The Daily Alaska empire., 1931-08-11
BY SCOTT c. BONE

IIlS 1uSb QudIbSI O1 bIle 1NSlltlStll centuries barely missed becoming president of the United States. Usually, the results of national elections are decisive, often, over whelming. Majorities for the win ming side in the last three contests reached into the millions but, ex- sitting conditions do not forecast a repetition of such figures in 1892. Under the electoral system, can didate may fail to receive the popular vote and still reach the White House, which has sometimes happened. It is conceivable, owing to slothful citizenship, that ma jority of the minority of the reg istered vote might spell victory for one party or the other. This has never happened, but is within the range of possibilities, with the growing disregard of the voting privilege, universally in evidence The tense issue of Prohibition promises to bring to the polls next year larger and more represen- tative enrolment.
 The four Americans who had the presidency almost within their grasp, but did not attain it, were equally divided politically, viz; Samuel J. Tilden, of New York, 1876; James G. Blaine, Maine, 1884; Champ Clark. Missouri, 19l2. who had majority in the convention, but lacked the two thirds require ment, and Charles Evans Hughes, New York, 1916.
 The Tilden-Hayes imbroglio of Centennial year was fought with fury for weeks. The Democrats were clearly in the ascendancy in the Nation, but the margin in the Electoral College was close and in dispute. Florida and Louis lana, then under carpet-bag rule, held back their returns. A famous message. sent from Republican headquarters in New York, and signed by William Eaton Chandler, party manager, commanded Fed eral officials in the South, to claim everything" They did. Upon the results from those two states hing ed the election. Finally they were counted for Hayes. Meanwhile, the country was wrought up to high pitch. Revolution or rebellion mo- mentarially ap peared imminent. Chandler's very name became an- athena to the Democrats. Although a young man in his early thirties, old Bill Chandler" was a target of partisan attack, and he was vehemently denounced for alleged political perfidy.
 
 Henry Watterson, serving a sin gle term in hte House, the only political office he ever held, was accused of issuing a flaming call to Democratic hosts to march one hundred thousand strong and in- stall Tilden in the White House an accusation denied by him in later life, when he showed that he and Abram S. Hewitt formu- lated a policy of conciliation and peace, and concurred in the crea- ton of an electoral commission, which broke the deadlock by counting the Southern votes for Hayes and giving him the election. Tilden, known as the Sage of Grammarcy Park, accepted the re- suit philosopllically He survived for years as head of the Demo- cratic party in the Empire State and leader in the Nation. His running mate in that election was Thomas A Hendricks, of Indi- ana, who won the Vice Presidency eight years later, with Grover Cleveland
 Chandler, of returning board notriety, later served as Secretary of the Navy and as United States Senator from New Hampshire. Far from being an intolerant partisan, he became decidedly independent and won and held the esteem Of Democratic colleagues. He once publicly advised the powerful Mar GUS A. Hanna, to practice self for his party's good. He and "Pitchfork" Ben Tillman of South Carolina, were cronies in the Senate in the Nineties. The brilliant George Moses, now Sena- tor from New Hampshire, was Chandler's protege.
 A change of a few hundred votes would have given James G. Blaine the Presidency in 1884. Known as the "Plumed Knight" a title conferred upon him by Robert G. Ingersoll, in placing him in 1omi- nation, he was the idol of his party in those days. The tide ran strongly in his favor in the campaign, until a preacher, Buch- ard by name, in championing him, at a Philadelphia rally, used the offensive Rum, Romanism and Re- bellion." Instantly there was re- sentiment by the Catholic Church and a revolt by the Irish-American voters. A plurality of some 1900