Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 270, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 November 1916 — Close Presidential Contest Recalls Hayes-Tilden Fight. [ARTICLE]

Close Presidential Contest Recalls Hayes-Tilden Fight.

Chicago, Nov. 9.—When the decision of the people of the United States between Hughes and Wilson • hung ?n the balance yesterday, old-time politicaT observers let their minds go back to America’s classic close race—the Hayes-Tilden fight in 1876—when Rutherford B. Hayes, republican, was chosen president by an electoral commission on March 2, 1877, by only one vote over Tilden in the electoral college. This is regarded as the hottest fight American politics can boast of. Samuel J. Tilden, of New York, was the democratic candidate and the campaign engendered so much ill feeling that President Grant had to call on Gen. Sherman to repress lawlessness in the south. When the returns came in doubt was cast on those from South Carolina, Louisiana and Florida. The popular vote showed a majority for Tilden but the electoral college was tied. A committee of fifteen was agreed to decide. The count of the ballots was completed March 2 and Hayes was declared victor by one ballot in the electoral college—lßs to 184. Hayes took the oath of office privately on March 4, 1877, fearing that an attempt would be made to rush the presidency for Tilden, but the next day he again took the oath publicly. The fight of 1884, when James G. Blaine, republican, made his famous campaign as the “plumed knight”, against Grover Cleveland was an instance. Because New York returns were incomplete for some days the country did not know who had- been elected. There was a hot fight in Ohio. In a few days it was shown that Cleveland had carried New York.