The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-11-30
SHARP PRACrICK IN FLORIDA.
The Trick By which Democrats County was
Made 70 Give n Majority for Hayes.

TALLAHASSEE, Nov. 2s.-At the meeting
OF the state Canvassers this morning. wnen the
returns from Baker weto read. giving the Re
pubicaus forty-one majority. there WAS quick
ana sharp sensation. Many OF the Democrats
them we're astonlshed and startled. They con
suited their note hooks. ana then hurriedly
gathered sround Col. Read OF philadelphia. VINO
had the certified couies OF tho returns before
him. They found th Rtker WIS officially put
down as giving Democratic majority. They
thon gave notice that they would contest the
returns from Baker. Tue Republicans, during
al this exciting vi y, sat perfectly quiet, and
M Mr onanuti pu' on W., peeui.af smile tnet
circle, and glared trite wildly through his eye
glAsses Al his perturb-d opponents. IL " gem
eraiv felt that the reyers Il OF the mo joTity that
the Democrats had been fearing wHs tnecte
through Baker county.
When the board adjourned for dinner there
was Intense excitement. Tue Republicans were
In sort OF uneasv exultatOn, whie the Demo-
crats were very indignant and ther noisy. The
telegraph ONCE was nllod 10 jamming, aud the
news was flashed to every county Of prominence
IN the Union that Hayes had carried Florida oy
thirty-siX votes On the face OF the returns. The
! evening session. however, gave the Democrats
| the most brilliant victory that either side has
Vet scored, and put the Republican managers In
As soon as tina session opened Mr.. Pasco arose
and inquired OF the secretary Of the state, the
Oh .lruan OF the board. II he had not received
| another return from Baker county besides tne
one he had read The Chairman objected to the
| question and would not reply.
MIR. PascO then charged openly and positively
| thar such return mad Deen sent to the board.
| He described this return--a certified copy Of
wni3h he had In his hand-as being older IN
date than the ono read by the Secretary as
| having been legally attested, nd a. having been
signed by the CLERK and Justice Of the Peace, as
| tue law requires. H1 then demanded to know
| why II had been suppressed and insisted on ITS
| being produced at once.
| Ihe Chairman. though much confused, still
refused TO say whether ne had received any such
| rdurn or not. Mr.. Chandler came to biz defence
with bis numerous objections ana technic Il
| puiuts, md AL II .yored smartly with bluster.
| air. Pasco refused 10 be nut on however, aud
called attention to the rules, which said that all
| returns should be presented 10 the board, aud
| tnat the board snoud cecide which were the
| regular aud proper rtturns-hrst, 10y look at
| their face, ana aitcrwdrd upon consideration
| OF their merits. lie then charged that. In utter
violation OF those plain rules, the Secretary Of
| state, having received two returns from one
| county, had Gecided the question between them
himself by suppfesslng one aud presenting the
| otnar He tnen renewed his demand for the
prtsentaiton OF the suppressed return.
The Chairman then confessed that he had re-
| ceyed another return, aud going TO his d sk,
before the Other, signed 90 described, Nv Mr..
| Pasco, ard gave the Democrats " majority. II
| this return IA admitted, Mr.. ildcns M jOnty Is
over lIn. with hotn returns before the bodrd
under contest Ar. lilden nas three electors and
Mr. ttaYes one.
nerc is no doubt that the Ropubllcanr will
| suffer seriously for the outrageous assumption
| Of auInodty on the part of the secretary of
| stAte. lne suppression 10y one member Of tho
| hu ard OF paper thAt the beard alone could
| reject or alter Is suspicious, To say tho best
| ON fl IL denounced sound y by ali cnnserVn-
| tive msn, aud viii recOil upon TIE party. II -
| considered q pieCe OF doubtful trickery resort
ed TO sin,NlN Tor the purpose of giving Hayes an
| uppsrent majority on the fdco oil tue returns,
| aud eNudtng mo indignatiOn that would have
| been aroused had the managers been forced 10
| TeNotse innJority Ia the place uf taTOwlng out
| inundated counties. The Democrats have
never had any intlmHtiOn OF trouble in Baker.
| L. ma never reen cl lined oy the Republicans.
| lt has never been printed IN a list OF possible
| Hrpuplican counties. IL w.B never doubtful
! county. Tue Republicans kept their designs on
| II srcryt, aul wren new return from that
| county WAS made to-day, tho Democrats were
Thoroughly ana heartily astCnial.cA. The secrecy
| with witch THIS game has been conducted eH-
| plans why the R-puniicnns have not been will
| lug Tor the past twu weeks 10 give ans ngufrs.
| NitLout niksr they could not have nguIed a
| mti rity. 10 hlNe claimed Daker " Juid have
| LiNeu the DemOcr Is notice.
IL sppssr9 ina In H1ker county the Judge re
IN od to CANVASS with TIM clerk ard the Justice.
| Hose tWu officers then canVd-scd on lhe luln,
| und cent up cen l1oi u. uln. Ia DuNdl cJlnts,
| wueie tue Republicans nave $50 maJoritY. cN-
| artli Tho ano thinG Mds done; the Judge re-
| fused to canvass, aud tue TetDru Ia now mere,
| siaucd Dy 0Ily tho clerk aud Justice. II tho
| kepubliCAus throw out iilker with It's 90
| Democratic malouty Dn ! must follow Wi'L
| n, yi1 Republican NAL IifY. 1heV ATe signed by
| preuaey TIE same oflcera aud .nuhe up In eN-
| Hc'lY ire same manner; nut ~ appears haf m
| II ksr county the Judge net on the lIth with
| the ShsT.1 and another JuliiCs and made an.
| Other canvass. IN "hlcn he thew oUt enough
Demu"rltlc preclncts to glyO tho Republicans a
| majority ia tho COuntV Inis return they for
| ward-d thres days after the regular return from
| tie clerk OF <ie court hau reached the capital
This " tne return tnat the secretary read 10 the
| board, Illegally suppressInR the hrsi return hs
bad received.
| lhs board adjourned immediateiY after the
! Chairman had prOduosd aud read ths uup'