Part 20 (1/2)

I had barely tih to coht to read it, even had I been willing to adopt that mode of delivery It would not do to trust to extemporization A friend, Col J Stoddard Johnston, as fa my manuscript behind his hat he lined the words out tosentences

Luck ith --not, however, wholly without detection The Indianans, devoted to Hendricks, were very wroth

”See that fathihbor, who answered, ”Yes, and wrote it for hiht as well attempt to drive six horses by proxy as preside over a national convention by hearsay I lost my parliamentarian at once I just made my parliamentary laent Never before or since did any deliberate body proceed underwith a resonance--it were better called an iood deal of quiet laughter on the floor anorant as I wasthat Ibusiness the convention soon waran to be perfectly at home I never had a better day's sport in all ainst ht to prohts Meiven the floor to present it I foresahat a roas bound to occasion

Toward noon, when there was a lull in the proceedings, I said with an emphasis meant to carry conviction: ”Gentlemen of the convention, Miss Phoebe Couzins, a representative of the Woman's association of America, has a memorial from that body, and in the absence of other business the chair will now recognize her”

Instantly and from every part of the hall arose cries of ”No!” These put some heart into me Many a tie froain I stood upon ”the Gra Miss Couzins down the aisle When she came within the radius of my poor vision I saw that she was a beauty and dressed to kill

That was reassurance Gaining a little tiation I laid the gavel down and stepped to the edge of the platforave Miss Couzinsthere was a le voice:

”Mister Chair Miss Couzins to the front of the stage I took up the gavel and gave a gentle rap, saying: ”The gentleman will take his seat”

”But, Mister Chairentleman will take his seat instantly,” I answered in a tone of one about to throw the gavel at his head ”No point of order is in order when a lady has the floor”

After that Miss Couzins received a positive ovation and having delivered her lory

VI

Mr Tilden was non that followed proved one of the most memorable in our history When it came to an end the result showed on the face of the returns 196 in the Electoral College, eleven more than a majority; and in the popular vote 4,300,316, a majority of 264,300 for Tilden over Hayes

How this came to be first contested and then complicated so as ultimately to be set aside has been minutely related by its authors

The newspapers, both Republican and De after the election, conceded an overwhel victory for Tilden and Hendricks There was, however, a single exception The New York Ti the result in doubt but inclining toward the success of the Democrats In its later editions this tentative attitude was changed to the statement that Mr

Hayes lacked the vote of Florida--”claimed by the Republicans”--to be sure of the required votes in the Electoral College

The story of this surprising discrepancy between ht reads like a chapter of fiction

After the early edition of the Tione to press certain members of the editorial staff were at supper, very ht a telegram from Senator Barnum, of Connecticut, financial head of the De for the Tion, Louisiana, Florida and South Carolina But for that unlucky telegraurated President of the United States

The Times people, intense Republican partisans, at once saw an opportunity If Barnuht not a doubt be raised? At once the editorial in the first edition was revised to take a decisive tone and declare the election of Hayes One of the editorial council, Mr John C Reid, hurried to Republican headquarters in the Fifth Avenue Hotel, which he found deserted, the triu before sent everybody to bed Mr Reid then sought the room of Senator Zachariah Chandler, chairman of the National Republican Committee

While upon this errand he encountered in the hotel corridor ”a sles, his hat drawn over his ears, a greatcoat with a heavy ripsack and newspaper in his hand The newspaper was the New York Tribune,”

announcing the election of Tilden and the defeat of Hayes The newcomer was Mr William E Chandler, even then a very prominent Republican politician, just arrived from New Hampshi+re and very much exasperated by what he had read

Mr Reid had another tale to tell The two found Mr Zachariah Chandler, who bade theht best They did so, consura to each of the parties addressed that the result of the election depended upon his State To these was appended the signature of Zachariah Chandler