Evening star., 1940-11-03

country. there have been two in
stances in which there was no elec-
ton. and it remained for the House
of Representatives to select the
President in accordance with the
Constitution. Upon another occa-
sion, the people did not know who
would be seated as President until
two days before Inauguration day
end in one election no candidate
for Vice President received a ma
joritv of votes, and it remained tol
the Senate to choose that executive
So, if the vote is very close, In the
election near at hand, it would be
acting the part of good judgment
when the clock strikes II, at mid
night. Tuesday, to put out the light
and 60 to sleep, and learn the re-
suits later on.
Prolonged Contest.
In 1876, when Hayes and Wheeler
and Tilden and Hendricks were the
candidates, the squabble over who
was who" was not settled until Two
DAYS before the President was to
take the office, which at that time
was March 4, 1877.
OF course, We must admit that
the HAYES and Tilden election TOOK
place only II years after the close
of the Civil War and that the same
conditions are not likely to arise
again-but, there's the rub! One
ran never tell what is going TO
happen in this great Republic con-
servative as we may be.
Looking back through the files OF
The star for 1876. the writer came
across these headlines in the issue
of November s, the day following
this election:
"Tilden and Hendricks
Their Election Pretty Certain
1877 to 2o9 Electoral Votes Clalmeo:
And editorially: The return III
our midnight edition OF The otar
indicated quite surely the election
of Tilden, and the dispatches. re-
ceived this forenoon all go to make
those indications a certainty.
The Democrats had been out OF
office for more than IL years. Iney
had worked like Trojans for their
ticket. and the good news had just
about driven them insane WIN JOY
There were three principal tlcKe1s
in the field: Rutherford B: Hayes
of Ohio and william A. Wheeler
of New York, were nominated as
the Republican party's standaro
bearers for President and Vice Pres
tdent, respectively. Samuel j. Tllden
of New York and Thomas A. Hen
bricks of Indiana were nominated
by the Democrats and Peter Coope.
of New York and Samuel F. cary OF
Ohio by the Greenback party.
There were 38 States voting, with
q total electoral vote OF 369, anu
as usual. The Star gave out the
news as fast as it came in over the
wire.
The local Republican headquar-
ters at that time was at l00o r
street NV. and here we're as
senbled such distinguished Repuoh-
cans as former Mayor Bowen, Gen
Eaton. Col. Mosby. Gen. Whlttlesey'
E.B. Elliott, Simon Wolf and others
while Prof. Daniels displayed the
returns on his stereopticon. The
election news was also available at
the Garrick Club, 463-5 PennSyl.
vania avenue. and at the rooms OF
the Jackson Democratic Assocla-
tion. which then met on Louisiana
ave between Sixth and Seventh
streets. A screen was erected upon
which to show the returns, "hlle
O section of the Marine Band was
present to provide music for lts
friends. We are told that among the
nieces it played during the evening
were "The Sweet BY and By and
"Good Times A-Coming."
Tilden Jollification.
The Tilden and Hendricks Reform
Club. which met at 472 Seventh
street. about 2 o'clock on the morn
ing following the day OF the elec-
ton closed it's doors and everybody
nroceeded with Donch's Band to
the residence of Mr.. Fury on Fourth
street. between D and E, where, we
are told. all the officers OF the cluo
met and had a jollifcation, after
which they proceeded to the resi-
dence of Messrs. w. H. Clagett,
William M. Merrick and Columbus
Alexander, and to the Office OF the
New York World. in newspaper row
then on Fourteenth street, between
z and F streets, where br1ef con-
pratulatory messages were eX-
changed. 1t was nearly daybreak
when the members of the club
and their happy friends departed
for their homes.
Though quite youngster at that
time, the writer particularly re-
members the bonfireS built by the
bows throughout the outlying parts
of the city to celebrate the great
Democratic victory. There were
many vacant squares OF grouho
In the city at that time, and con-
seouently there was not the same
danger there would be today, even
If the Police Department would per-
NIT this form of celebration.
Of course, bonfires were not con-
fined alone to his notable election
although the method of celebrating
this important national event was
no doubt carried to the extreme or
the Washington commons, partlcu-
larly in 1876. Nothing inf1ammable
was safe upon This and similar occa-
sions-everything loose and portable
that would burn was added to the
flames until people al a distance
imagined some particular section
of the city was on fire. Benches
boxes. barrels, gates, door stoops
loose boards from fences were used
and even occasionally several boys
would roll up to the fire some ones
rain barrel or hogsheao to increase
the height of the flames.
Charge of Fraud.
But as to the election there was
big change in the minds OF the
people as the days dragged on after
the balloting. The Republicans were
l.