Evening star., 1928-10-19

The election of 1892, holds the dis
tinction of being the first one after 1861,
where more than two candidates recelV-
ed votes for President in the electoral
colleges. There was President running
for reelection, opposed by an eX-Presl-
dent
Harrison had been elected over Cleve-
land four years before by New York'S
swinging from the Democratic to the
Republican column. Cleveland had 100,-
600 more popular votes in the country
than Harrison Some 1000 votes had
turned the tide to Harrison in Indiana.
and there were close returns in other
states. The Republicans promptly ad-
mitted six new States in the hope of
giving themselves II new Republican
Senators and 20 additional votes in the
electoral college. Then they did what
was in those days recognized as legiti-
mate politicS-unSeated enough of the
opposition in the House to afford a
comfortable working majority.
After that the House passed the noted
Force bill. which had for it's purpose
the Federal control of elections in the
South, under the plea of assuring the
negro the privilege of the suffrage. The
Senate killed it by talking it to
standstill and holding it there until they
could win over enough Republican votes
to prevent its passage. Senator Daniel
of Virginia, had won over Senator STAN
ford of California. at O'Clock in the
morning, and hobbled into the Senate
chamber on his crutches to tell Senator
Vest, he might as well stop talking.
Vest finished his speech, however, and
the Force bill was dead.
Pass Mckinley Tariff Law.
Then the Republicans passed the Nc
Kinley tariff law of 1890, and the
Democrats persuaded the country that
it increased the cost of living without
a commensurate increase in wages.
Articles that had retailed for quarter
we're marked up to thirty-nine cents,
and there were other increases of like
proportions on hundreds of different
articles. The Republicans accused the
importing department stores with being
in league with the Democrats to break
down the tariff
Beyond the handicap of its legislative
record. the Republican party was ham,
psred by the personality of the Presi-
dent. A man of high purpose and
political integrity, Mr.. Harrison had one
of those cold. repelling personalities
which antagoniZed even his friends. So
amiable a Senator as Shelby NJ. Cullom
declared that he was glad to see Cleve-
land back in the White House because
of the difference in the atmosphere
which greeted visitors.
Senator Hoar declared that if Harrison
were talking to 10000 men in a crowd
he would make friends of all of them,
but that If he were to see each one
individually he would anger them all.
Senator Lodge declared that Harrison
never was able to grant request from
Senator without assuming the atti-
tude that he was comforting a great
favor.
Chickering's in High Places.
Harrison had Blaine as his Secretary
OF State, and the latter complained bit
terly Of the treatment he received al
the hands of his chief On the other
hand, Harrison complained of Blaine's
treatment. He said that for year he
had, with his own hands, prepared the
documents of the Department that
should have been prepared bv Blaine.
Cullom said It was case of HarriSon'S
being jealous of his lieutenant and
Blaine disloyal to his chief.
Before the Republican National Con-
vention Blaine wrote a letter saving
that he was not candidate However.
three days before the convention he
resigned from HarriSon's cabinet and
he was ready to accept the nomination.
Many people think if Blaine had been
an active candidate from the beginning
he would have been nominated Har-
rison. in spite of the fact that he had
affronted nearly every leader of his
party, was renominated without diff
Guilty.
Opposed in Own Party.
Cleveland had some opposition from
the Democratic party Many Democrats
blamed him for the defeat of 1888. as
serting that his famous one-subject
tariff message had been the cause of
the trouble. Others were opposed to
him because of his espousal of sound
money and opposition to free silver. In
spite of this opposition he was nomi-
mated.
The Populists, or the Peoples party,
ss it was called, nominated Gen James
B. Weaver In the West it entered into
4 fusion with the Democrats in MANY
States. while in the South it combined
with the Republicans. In five States
the Democrats nominated no electors,
simply endorsing the Peoples party
nominees. Weaver might get enough
votes to throw the election into the
House. and had New York, Indiana and
Michigan remained in the Republican