trouble about the electoral count in 1876 and the murder of Garfield in 1881 had shown the necessity of ready means of deciding who should be President in any such contingency. In 1887 a bill was passed which left it to the States to decide any contest in them regarding the result of a Presidential election. Under this bill a decision has to be reached at least six days before the electors meet, and cannot be changed by Congress.

GROVER CLEVELAND.

Interstate Commerce Act.-Another important law enacted in 1887 was that known as the Interstate Commerce Act, which was intended to control railroad traffic from State to State. Its main purpose was to prevent unfair freight charges and passenger fares. The abuse of free passes was prohibited. A commission of five persons was appointed to oversee the execution of this law.

Chinese Exclusion.-Another law of great importance was that passed in 1888 for the exclusion of Chinese laborers from this country. A treaty had been made with China in 1868 which opened this country to Chinese immigration. By 1880 there were about one hundred thousand Chinese living in the United States. After that date they came much more rapidly, and much opposition was raised in the laboring classes, who claimed that the Chinese worked for ruinously low wages, brought no families with them, and intended to return to China as soon as they had made enough money to live on in their simple manner at home.

The opposition, particularly in California, grew strong. An agreement was made with China in 1880, restricting immigration. The law of 1888 prohibited it. This law continues in effect, and the number of Chinese in this country

is decreasing, as many have returned home, and others cannot enter to replace them.

Labor Troubles.-During the period now in consideration the organization of workingmen had greatly increased, wide-spread orders being formed under the names of "The Knights of Labor" and the " American Federation of Labor." The employers also formed combinations to protect their interests, and much dissatisfaction existed. This led, in 1886, to numerous strikes, which took place in many parts of the country, and were attended in some cases by riotous actions.

The Chicago Anarchists.-Of these riots the worst occurred in Chicago, where no less than forty thousand men went "on strike." On May 4 the disorder reached its highest point. On the evening of that day a crowd gathered near Haymarket Square, and were addressed by speakers in such violent language that the police attempted to disperse them. At this moment a dynamite bomb was thrown, which exploded and killed several of the policemen, while sixty were badly wounded. Men in the crowd also fired on the police. The officers returned the fire, killing and wounding a large number of the mob.

The ringleaders of the mob were arrested and tried for murder. All but one were of foreign birth, and were found to belong to the organization known as Anarchists, whose object it is to overthrow all governments,-by violence, if it cannot be done by peaceful means. Four of the condemned were hanged and the others imprisoned for life. Their action was denounced by the workingmen throughout the country, and excited general horror and detestation.

The Charleston Earthquake.-In the summer of 1886 the most destructive earthquake ever known in this country occurred at Charleston, South Carolina. So many buildings

were shaken down or badly damaged as to cause a loss of over five million dollars, while many lives were lost. Aid was sent from all parts of the Union to the suffering people. Like Chicago and Boston after their fires, Charleston has fully recovered from this calamity.

The Election of 1888.-In the election year of 1888 the Democratic party renominated Grover Cleveland, with Allen G. Thurman, of Ohio, for Vice-President. The Republicans nominated for President Benjamin Harrison, of Indiana, grandson of the former President Harrison. Levi P. Morton, of New York, was nominated for Vice-President. The Prohibition and the United Labor parties also made nominations. The election, as in 1884, was decided by the vote of New York, which now gave a plurality for the Republican candidate. Cleveland received one hundred and sixty-eight and Harrison two hundred and thirty-three electoral votes..

6. Benjamin Harrison's Administration. The Oklahoma Opening. The beginning of President Harrison's administration was signalized by the opening of the Territory of Oklahoma to white settlers. Oklahoma is a large tract, of over thirty-nine thousand square miles, in the centre of Indian Territory. It was purchased from the Indians, and settlers were permitted to enter it at noon on April 22, 1889, at which hour some fifty thousand persons were waiting to rush in and take up claims under the

1

1 Benjamin Harrison was born in Ohio in 1833. His great-grandfather was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, and his grandfather President of the United States in 1840. He graduated in 1852 from Miami University, studied law, and in 1862 entered the army as second lieutenant of Indiana volunteers, ending as brevet brigadier-general. In 1880 he was elected United States Senator.

land laws of the United States. When the signal was given by a bugle blast there was a wild rush across the border, and before night much of the terri

tory was staked out in claims, and several towns were begun. In 1890 the new Territory had over sixty-one thousand population. Since then Oklahoma has been largely increased in size by the purchase of lands in the north of Indian Territory.

BENJAMIN HARRISON.

New States.-The same year (1889) was marked by a notable addition to the number of States, no less than four new States being admitted to the Union. These were North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, and Washington. In 1890 two other States, Idaho and Wyoming, were admitted. No equal addition to our family of States had been made in any previous administration.

The Johnstown Flood.-Shortly after Harrison took his seat a terrible disaster occurred in Central Pennsylvania, far surpassing the Chicago fire and the Charleston earthquake in the destruction of human life. On May 31, 1889, a large dam gave way, and a torrent of water forty feet high swept down the Conemaugh Valley toward Johnstown, several miles below. This busy manufacturing town was almost completely swept away, about two thousand two hundred persons were drowned, and ten million dollars' worth of property was destroyed. The whole country vied in furnishing supplies for the suffering survivors.

Pan-American Congress.-An interesting event of the autumn of 1889 was the meeting at Washington of the PanAmerican Congress, composed of delegates from the United

States, Mexico, and the nations of Central and South America. Its purpose was to bring these nations into a close union for commercial and other advantages. It was recommended that all disputes between these nations should be settled by arbitration, but no specially important results came from the Congress.

Trouble with Chile.-The wisdom of the arbitration suggestion was soon proved, for in 1891 the United States and the republic of Chile were brought to the verge of war. A revolution had broken out in Chile, and during its course some sailors from an American war-vessel were attacked in Valparaiso and two of them killed. For a time it looked as if serious trouble would result, but in the end Chile apologized, and contributed a satisfactory sum for the families of the slain men.

Trouble with Italy.-Another international difficulty arose from the murder of the chief of police of New Orleans by assassins who were believed to belong to a secret society of Italians. A number of men were ar

rested, of whom six were acquitted, and others held for trial. These, eleven in number, were taken from jail by a mob, in March, 1891, and executed under what is known as "lynch law."

The Italian government protested against this illegal execution of its subjects and demanded reparation. This the United States refused, saying that the matter must be settled by the State of Louisiana, whereupon the Italian minister left Washington, and for a time it seemed as if war would ensue. In the end the United States agreed to provide support for the families of those of the victims who were proved to be Italian citizens.

The Bering Sea Difficulty.-Still another international trouble arose during the Harrison administration. This was