF THIS YEAR
SIMILAR TO THAT OF 1900
Republicanism of Jefferson, Born of
French Revolution, Likened to Policies
of Progressives Following La Toilette.

than a hundred years could be ex-
pected to be.
Candidates for the elective Federal
Offices were named by caucuses in
Congress. not by political conven-
tions as now. The congressional
caucuses for naming party candidates
were informal meetings of partiSans
held some time during the session
prior to the presidential campaign.
These caucuses in 1900 named John
Adams and c. c. Pinckney for the
Federalists and Thomas Jefferson and
Aaron Burr for the Republicans. This
was done some days prior to May IA
that year.
Electors were chosen generally by
the State legislatures and not by
party State committees as now. In
1900 much difficulty was experienced
at the State capitals to find men who
would stay put politically and vote
in the electoral colleges as they were
Instructed to do. II an ancient pro-
totype OF the national Democratic
convention in New York this year Is
sought it will be found in the
wranglings of the Legislatures OF
Pennsylvania, Maryland and Vermont
in the earlier months of 1900.
Result No Election.
Finally the elections of November,
1900, resulted in no election. a thing
which many fear will follow this
year. The results were known then
within a few days. just as they VIII
be this year, but in 1900 the electors
had not all been chosen and the
country was in an agony or suspense
from November to February, when
the electoral vote was counted and
recorded. The electors in PennsyI-
vania were not chosen until two
days before the time set by the Con-
stitution for the meeting OF the cleo
toral college. The electors of Mary
land and Vermont were divided and
some technical irregularty was
found in the vote of Georgia AS
announced in the joint session in the
House and Senate in February, Jeffer-
toral votes. Adams had IS and Pinck-
ney 64. This gave eight States to
Jefferson and six to Burr, with the
vote Of Maryland and Vermont di-
vided. There were Is States and JEFF
ferson did not have a majority. Thus
the choice of President was thrown
into the House Of Representatives,
and under the Constitution the vote
must be taken by States according to
the unit rule"
The balloting began February II and
was in deadlock until February It.
Thirty-six ballots were cast before a
choice, which was reached by a gen.
ueman's understanding between the
leaders Of the Federalists and the sue
cessful candidate, Thomas Jefferson.
The House Of Representatives was
Federalist, but, under the Constitu-
tion, it was forced to make its choice
between two Republicans, Jefferson
and Burr. The majority, in the be-
ginning, inclined to Burr, but Jeffer-
son paid the price for his election in
political promises. and such was pub
lie confidence in the man that he was
chosen by Federalist votes on the
thirty-sixth ballot. Alexander Ham,
ilton, probably more than any other
man, worked out this solution Of the
puzzle. and the wrath of the defeated
candidate was not appeased until
Hamilton lay dead by a bullet from
the pistol of Aaron Burr.
French synpatAies Prevail.
Leading up to the elections of 1900
had been a long and bitter political
agitation, dating back to 1888, when
the sympathies Of Americans with re-
publican France gave birth to the Re-
publican party of that day. In 1898
this wave Of radicalism went to ex-
tremes and threatened the very life
Of our new republic. Those were the
days OF Citizen" Genet and his pre-
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