Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1860-12-21
Another Democratic Dodge.

Another Democratic Dodge
Some Of our Democratic friends imas.
ine they have discovered mares nest in
tie fac. that the Sheriff elect of this coun-
ty was born in Canada and not few of
them affect to believe that he consequent
ly was ineligible to Office in November
It is reported On the street, though we
place no reliance upon the statement that
Sheriff Giles will refuse to surrender the
office to Mr. Smith at the expiration of
his term, on the ground that his successor
has not been legally chosen. We also
hear rumor, which appears to be well au-
thenticated, that Mr. OFF has perfected,
and is about to file, his bond with the
proper officer, intending to contest MIR.
Smiths right to the Office, claiming that
his election thereto is null and void, and
that he (Of) having resolved the next
highest number of votes is the only one
properly entitled to it. We have only to
say at present that the fact as to whether
Mr. Smith is eligible to Office was thor
oughly investigated years ago. and that no
doubt whatever exists in regard to it
But if this were not so, it is no part of
Mr. Giles duty or business to question
Mr.. Smiths right to the Office. The time
for which he was elected will soon expire,
and when it does, he has no right to con-
tinue in the office, for no such authority is
conferred upon him even though no one
had been chosen to take his place. A va
cancy would then exist which could only
be filed by executive appointment.
Nor do we see how Mr.. Of can possibly
get the Office, assuming for tie sake Of tie
argument that Mr.. Smiths election is
nullity. The Statute provides that up
on "the decision of competent tribunal
declaring void his election or appoint
ment," the office Of Sheriff shall become
vacant, and that the Governor shall fill the
vacancy by appointment. Is Mr.. Off
green enoagh TO suppose that Gov. Ran
dali would appoint him? Certainly not.
But the matter will never take that shape,
f &C.. no competent tribunal vii! ever de-
clare Smiths election vaid, however much
Giles, Off and other Democrats may de-
sire that it shall. for the simple reason that
the same was perfectly regular.
That Mr.. Smith was born in Canada is
not denied. But his parents are both
natives of this country, and though resi-
dents at one time of Canada, they return
ed to the U. S. where they have since re-
sided before Mr., Smith became of age, and
he accompanied them and has lired in the
country from that dag until This. The au.
thorities explicitly settle the rule that in
such case no necessity existed for his ma
king the usual declaration of intentions re-
CURED of foreigners born under different
circumstances, emitting them to the tights
of citizenship, Mr.. Smith has been con-
additionally and legally elected to the Of
fee he proposes to fill, and intends in the
early part of January to go into its possess
sion. If the present incumbent, Mr.. Off,
or any other Democrat wishes to thwart
tho will of the people as expressed through
the ballot box, he will find Mr. Smith and
his friends ready to ''carry the war into
Africa" every time. Tt seems to us the
Democrats ought to be satisfied with the
threshing they got in November, but if
they are not. and wish to meet with an
other defeat quite as formidable and con-
siderably more expensive than that was,
we advise them to push ahead in the Job
they have just undertaken.