The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-11-20

The Democratic committee waited on the
Governor and notified him that if he oontem-
plated such step they would ask permission
to file protest He stated that they should
have an opportunity to do so and this morning
informed them by letter that he should be
pleased if they would forward in writing what
ever they had to say on the subject This is
considered an intmation that he intends to
move in the matter without delay.
New YORK, Nov. ia Tallahassee des-
patch to the Herald says Gov Stearns is con-
sidering whether it is not his duty to personally
canvass the vote for electors on the ground that
the state law makes no provision that the can
wasting board shall canvass votes for electors,
it only declaring that they shall count votes for
all state officers, members of Congress and leg
islators. The word ELECTORS does not occur.
In response TO y committee of Democrats who
waited upon him on this subject Gov. Stearns
said that if he decided to count the vote for
electors he would give them full hearing on
their protest against his action. The Demo
crats claim that the board should canvass the
electoral vote as electors are state officers within
the meaning of the law.
MRntom Marbles Opinion.
Manton Marble, who is at Tallahassee, says
the whole machinery OF election IN Florida is
under Republican control, and the whole eXer-
ton of the Democrats of Florida and of DEM
ocrats from other states here assembled has
been and is to secure and prove the official rec
ords, for they establish the fact OF Democrat
ic majority over and above all frauds as yet at
tempted or accomplished. Those frauds have
not quite sufficed to effect their purpose.
Messrs. Robertson and Rollins of New York,
arrived at Tallahassee Saturday night, and Re-
publicans from all parts of the state are gath
erlng there and hotels are jammed.
MISSOURI.
Democrats Stealing Member of Congress
ST. LOUIS, Nov. 18-The question as to who
was elpotaI n COnprpSS from the third n
in this city has not been decided and has been
a matter of much comment and some excite
| ment throughout the city Yesterday two
members OF the county commissioners with the
| county clerk met as a canvassing board and be-
| gan an examination of the county returns pre-
vious to certifying them to the Secretary Of
| State. II appears that from one of the pre-
| cncts 272 votes had been returned for Frost,
| Dem but that after the returns reached the
clerk S Office these figures were changed to 292
| The county clerk had no knowledge of this
| change, yet he stated that he believed the re-
| turns had been tampered with in his office and
| wished the the matter TO be investigated. The
canvassers having only ministerial powers have
decided that they could not 60 behind the re-
| turns and therefore counted the votes fol
| Frost. This gave the latter majority of one,
| whereas had the original figures been counted,
Metcalf Rep, would have had a majority.
While the proceedings were being had in the
| county clerks office Mr.. Metcalf applied to the
| Circuit Cout for mandamus to stop proceed
| iDgs. The writ was issued and the transmits
| sion of the returns to the Secretary of State
was stopped until the case can be heard before
the court Monday. The object of the manda.
mus is to prevent the issuance of certificate Of
election to Frost. just prior to serving the
writ of mandamus on the board of canvassers
Col. Barnard accompanied by United States
| Deputy Marshal Gegge arrived at the county
| clerks office with authority TO arrest the can
| vassers and legal advisers on charge of falsi
| flying the returns, but the action of the Circuit
satifed them and they have deferred action fol
the present.