Jasper County Democrat, Volume 19, Number 65, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 November 1916 — Page 1

Jasper County Democrat.

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PLURALITY OF 4 GIVEN NICHOLS

On Face of Corrected Returns In County. . MR. HERSHMAN WILL CONTEST To Satisfy the Public, and a Recount of AH the Ballots Will Be Made—Errors of Polling Clerks.

RECOUNT PETITION FILED

1 A petition asking for a recount of the ballots of the entire county for the office of clerk was filed in the circuit court yesterday afternoon by Mr. Hershman, who also filed a bond to cover the cost of the recount. The judge will now appoint three commissioners from the two leading political parties to make the recount, and shall fix a time within twenty days when shall commence the work. An attorney—* tated yesterday that it was his opinion that this petition would act as a mandate, and that Mr. Nichols could not take office until the recount had ' been made. * '

An error in carrying out the totals on the tally sheets in the East Barkley and Gillam precincts has caused an apparent plurality of six for Alva D. Hershman for clerk being changed into a plurality of four for his opponent, Jesse Nichols, on the face of the returns and as certified by the board of canvassers, who have no authority to ,go back of these returns. Mr. Nichols had expected to contest when it was apparent he had lost by six votes, and, as the scratching was practically all in favor of Mr. Hershman, his friends think he should contest Nichols’ election when the margin is so small against him and there are so many scratched ballots that were not counted in most of the precincts, and he will do so.

Of course this recount of all the ballots and _the* contested ballots might increase Nichols’ lead, but the chances are much the other way., as the scratching was to Hershman and not against him,,and wherever the intent of the voter can be clearly determined such ballot must be counted. The recount will make everybody better satisfied and whatever the result is it will have to be accepted. The errors which changed the result on clerk were caused by the tally clerks in Gillam both carrying out the totals for Mr. Hershman to eighty-seven, when it should have been eighty-two, as shown by the tallies. This error left Mr. Hershman a plurality of but one, and it was discovered that the clerks in East Barkley had made the same error, crediting him in their totals with seventy-four votes when it should have been sixty-nine. This correction gave Nichols a plurality of four.

Some other slight errors of a similar character were found in other precincts making a change of a few votes in the totals of other candidates, hut as the margins were not close in those cases it did not affect the final results. The board, before closing up jffieir work, telephoned to the inspectors in the two precincts where the Hershman vote was shown to be wrongly totaled, also to Mr. Hershman, and they came in Thursday afternoon and in the presence of both Mr. Nichols and Mr. Hershman, the two county chairmen, the editors of the two papers and E. P. Honan, the inspectors opened the sealed packages containing the duplicate poll books and tally sheets and found that the same errors were made thereon. It was shown that 141 votes were cast in Gillam, and that on the totals for clerk as carried out by the clerks 144 votes had been credited to them. The error was apparent and one that might easily occur. There was no intent to make a wrong entry in either case, simply a mistake in carrying out the totals. The packages were sealed up again after being examined and the only thing to do

now is to await the result of the recount. It is the duty of the polling clerks to make a note of the uncounted or contested ballots on the back of their returns, but in some cases this was evidently not done. According to the returns there were fifty-four local or county ballots that were not counted, and these are preserved and aj:e only opened and examined in case of a contest. Of this number eleven were in precinct No. 2, Marion township. It is believed that 100 or more county ballots were not counted for the reason of defective marking or not marking them at all, but in some of the precincts the number is not noted on the return sheets, although such ballets were all preserved and sealed up in sacks especially for this purpose. In a contest and recount these are gone into as well as the regular ballots of all the precincts. Th& final and corrected figures on the vote in Jasper county appear on another page. -

COURT HOUSE NEWS IN BRIEF

Interesting Paragraphs From the Various Departments OF JASPER COUNTY CAPITOL The Legal News Epitomized—Together with Other Notes Gathered from the Several County Offices. k ■ Marriage licenses issued: November 9, Gerrit Walstra of Thayer, aged 33 April 16 last, occupation farmer, to Florence Haddock, also of Thayer, aged 28 August 5 last, occupation housekeeper. Second marriage for male, first marriage dissolved by death in 1915. Second marriage for female, first marriage dissolved by divorce in 1916. Married by Squire Dean in the qlerk’s office. November 10, John J. Swing of Kouts, aged 24 August 4 last, occupation farmer, to Martha Cullen of Tefft, aged 16 February 5 last, occupation housekeeper. First marriage for each. Bride being under age her father, William I. Cullen, files consent to the issuance of license. Married by Squire Dean in the clerk’s office. Circuit court will convene Monday and the jury will come in Wednesday when the perjury case of the State vs. Stockton is set for trial. The interest taken, and the publicity given the Morlan case, which was tried last term and was based on identically the same charges, except, ag we understand, Mr. Stockton did not fix definite dates as to when he alleged he had seen corn hauled from the county poor farm during the year 1915 by team or teams of D. S. Makeever, it is believed will make it rather difficult to secure a jury to try this case.

It would seem that with all that was said in the newspapers and the special efforts- made by the various precinct committeemen and candidates, there could be no excuse for any vdter in Jasper county to lose his vote through failure to register. Yet there were several '-who carelessly assumed that it was not necessary for them to register again as they had registered two years ago and had voted in the primary last spring, although they knew they had moved from the precinct where originally registered. By reason of this carelessness several votes were lost in practically every precinct in the county. The newly elected county officers will take their respective offices as follows: Clerk, as soon, as he receives his commission, and term will expire May 1, 1920. Treasurer, January 1, 1918. Term two years. Recorder, January 1, 1917. Term four years. Sheriff, January 1, 1917. Tew& two years. Coroner, January l, 1917. Term two years. Surveyor, January l, 1917. Term two years. County commissioner, first dis-

RENSSELAER, JASPER COUNTY, INDIANA, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 1916.

Thank God the Democrats can elect a President without Wall street, New York or other states of the “effete East,” or Indiana. This is surely reason for general rejoicing. : t

trict, January 1, 1918. Term three years. County commissioner, second district, January 1, 1917. Term, three years. At the Wednesday session of the board of commissioners contracts for the J. W. Hitchings and Maurice E. Gorman stone roads in Jordan township were let tp F. A. Camblin for $8,999 and $3,399, respectively, and bonds ordered issued in each case. The Rochester Bridge company was .allowed SBOO in full on its contract for bridge over Carpenter’s creek in the southeast part of Remington, and caused dropped from the docket. John Daniels was allowed $794 in full on the Bullis bridge over Carpenter’s creek in Jordan township, and jCause dropped. The George Meyers ditch hearing was set for November 13. The S. E. Huff ditch matter was docketed and cause continued for objections. The bid of Guild & Anderson of SSO for bins and platform of old county stone crusher was accepted.

DISTRICT ELECTION RESULTS

Republican Congressman Re-elected in the Tenth District. Will R. Wood, Republican congressman from this, the Tenth Indiana district, was re-elected Tuesday over George E. Hershman by a majority of 8,877, carrying every county in the district. Hig majority in Lake county was 4,000, Tippecanoe 1,619, Porter 1,292, Jasper 47Qs Warren Benton 364, White 224, Newton 89. Benton county gave the Republican national ticket a majority of 386, but elected Warren Mankey, Democrat, auditor by 365, and George Duffy, Democrat, sheriff by 29.

W. L. Wood was re-elected representative, carrying Jasper county by 583, Benton by 287, and Newton by 104, giving him a total plurality of 974. Reuben Hess was re-elected prosecuting attorney for the thirtieth judicial circuit over Arthur Tuteur by a majority of 549, carrying Jasper county by 420 and Newton by 129. ] Commissioner George H. Hillis of Newton county, who was reported defeated, was re-elected by a majority, of 84. In, White county but one Democrat was elected, Frank McCuaig defeating his Republican opponent for the office of county treasurer. Lake county elected the entire Republican county ticket and gave the Republican state ticket a majority of 3,413. Republicans made almost a clean sweep of ,Starke county, carrying tha county for Hughes by 221 and for Goodrich by 191. However, the Democrats elected the county auditor by the narrow margin of one vote, the remainder of the offices going to the Republicans. Pulaski county gave the Republican state ticket a majority of eighty-sgven, something quite out of the ordinary for that county, and in addition elected the entire Republican county ticket with the exception of coroner.

THE TWICE-A-WEEK

HURRAH FOR THE WEST

WILSON WINNER BY CLOSE VOTE

6; 0. P. Leaders Plan Contests in Several States. PRESIDENT GETS CALIFORNIA Republican Chairman Wilcox Declares That Recount Will Be Demanded Where Vote Is Close. New York, Nov. 10.—The re-election of President Wilson nnd Vice President Marshall was claimed as absolutely assured by the Democratic leaders when after several days of doubt the unofficial count of practically the entire vote of California finally showed a plurality for Wilson on the face of the returns. Leading Republican papers conceded the election of Wilson on the face of the .unofficial returns, but Chairman Willcox of the Republican national committee refused to concede Hughes’ defeat.

Gives California to Wilson. Chester H. Rowell, chairman of the Republican state committee of California, conceded the state to Wilson on the face of the unofficial returns, but expressed the hope that the official count would result in a split of the electoral vote. The official count will require several days. Concord, N. 11., Nov. 10.—With 25 precincts unreported officially out of a total of 204 in New Hampshire, certified returns tabulated by of state give for phesidentlal electors: Hughes, 40,838; Wilson, 40,207. Hughes’ lead is 131. marital -history of John R. Wilson and Nancy Wilson, as it was revealed in the suit for divorce by MYs witiiftiv in the Dela ware .eO San Francisco, Nov. 10. —The count of 5,681 precincts out of the total of 5,870 give Wilson 460,789 und Hughes 458,409, a lead of 2,380 for the president. . -

Only 190 precincts remain to be heard from. It is virtualy Certain that a recount, however, in this, as well as in other states, will be demanded. * Complete returns from 1,215 precincts in Los Angeles county give Hughes a plurality of 21,530, the figures being: Hughes, 135,503; Wilson, 113,975. Albuquerque, N. M., Nov. 10. —Wilson is leading by 85 votes in New Mexico, with returns in from 411 of the stnte’s 638 precincts. The figures were: Hughes, 22,363; Wilson, 22,448. St. Paul, Minn., Nov. 10. —Charles E. Hughes still leads the vote in Minnesota. With 2,907 precincts out of 3,024 heard from, the Republican nominee was 810 ahead. The totals were: Hughes, 176,>.82; Wilson, 175,272. Fargo, N. D., Nov. 10. —That President Wilson has carried North Dagota was conceded by William Lemke, chairman of the Republican state central organization. Returns from all but 114 of the 1,850 precincts in North Dakota give Wilson 53,125 and Hughes 51,586, a plurality for the preside-.t of 1.539. <*. United States District Attorney Hilbreth issued a statement declaring he would investigate reports of attempted ballot-box tampering. Fairmont, W. Va., Nov. 10.—C. C. Shiver, Democratic state chairman, conceded Wgst Virginia to Hughes by a plurality of between 2,500 and 3,000. - Charleston. W t Ym Nov. 10. —Returns

from 1,400 precincts out of 1,718 in West Virginia give Hughes, 119,638? Wilson, 116,939. Returns from 751 out of 1,713 precincts on the suffrage amendment, 31,100 for, 62,956 against. <*• New York, Nov. 10. —Reports from several states tell of possible contests owing to the narrow pluralities indicated by the unofficial returns. Both Democratic and Republican leaders promise a recount in New Hampshire. Steps are to be taken in California to assure an accurate official count, nnd a contest is also threatened in Kansas, judging by the following dispatch from Topeka: “Charles H. Session, the Republican state chairman, announced that legal counsel had been engaged to investigate the constitutionality of the electoral vote in Kansas. He would ust say whether or not the vote would be contested." North Dakota is so close a contest it considered possible there. The result of the race now depends on the official vote in California, according to present indications. Recount in All Close States. After an hour’s conference witji Charles E. Hughes Chairman Willcox of the Republican committee announced that there probably would be a recount “in all close states where the vote is close." He replied in the af-< firmative when asked if that applies to New Hampshire, California, North Dakota, New*Mexico and Minnesota. “I can only add,” Mr. Willcox said, “that I believe Mr. Hughes Is elected and that we propose to safeguard our Interests.” “It’s all over,” said Chairman McCormick when he appeared at Democratic headquarters after a short absence. “We have cleaned them up. \V« stick unflinchingly to our original ures, Wilson by 2SB electoral- f6tes.“ Mr. McCormick added that every precaution was being taken to protect the ballot boxes where the vote was running close.

Contests Are Foreshadowed. Charles It. Warren, Republican national committeeman from Michigan, after,a conference with Chairman Wlll- - other national committeemen, gave out this statement ns reflecting the consensus of opinion among the Republican leaders : “The election depends upon the count In California, Minnesota, North Dakota, New Mexico and New Hampshire. Oregon is safely for Hughes, as Is also West Virginia. The probabilities are that the Minnesota vote will be cast for Hughes, but the official count will be .required in North Dakota, New Mexico, New Hampshire and California before the results in those stutes will be definitely known.” Democrats Want Recount, Anyway. Henry Morgen thau, in charge of Democratic headquarters in the absence of Chairman McCormick, said that a recount would lie demanded of the vote in New Hampshire. This, he said, would he done in spite of the figures received this morning showing tlrnt Wilson had a lead of 93 votes. He added that the Democratic figures show that the Wilson lead was 500 votes and that, in view of tin; complex situation in that state, a recount in any event would-be necessary. Instructions to the Democratic committee in New Hampshire to demand the recount had already gone forward, he said.

MAKING SOME NEW HISTORY

Election Statistics That Upset All Former Precedents. For the first time in the history of the United States a President has been elected without the aid of any one oOthe four states Maine, New York, Indiana or' Illinois, and knocks in the head that time-worn and antiquated statement, “as Maine goes, so goes the nation.” But it will still be used for lime to come by those two-by-four politicians who can offer no other argument for the support of the Republican ticket, for Maine has never but once given a/'fiemocratlc candidate a plurality, and that was in 1912. A Democratic President was elected in 1884. Maine went Republican, New York and Indiana Democratic, and Illinois Republican. A Democratic President was again elected in 1892. Maina/went Republican and New York, Indiana and Illinois went Democratic. In 1912 when President Wilson was first elected all four of these states went Democratic. The election of 1916 demonstrates that the balance of power has been taken from a few Eastern states. With their rapidly Increasing population the Western states will now have a more effective voice in Presidential elections.

BOX SOCIAL

There will be a box social at the Bowling Green school house, northwest of Rensselaer, on Friday evening, November 17. Everybody invited.—OERTRUDE JACKSON,'

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Vol. XIX, No. 65

GENERAL AND STATE NEWS

Telegraphic Reports From Many Parts of the Country. SHORT BITS OF THE UNUSUAL Happenings in the Nearby Cities and Towns—Matters of Minor Mention from Many Places. SPENCER INFIRMARY BURNED Defective Chimney Is Cause of a Costly Fire. Rockport, November 8. —i The Spencer county infirmary, three miles west of here, burned yesterday when it caught fire from a defective chimney. Nine inmates were injured. The loss was with SIO,OOO insurance.

RAIL MOTOR CARS IN CRASH

One Man Injured and May Die as Result of Accident. Lafayette, November 9. —• Jobe' Coffman, employed by the ■ Lake Erie & Western railroad, was injured, probably fatally, when two gasoline motor cars collided headon three miles west of Otterbein last night. The cars were running at high speed and Coffman, who was driving the east-bound car, was thrown fifty feet from the car, alighting on a tie. He suffered concussion of the brain and is believed to be injured internally, Harry R. Lewis, a telephone inspector, and H. s. Seigelman, a lineman, both of Tipton, were riding on the westbound speeder. They escaped with bruises about the body. The cars did not carry lights and the driver* could not see ahead. Coffman lives at Montmorencl and is a veteran employe of the railroad company.

ELECTORAL VOTE

With New Mexico, where President Wllsen is leading, left in the doubtful list, the electoral college shows: Wilson, 209; Hughes, 243; doubtful, 19. Necessary to elect, 200. The figures follow: DonbtKtate. Wilson. Hughes, ful. Alabama 12 Arizona 3 .. .. Arkansas ........ 9 .. .. California 13 ~ .. Colorado ........ 0 .. .. Connecticut ....... 7 .. Delaware 3 Florida 0 .. .. Georgia 14 Idaho 4 .. .. Illinois 29 Indiana 15 .. lowa 13 Kansas ~........ 10 Kentucky 13 .. .. Louisiana ..10 .. .. Maine 0 .. Maryland ........ 8 .. ~ Massachusetts 18 Michigan 15 Minnesota .. *l2 Mississippi K) Missouri 18 Montunu 4 .. Nebraska ........ 8 .. Nevada ... ; 3 New Hampshire.. .. .. *4 New Jersey 14 New Mexico .. x 3 New York 45 .. ' North Carolina ..12 North Dakota.... 5 .. .. Ohio 24 Oklahoma 10 Oregon 5 Pennsylvania 38 Rhode Island ...... 5 .. South Carolina... 9 .. .. South Dakota 5 Tennessee 12 .. „ Texas 20 Utah 4 Vermont 4 .. Virginia 12 Washington 7 West Virgiua .... .. 8 Wisconsin 13 ~ Wyoming 3 * . Totals 269 243 19 •Leans to Hughes. xLeans to Wilson. CRUCIAL STATEB. California is conceded to Wilson, but the vote is not all in. .Apparently North Dakota is in f!he column. Wilson Hughes Mis’g State. lead. lead. pets. California 3,131 .... 36 Minnesota 1,034 85 New Hampshire 131 25 New Mexico 1,961 .... n 1 North Dakota ...1,618 .... 28