The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1876-11-14
A REPUBLICAN DESPATCH.
a KEPUBLIGAN UESPHIGHr
REPUBLICANS STEALING
BALLOT BOXES AND
POLL BOOKS IN
FLORIDA,
And Trying to Figure TiIden
outin Florida and South
Carolina.
And Leave the Democratic State Of
And Leave the Democratic State Of
fcers Elected.

New YORK, Nov. l4.-The New York
Times special from Tallahassee says:
The county canvass of the votes of Flor
ida was made to-day, but as many of the
polling places are hundreds of miles from
all railway communication official returns
cannot be placed in the hands of the board
OF state canvasSerS for at least a week
No figures that can be relied upon have
beer received from any OF the counties to-
night, but all the scattering returns which
have come to hand show that the Republi-
cans have underestimated rather than eX-
aggerated their majority. Hamilton coun-
ty, as far as has been heard from. is
the only one in which there is
any dispute about the canvass. In
this county, which rightfully belongs to the
Republicans and which it is thought was
carried by the Democrats, who, Immediately
after election, claimed a majority of 29l
Since then the ballot boxes and all legal
evidences of the result haYe mysteriousy
disappeared and of course the managers
OF the election were unable to make any
canvass. The Democrats still insist, how
ever, that they have carried the county by
the above figures and demand that they be
returned as the result of the election.
| do. They asked an appeal from the refu-
sal to canvass the county vote and
are to apply to the circuit juoge for writ
Of mandamus, and the Democratic state com
mittee has sent lawyer to Hamilton coun-
| ty to draw the necessary papers and make
such an application. If the Judge refuses
to grant the mandamus there is no further
appeal except IN quo warranto as to why
~ AZ h. iaIr, fa ho kal ,lrn
not take their seats. The state board oi
canvassers has no power to act upon pol
which is not before them.
! Regarding vacancies in the board Of
pre- sidential electors, the state laws o
1916 provide that all vacancies in the
boavd of eletto are to be filled by the re
naming electors on the day previous tt
that fixed for voting for president.
One feature of the contest here, which
exctes great deal of interest, is the diff
ference between the vote cast for Iilder
and that for the Democratic candidate TO
governor The Democrats claimed tha
the difference would not be very great
Official returns already received, however
show that it is so great that even if Drew
has carried the state by a small majority
as is claimed by the Democrats, Tilden viii
be defeated by at least 400 votes. 1t will
be remembered in calculating from Demo
cratic figures in Sumter county, Tildel
falls behind Drew / votes, in Duval coun
ty 67 votes, in Leon county IA, in jackson
43. in Nassau county 26, in Franklin coun
ty l3 and in Orange county 81, or 208 il
: counties. At this rate he would be de
9 fcated even if the Democratic state ticke
was elected by the highest majority claim
). ed for it,
Excitement has greatly decreased her
during the past twenty-four hours.
Gen Kugar arrived this evening an
= took command of the troops.
Prominent Democrats are pouring int
the state from all parts of the south and
number from the north are hourly e2
Z pecte1.
Later dispatches state that the Demo
! Gratis have produced returns in Hamilto
|. county and that the county board hav
! commenced to canvass them.
1t will rest with the state board to thro
out returns if frauds can be proved again'
e either party.
: ATimes dispatch from Columbus, S. G
. signed /, Cass Carpenter, collector, says
Returns from 20 counties show that Ii
den runs behind Hampton 800 votes.