Evening star., 1940-08-18
Contests Have Given Distinction Some Presidential Campaigns
sDiStrict Had
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1900 OContest
! Sentiment Shown
! By Jackson in His
s Wife's Defense
Bv John Claeett Proctor.

10 the man WHO Keeps up Will
Che times it does seem that the po-
iitical campaign that will soon be
In full swing will be full of fire
works and excitement. as well, and
that contrary to the hope expressed
by one of the candidates for the
highest office. that mudslinging and
undertaking be omitted, plenty OF
uncomplimentary and unsavory
charges will be made by both
parties, Just as has been done at
least from the days of Thomas JET
ferson, who denied John Adams two
terms for the presidency, but &C
cepted two for himself. Indeed.
these candidates were so bitter
against each other that, although
earlier having been foremost lead
ers in the cause of American lnde-
pendence, Adams left Washington
early in the morning of Inaugural
ton Day, March 4, 1901, without
paying his respects to the man who
was to become his successor few
hours later, and they even ceased
to speak to each other for many
years afterward.
In the vicinity of Washington, at
least, according to the reports at
that time, the campaign of 1900 was
q bitter one. Here the residents
Of those parts of Montgomery and
Prince Georges Counties, which were
ceded by Maryland as a part of the
District of Columbia, voted with the
Old Line State. and that part ceded
by Virginia and retroceded to that
State in 1846, voted with Virginia.
Polling Places Opened.
In the Maryland part of the Dis
trict. for the accommodation of
voters Of the City of Washington,
polls were opened in Bladensburg
and for the Montgomery County
people polls were set up in George
town, where the Federalists won
by the narrow margin of IA votes,
while at Bladensburg their op-
ponents carried the election by
majority of 10 votes. But, judging
by reports when voting day came
around. the contest was keenest and
the excitement greatest in George
town.
Christian Hines. author of Early
Recollections Of Washington City"
was then a young man 10 years of
age. and a resident of Georgetown
from 1870, and what he has written
regarding this election, and of the
voting place in the West End, shows
that there was certainly much ex-
citement upon that occasion. He
says:
The polls in Georgetown were set
up in Suffers Tavern on the second
Monday in November, 1900. 1t was
a rough affair and liquor flowed
freely"
"Suter's Tavern" says Mr.. Hines,
was a one-story frame and stood on
High street between Bridge and
Water streets and little east of the
canal bridge. George Peter, who
was then a lieutenant in the Regu-
lar Army, had, I think, his recruit
ing ONCE in three-story brick
house directly south of the tavern
or pretty near where Waters flour
warehouse now stands. In those
days there we're two political par
ties-the Federals and Republicans.
The Federal party upheld Mr..
Adams and the Republican party
supported Mr.. Jefferson.
well, the ballot box was brought
and the polling of votes commenced
while large crowd, as is usual on
such occasions, was gathered in
front of the tavern. After the elec-
ton had continued some time, and
the bad whisky had begun to op-
crate. some the crowd began to
dispute and quarrel. and perhaps a
few had already the modification
Of having been knocked down.
Challenge Issued.
1T was very muddy in front Of
the tavern, a rain having descended
but a short time previously, so that
the mud and water were nearly
ankle deep. The whisky operated
more and more until nearly the
whole crowd was in motion. At
length a man named Shipley stepped
out and challenged any man Of
the opposite party to come out and
fight him, promising to whip him
If he would do So A short time
elapsed, when 1t. Peter. who was of
the opposite party, undertook to
furnish man to fight Shipley. So
he sent for one of his enlisted
soldiers named Lovejoy, who ac-
cepted the challenge and appeared
ready for the fray. He was very
large man, we'll proportioned, and
stood about 6 feet high. Shipley
was nearly the same height and
so stout as Lovejoy.
The crowd having formed ring,
the combatants went into the fight
with a will, those in the crowd
occasionally cheering and other
wise encouraging their choice of
the men. In those days the prac-
tices Of gouging, choking and biting
were very much in vogue among
the bullies and when one would
succeed in getting the other down
the first thing he would do would
be to feel for his antagonists eyes
and there insert his thumb or
finger and, If possible, force out an
eye.
If he could not succeed thus
In making his opponent cry enough
he would seize him by the throat
and choke him, when. If he would
signify that he had enough. the by
ISLANDERS would separate them.
Parted by Crowd.
I'm this case, however. Shipley
and Lovejoy pounded each other q
while, then closed and wrestled unit
one Of them slipped and they fel
In the mud together. Shipley
proved too active for his adversary
and succeeded in getting on top OF
him, when he instantly felt fol
Tnyaiov,c ayoc which ho Smea ref