Wikipedia:Today's featured article/June 26, 2013

The 1898 United States Senate election in Ohio took place in that state's legislature on January 12. The Republican incumbent, Mark Hanna, had been appointed by Governor Asa Bushnell on March 5, 1897, to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of John Sherman; the appointment was only good until the legislature met and made its own choice. Republicans kept their majority in the election that November, apparently assuring Hanna's election once the new body met in January 1898. However, the Ohio Republican party was bitterly divided into two factions. Before the legislative session, the Democrats allied with a number of Republicans, seeking to defeat Hanna, and took control of both houses of the legislature. Intense politicking took place and some lawmakers went into hiding fearing pressure by the other side. The coalition decided on Cleveland Mayor Robert McKisson as their candidate the day before the balloting began. Three Republican state representatives who had voted with the Democrats to organize the legislature switched sides and voted for Hanna, who triumphed with a bare majority. Bribery was alleged; legislative leaders complained to the US Senate, which took no action. (Full article...)

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