Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-12-09
THE TROUBLE In MAINE.
CONGRESSMAN LADO'S lNTsLLlGlBLE
ACCOUNT or IT.
The Governor and His Council Abused tor
Discharging a Sworn 0ut-HOw
the Returns are Made Up
and Passed Upon,
A DEMOCRAT WHO CAN'T Be BULL
O0ZED.

Washington Post.
''If We can believe Republican news
papers and politicians, the Democratic
Governor and council Of your state are
engaged in terrible onslaught upon
the rights of the PeOple?' said one OF
the Posts ubiquitous reporters to Con-
gresham Ladd yesterday.
''Yes," said Mr.. Ladd, "but when you
get to the bottom of it, it doesn't look
quite so bad as all that.
what are the fundamental iacts?
"Wen to be brief about it, the Gov
ernor and council are following the
plain letter of the constitution. Ii they
did less they would violate their oaths,
and il certainly is not a fault, whatever
may be the result, If they do no more
than that
"In what manner does rigid Obser-
vance OF the constitution affect the cleo
ton returns
That is vet TO he discovered. In the
first place, you should know that in
modern political parlance, the Govern
or and his council constitute a Return
ing Beard. All the returns 90 before
them, and they declare the result as it
appears
"They cannot alter it, then, in any
way2"
"In no way without violating the con-
stitution. Nor can they allow anybody
else to alter it, and that Is what all this
noise is about"
"How do the returns come before
them2"
The vote is cast on the day of the
election, counted by the judges in pub
lie and a record of the entire proceed
ings and result is made and passed upon
at a town meeting by the electors there
assembled. That record IS final and
must stand. Ii is sent up to the Gov
ernOr and council and by them examin-
Ell. lit is properly certified and has
the attestations required by the cOnsti-
tuition. il is so declared. Ii John Jones
had for the legislature, in the town OF
Calais. four hundred votes, and the town
clerk, in transcribing that record, had
changed the four into a three, thus de-
priving Jones OF a hundred votes, he
could appear before the Governors
board and make statement and oath that
the record as send up was not
a true copy of the original re-
cord. The board could then or
der him % bring or permit him 10
show a certified copy OF the record, and
on the fact appearing that the figure
three should bee a four, the correct rec
ord could be substituted Tor the detec-
tive one and justice be done. This IS
what is called clerical error, and that
class only can be considered. 10, John
Jones had thousand votes for his Of
fee, and the record, as adopted and
passed by the town meeting, placed 1t
az a hundred, there is no way OF going
back Of that action and correcting a.
The town meeting has adjourned and
the action taken by il when in session
ia held bv the constitution 10 be correct
and final The Governor and his coun-
Gil must colate and state the result ex-
actly as made by an aggregation oi these
original returns. Do | make myself
clear
"Perfectly. Now what do the Re
publicans complain about IN case ike
the one YOU have suggested
"Thev say that ii this is done II will
change the senate from a Republican TO
a Democratic bOdy.'
Chow DO they know it Will?
Because the returns are in so many
cases defective that they fear this Will
be the result.
But 10 not know it positively?
"Not unless they have examined all
the town returns and find il 10 be SO
"Have the Governor and council
made any such declaration
Certainly not, because they have not
vet examined the returns and cannot
know until they do
"What can the Supreme court DO
about it, as We are informed the Repub-
hcans have invoked their aid.
1T can DO nothing that | can see, ex-
cept 10 enjOin the Governor from doing
his duty. and il certainly won't do that.
The Governor and council form a co-Or-
dinate branch Of the government and
are supposed 10 DO their duty. As well
NAV be. they ask that the legislature be
enjOined from doing this or that thing,
or passing this or that law
''But suppose that by declaring the
returns as they appear a real injustice IS
done, where then il the remedy?
with the legislature, IN the case OF
its members, as each body Is still the
Judge of the qualification and election of
its own members after the list Of men,
bers elected is declared
They can 90 behind the Governors
certihcate?'
Certainly. This is only prima facie
evidences of election, as i'm the case OF a
certificate OF member Of Congress. A
contest will bring the matter up for IN
vestigation and decision as 1t will In
Congress.
''Why has this issue never been
raised befOreP
Because there has not been a govern
or for many years who was determined
10 follow the strict letter of the law"
And for this Blaine and his followers
are heaping oSloquy upon Gov. Garce-
lOn?'
"The Governor cares nothing Tor that
kind ofbluster. He can neither be ca
ioled nor bull-dOZed.
"When will the matter be settled
"In a very few days
CAMBRIDGE, o.