Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 3.djvu/119

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Political History of Oregon.
109

democrat, who was a candidate for re-election, receiving only fourteen thousand two hundred and thirty-nine votes.

Hayes and Wheeler carried the state over Tilden and Hendricks, and W. H. Odell, John C. Cartwright, and J. W. Watts, republicans, were chosen presidential electors. A question, however, was raised as to the eligibility of Mr. Watts, and Governor Grover awarded the certificate to Eugene Cronin, democrat, who had received nearly one thousand two hundred less votes. The after events are a part of the history of the nation. On February 1, 1877, Governor Grover resigned to accept a seat in the United States senate, and Secretary of State S. F. Chadwick became acting governor of Oregon.

In 1878 the republicans nominated H. K. Hines for congress and adopted as a state platform resolutions opposing the repeal of the resumption act, and favoring a uniform currency, founded upon a coin basis, interchangeable and convertible at par at the pleasure of the holder. Also denouncing the democratic state administration as reckless and corrupt, and the leaders of the party as attempting to defraud Oregon out of an electoral vote. Also favoring the restriction of the treaty with China to commercial purposes only. At the election, John Whiteaker, democrat, was chosen representative in congress, defeating H. K. Hines, republican. The democratic state platform approved heartily the action of congress remonetizing silver (referring evidently to the Bland-Allison act). It also resolved "That money made or issued by the government should be of equal value, and that we are in favor of paying all the obligations of the government in greenbacks, so called, when the pecuniary interests of the people are promoted thereby, except when otherwise expressly provided." It favored