The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-10-14

v,su,xcroN. Oct 13.-The evidence
Ian Nv The Potter Committee prores beyond
III controversy that the electoral vote OF Flor
idn belonged to rlldcn.
r,ciudinr Baker County, the face OF the
.oun,v returns in Florida gave Hayes four ma
i,rity From Baker County thereiwerc two re-
,,rrs m. Driggers "tand the Dorman re-
,n,ns made by two different county boards. II
,ho Dormsn return a return upon its face
r,,ro regular than the other. was counted. Til
aep had a majority Of 80. II the Driggcrs"
-.,,rn was counted Hayes had n majority OF 46. |
when the Returning Board met to canvass tho |
.orr,v returns no positive evidence existed to |
,hov which was the valid return. That has |
been shown by the present inquiry. 1t gives |
Samuel j. Tildcn the State on the face Of the |
returns
Til, Returning Board ended its nrst canvass
Den G. For nine days II heard evidence and
nrrunent and pretended to try 10 fnd
the legal vote. rs distinguished from the
vote crst and recorded before it. The Supreme
Cour, " tho State. Republican in appointment
and re nhership. said in terms that the Board
had 49, power to do these things The Board
accepted this decision. and extended it's ex-
presssd scope TO the canvass OF tho vote for
Presidential Electors. Its first canvass gave
cluling votes In Hamilton. fernando. Jackson.
Leon Orange. Manatee. and Monroe Counties.
This the Court said the Board could not do. In
its first canvass the Board counted in Baker
County the same number Of votes az appeared
on the Dormgn" return. In Clay County II
canvassed all the votes allowed by the County
Canvasscrs and more. When the Board re-
canvassei the vote for electors It gave Hayes
All majority. 1t did this by counting the
"Driggsrs return this time. and by excluding
the vote In Clay County altogether.
Tho House last May ordered an inquiry 10
test this canvass in two particulars-frst, the
motives OF the canvassers: second. the ground
upon which the canvass was made The testi
mony OF Noyes. McLin. and others shows the
motvcs-inplied promises OF office after Hayes
cane in. Turning to the grounds OF tho can
vsss. the evidence shows there was no reason
TO exclude Clay County. and including 1t re-
duces Hayes's majority to 46: the " Driggers
return was fraudulent. the 'Dorman" true.
counting that gives Tiden 90 majority; there
we're other votes. 2l9 in AachuaiCcunty and rs
In Leon County which new proof shows should
not have been counted as they were counted
for Hayes. THE gives Tiden $50 majority.
The first canvass by the Returning Board
counted Clay County. and counted all Clay
County except four votes admitted illegal The
second canvass excluded IL. In regard TO this
second canvass McLin testified:
o-Sow. amer you had canvsssed Baker and Clay
coanies Did n, a''t 1t gave the state to rlden
o-By about ss MAJORITY Al have made no cAicu.
laden
The return from Clay County was
brought before the Subcommittee. and
Il shows that to the return Of votes
In this county was pasted. apart from tho ssigna-
- o., Ill.
recording the fact that AT Precinct No. seventy
four votes were cast direct for Tilden and Hen
bricks. There was nothing 10 show that this
vote was counted in tho county vote. There
was nothing TO show that II was not counted.
There were thirty-nve other votes at Precinct
No. (Tilden 49, Hayes 81 which were not
counted by the County Canvassers because the
inspectors wore not sworn. The evidence since
taken shows that they we're sworn. tho jurst
being produced. SO far as the record
went the seventy-four votes cast direct
at Precinct No. l for Tilden and Hen.
bricks were not counted In the return OF votes
for Electors. 30 far as the record was deficient
in that the inspectors were not sworn at Pol
No. s. the record has been supplemented.
Including the " DriRgers return from
Baker County. this leaves the majority fol
Hayes at %. The evidence taken by
the Subcommittee demonstrates that the
Driggers return should not te taken. nrst
because it was illegally made. and second. be.
cause II falsely states the votes cast by givina
Hayes Al majority. when. In fact. the votes oi
Baker County gave Tiden 96 majority
The law required the County Judge. Clerk
and Justice Of the Peace to canvass. In the
absence Of either OF these the Sheriff acted. Two
Of these made quorum. Friday after the cleo
ton Driggers. the Judge. not appearing and
Alien, the Sheriff. refusing to act. CoIe. the
Cers. called in Dorman. the Justice OF the
PsSce. and they canvassed the sworn re-
turn which gave Tilden 29s. Hayes 14s
A. there was no other Justice OF the Peace
in tue county. 1t was plain that in any canvass
VITA CoSN and Dorman. Driggers would be out
voted Ha issued notices to Coxe and Dorman
N canvass with him Monday noon. DrigRers
did hot appear. He went to Tallahassee. and
came back with q commission as Justice OF the
P'soe for one Green. That afternoon Allen
h"erin. being present. and refusing. Coke and
pornHn canyassed again with the same
result That evening DriRRers. Allen. and
urHen met after nightfall. made canvass
hsyes 100 TildAn se-and subsequently swore
h@7 decided 10 reject certain precinct votes
hnd dld this according to our best judgment
ana discretion. In pursuance Of the law and
practice n tbs State" The validity OF this can
'eSs turnsd on two thinSs-ths good faith oi
Use men who made II. and the truthfulness Of
thHir sworn snIsment about II. 1t falls to the
ground II the absence Of Coke and Dorman was
secured ~ atf'Gk. so as to lenve the way clear
Tor conir,vtd CANVASS. II equally falls 10 the
ground II tho votes were n ot rejected In accord
an'e to their best judgment and discretion .
bo'h the trick snd the falsehood nre shown by
mo testimony Of tho mon engaged. DrRgers
test!hes that ho oontrived Green's commits
sion. made no effort" on Monday to m Get Coke
and That he threw out the two precincts chang
Ing the result with no evidence before him. and
without knowledge OF the law. acting upon thS
advice Of Howell and Bisbee one Federal Col
ieetor at FernandipA. and the other Republi
oan candidate for Congress. Green testl6ei
N" Driggers told him he was commits
honsd 10 assist in the cnnvasS. and thA
he vas wanted Ito rectify things in Baker
county" which he aided in doing without read
ing 'he precinct returns or knowing the facts ir
mo cane. bis affidAylt stating tho contrary wai
elVen, said when he wAs intoxicated, beior,
bo"es. a notary, who now holds a place In tn,
INFERIOR Department. Finally he summed VI