Page:History of Iowa From the Earliest Times to the Beginning of the Twentieth Century Volume 3.djvu/108

 Judges, W. I. Hayes and Wm. Graham. The resolutions indorsed the platform of the Democratic National Convention and its candidate for President.

The political campaign was warmly contested by the Republicans and Democrats on the National tickets; the Republicans having nominated Rutherford B. Hayes of Ohio for President, and William A. Wheeler of New York for Vice-President. The Democrats nominated Samuel J. Tilden of New York for President, and Thomas A. Hendricks of Indiana for Vice-President. The National Greenback party placed in nomination Peter Cooper of New York for President, and Samuel F. Cary for Vice-President.

The State election resulted in the choice of the Republican candidates by an average majority, over the Democratic and Greenback candidates, of about 50,000.

The first reports of the Presidential election in the country at large announced the choice of Samuel J. Tilden, by a large majority. Later returns indicated that doubts existed as to the result. Intense excitement prevailed over the entire country as contradictory returns were received from the States of Louisiana, South Carolina and Florida. It would require every electoral vote of these three States to elect Hayes. One vote from any of the three States would insure the election of Tilden. There was a bitter dispute between the representatives of the two political parties in the three States as to the result, which could not be settled by any ordinary means. At the request of President Grant, John Sherman, John A. Kasson, James A. Garfield and other prominent Republicans went to New Orleans to see that an honest count was made and returned. The Democratic National Committee sent eminent men, among whom were Samuel J. Randall, Lyman Trumbull and Henry Watterson to look after the interests of Mr. Tilden. Committees from each party of “visiting statesmen” were invited by the canvassing board to be present and witness the canvass. But