Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1882-11-20
A DISREPUTABLE TRICK.

AdSI CdtuTuaSs WHcu VIC SOuHsy
Commissioners, sitting as Board Of
Canvassers, opened the returns from
Malad precinct, Mr.. Bixby stated that
the poll had been moved to a point
some 10 miles from the place desig.
mated by the Board Of County Com
missioners for the holding of the same,
and he therefore moved that the vote
be thrown out.
Nh. Leadley agreed to this, but Mr..
VanSchaick objected, on the ground
that the Board had no right to exam.
inc into the legality of the votes cast
at any precinct, as long as the returns
of such votes, made by the Judges of
election, were regular on their face.
The matter was referred to the Dis
trict Attorney, who gave written
opinion, few hours later, which was
published in last Saturdays TINES.
He held that the Board had a right
to refuse to count the returns from
Malad precinct.
Later in the day the returns from
Billingsley's were reached. Mr.. Blk
by said the poll had been held IA
miles away from the place designated
by the Board. The poll was held at
Billingsley's (now known as ELIZA
beth'o, while the Board had estab-
lished it at the Junction of the Oregon
Short Line Railway. Mr.. Leadley
agreed with Mr.. Bixby. Mr.. Van
Setback objected, and asked:
"Are the returns irregular and i'm
perfect on their face?"
"No, sir" replied Messrs. Leadley
and Bixby; "they are perfectly rcgu-
lar"
This action of the Board throws out
over 500 votes, and elects Mr.. Bixby
to the assessorship, Mr. Gray to
the Shrievalty, Mr.. Rollins to the
School SUPPLEMENTARY, and Messrs.
Leadley, Vanlandingham and Lewis
to the County Commissionership; in
stead of Messrs. Leonard, Furey,
Waldron, Morrill,, Van Schaick and
McAllister. The candidates counted
out are Republicans, those counted
in are Democrats. The Board of
Canvassers stood as follows: Demo-
crats-Leadley and Bixby; Republi-
can-Van Schaick.
The poll at Malad precinct was Or
dered held at the old Billingsley
house. Mr.. Bixby, in pursuance of
conspiracy entered into by some Of
the candidates on the Democratic
ticket, went down to Malad, and on
the day of election caused the poll to
be moved to railroad camp, 10 miles
away, where 90 votes were polled.
To those who raised objections to the
moving Of the poll, Mr.. Bixby stated
that he was Chairman of the Board of
County Commissioners, and therefore
had the power to move the poll.
This, the TINES is informed by relia-
bic persons, is susceptible of proof.
An attempt was also made to move
the poll at Cold Springs, and Greene
White was sent there to have it done.
But the matter was made known in
Boise, and ex-Register of the Land
Office Miller went out to Cold Springs
and threatened the Judges with the
penitentiary if they moved the poll.
The object of the Democrats was to
moved the poll to Glenn's Ferry,
where there were some 500 railroad
hands to be voted. AS there WAS no
poll at tie ferry, they did not vote.
But to return to the canvass. There
is no doubt that the poll at Malad was
moved, and although the Board may
have exceeded its power in throwing
it out, no one will be likely to COM
plain of the act, as Mr.. Bixby had no
right to move the poll except for good
and sufficient cause. With the Bill
Kingsley vote, however, the case is diff
ferent.
Last July, when the election pre-
eincts were established, there was but
one house besides the stage station)
within twenty miles Of the place desig-
mated as the junction Of the Oregon
Short Line with the kelton road.
That house was Billingsley's, where a