CHAPTER XXIII.
THE ELECTION OF GROVER CLEVELAND The Republicans of my district insisted that I make the race for Congress again in 1884, and I decided to do so, although I knew it would be useless for me to do so with any hope of being elected, for I knew the prospect of success was not as favorable as two years previous.
Judge Van Eaton, the Democratic candidate for Congressman in 1882, was a representative of the better element, and would, therefore, rather be defeated than be declared elected through the enforcement and application of questionable methods.

He publicly declared on several occasions that, as anxious as he was to be a member of Congress, he would rather be defeated than have a certificate of election tainted with fraud.

In other words, if he could not be fairly and honestly elected he preferred to be defeated.

He insisted upon a fair election and an honest count.

This was not agreeable to many of his party associates.