HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS.
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Cullom was reduced to 6,798. The other State officers elected were: Andrew Shuman, Lieutenant-Governor; George H. Harlow, Secretary of State; Thomas B. Needles, Auditor; Edward Rutz, Treasurer, and James K. Edsall, Attorney-General. Each of these had pluralities exceeding 20,000, except Needles, who, having a single competitor, had a smaller majority than Cullom. The new State House was occupied for the first time by the State officers and the Legislature chosen at this time. Although the Republicans had a majority in the House, the Independents held the "balance of power" in joint session of the General Assembly. After a stubborn and protracted struggle in the effort to choose a United States Senator to succeed Senator John A. Logan, David Davis, of Bloomington, was elected on the fortieth ballot. He had been a Whig and a warm personal friend of Lincoln, by whom he was appointed Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States in 1862. His election to the United States Senate by the Democrats and Independents led to his retirement from the Supreme bench, thus preventing his appointment on the Electoral Commission of 1877-a circumstance which, in the opinion of many, may have had an important bearing upon the decision of that tribunal. In the latter part of his term he served as President pro tempore of the Senate, and more frequently acted with the Republicans than with their opponents. He supported Elaine and Logan for President and Vice-President, in 1884. (See Davis, David.)
STRIKE OF 1877.-The extensive railroad strike, in July, 1877, caused widespread demoralization of business, especially in the railroad centers of the State and throughout the country generally. The newly-organized National Guard was called out and rendered efficient service in restoring order. Governor Cullom's action in the premises was prompt, and has been generally commended as eminently wise and discreet.
ELECTION OF 1878.-Four sets of candidates were in the field for the offices of State Treasurer and Superintendent of Public Instruction in 1878 -Republican, Democratic, Greenback and Prohibition. The Republicans were successful, Gen. John C. Smith being elected Treasurer, and James P. Slade, Superintendent, by pluralities averaging about 35,000. The same party also elected eleven out of nineteen
