Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 20, Number 21, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 November 1898 — Let The Contest Be Made. [ARTICLE]

Let The Contest Be Made.

If John F. Major is'Tightly elected county clerk by two majority, •or even by one, then we want him to have the office. But if ballots marked in a certain irregular manner were counted in some townships and thrown out in others, and the result thereby effected, then such results ought not to stand, no matter whether it effects Republicans or Democrats. Ballots which the voters had tried to 'stamp” with their pencils instead of making an X were thrown out in several townships and precincts, eight such, all Republican, in Keener alone. In other townships ballots marked this same way were counted, five such in Walker alon«, ail Democrats. All men, with any right sense of justice, will agree that, if the result in any case was determined by this different practice of the different townships, then such results should be revised and corrected. We believe that in the case of the office of county clerk, the result was so determined, and that had a uniform rule prevailed all over the county, either to oount or to throw out all ballots stamped instead of crossed, that Pierson would have been elected by 5 or 6 majority. So believing we consider that he or his friends are in duty bmind to contest Mr. Major’s election. And in demanding this contest, we do not imply any fraud or intentional wrong on the part of any election board nor of anyone else. The intention in every place, was, we are satisfied, to have a fair election, but through diverse methods of understanding the law, a great injustice seems to have been done, and the courts, the only institution whirh has power to do so, should be called upon to right the wrong.