Daily Independent

HAYES-TILDEN CONTEST RECALLED
By the death of Lafayette Grover fourth governor of Oregon at his home in Portland last week an incident of the Hayes-Tilden presidential contest is brought to mind. When the republican party was confronted by defeat in the effort to elect Rutherford B. Hayes as president a national issue was placed within the hands of the then Governor Grover of Oregon. When the votes were counted it was found that Louisiana, Florida and Oregon were the controlling factors. By rulings which the republicans adopted Florida and Louisiana were placed in satisfactory position. But then every electoral vote from Oregon was still necessary. Three republican electors had been chosen receiving a sufficient vote. It was found that one of the number was Joseph Watts a man holding a post-office position and the democrats produced the constitutional provision which forbade any man holding a lucrative Federal office from being chosen an elector. They maintained that Watts was ineligible because of this fact. Governor Grover issued a certificate of election to an attorney named Cronin of Portland in the place of Watts. Whether Cronin or Watts should be recognized hung the fate of the issue. Democrats praised the position taken by the Oregon governor in proceeding to certify to the democrat holding the highest number of votes in view of the alleged ineligibility of Postmaster Watts. The two republican electors would not recognize Cronin and refused to meet with him. Watts resigned his office as postmaster was chosen by the two republican electors on the theory that they had the right to fill the vacancy and these three republicans cast the votes which put Hayes into office and then after that Watts was given his postoffice.