Evening star., 1948-10-31

taken, with party lines still holding,
and adjournment was taken to the
next day, when, on the second bal
lot OF that day, or the 36th In all,
Thomas Jefferson was chosen Presi-
dent.
There were many things that took
place in the House of Representa-
tives when the President was being
selected, but the pluck and spirit
OF Joseph Hooper Nicholson, men,
ber from Maryland, and the fidelity
of his wife, certainly form one of
the most interesting high lights of
the occasion. When the balloting
began it was ascertained that Mr.
Nicholson was critically i'll and, since
the vote would be close, it would
be necessary to have the Maryland
member present in order to vote for
Mr.. Jefferson.
During what was said to have
been cold, inclement weather, he
was carried from his lodgings to the
Capitol, and here, "in a room ada
cent to the Representatives House,
he lay on bed beside which knelt
his wife, supporting his head on her
arm, while with her hand she guided
his in writing the name of the man
of his choice. At the return of each
hour, the invalid was aroused from
his disturbed slumber, much to the
injury of his health, to perform this
important duty.
What. anxiety must this fond
wife have endured, what a dread
responsibility did she take on her
self, knowing as she did, and having
been appealed to by his physician,
to resist his wish to 60, that her
husbands life was risked, by his
removal and the following scene.
But it was for her country. The
American equaled in courage and
patriotism the Roman matron."
Thomas Jefferson was reelected
in 1904, but, initiating the example
Of President Washington. he retired
at the end of his second term.
House Seated Adams
Again, in 1924, a similar condition
occurred as 1t did in 1900 when
there was no candidate with a ma
jority of votes. Andrew Jackson had
SO, John Quincy Adams, "a; Henry
Clay, 81; William H. Crawford, Al.
And the House of Representatives
seated Mr.. Adams, or "Old Man Elo-
quent," as he was affectionately1
called. The Junior Adams had been
a resident Of Washington for some
years before he became President,
and after leaving that office, he con-
tinued to reside in the District until
his death here, February %, 1848.
The presidential election of 1896,
involved quite q unique condition.
At this time the candidates for Vice
President were Richard M. johnson
of Kentucky, Francis Granger Of
New York, John Tyler of Virginia
and william Smith of Alabama. The
total number of electoral votes that
year was 294. johnson received lat,
Granger II, Tyler Al and Smith %,
a total of 294 votes, and as johnson
was one vote short of a majority, it
was up to the Senate to select the
Vice President and johnson was
chosen.
Senator johnson was not only a
legislator, and a great
soldier in the War of l812-1815, but
he had the honor of introducing
a bill in the Senate on April 26,
1926. to incorporate Columbian Col
lege (now George Washington Ill.,
versity).
The Hayes.Tilden Race
Although the election of Abraham
in 1860 was more or less of
D surprise, he received 180 electoral
votes, John G. Breckenridge, one of
his three opponents, receiving u.
Breckenridge, it will be recalled,
was the retiring Vice President at
the time and during the War Be-
tween the States, was found on
July II and IL, 1864, accompanying
Gen. Jubal Early in his attempt to
capture Washington.
The seating Of Rutherford B.
Hayes and William A. Wheeler over
Samuel j. Tilden and Thomas A.