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 Democratic, of November 8, 1876, the morning after the election, conceded an overwhelming victory for Tilden and Hendricks. There was, however, a single exception. “The New York Times” had gone to press with its first edition, leaving 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 only of Florida--“claimed by the Republicans”--to be sure of the required 185 votes in the Electoral College. The story of this surprising discrepancy between midnight and daylight reads like a chapter of fiction. [Illustration: CONGRESSMEN OF THE DEMOCRATIC “ADVISORY COMMITTEE” IN THE HAYES-TILDEN CONTEST From a photograph, copyright by C. M. Bell R. L. GIBSON of Louisiana From a photograph WILLIAM S. HOLMAN of Indiana From a photograph by Sarony HENRY WATTERSON of Kentucky From a photograph, copyright by C. M. Bell SAMUEL J. RANDALL of Pennsylvania (Speaker) From a photograph, copyright by C. M. Bell EPPA HUNTON of Virginia From a photograph, copyright by C. M. Bell L. Q. C. LAMAR of Mississippi From a photograph, copyright by C. M. Bell HENRY B. PAYNE of Ohio] After the early edition of the “Times” had gone to press certain members of the editorial staff were at supper, very much cast down by the returns, when a messenger brought a telegram from Senator Barnum of Connecticut, financial head of the Democratic National Committee, asking for the “Times’s” latest news from Oregon, Louisiana, Florida, and South Carolina. But for that unlucky telegram Tilden would probably have been inaugurated President of the United States. [Illustration: FIRE AND WATER MAKE VAPOR. WHAT A COOLING OFF WILL BE THERE, MY COUNTRYMEN! From “Harper’s Weekly” of February 3, 1877 THOMAS NAST’S CARTOON ON COLONEL WATTERSON’S SUGGESTION OF A GATHERING OF ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND DEMOCRATS IN WASHINGTON The ice-water is being applied by Murat Halstead, editor of the Cincinnati “Commercial,” which was opposed to Tilden; but in the Greeley campaign of 1872 Halstead had worked with Watterson. (See ~The Century~ for November, 1912.)]