The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1882-11-02
A CASE IN POINT.

The Alliance Review in speaking of a
possible contest on the part of Major
Wallace for his seat in Congress, refers
to the well established rule to carry out
the intention of the voter, and in con-
nectiOn refers thus to the case of Wei
meT, Democrat, vs.. Welch, Republican,
during the winter of 1874:
The contested election case of Weimer
vs. Welch, few years since, is fair il
lustTatiOn as to how a dignitied body
will look upon case of this kind. The
Ohio Senate was in the hands of the
Democrats. Weimer was the Democratic
candidate for State Treasurer, and was
cOntesting the election of Welch, the
Republican. The vote of Lexington
township was made factor in the case.
1t was proved that in the neighbOrhOOd
of hundred votes were cast here, with
out Welch's name being on, by reason OF
mistake in printing the tickets. That
Democratic Senate decided that it was
evidently the intent of the voters who
used those tickets, to vote for all the
names that should have been on it, and
therefore all those ballots should be
counted for Welch, although his name
did not appear on the tickets at all.
Again, in the same case, in certain pre-
cincts in Paulding county, by mistake,
Welch's name was printed as candi-
date for Attorney General, and John
Little's name for Treasurer. That DEM
Ocratic State Senate decided that those
votes cast by mistake for John Little
for Treasurer, should be counted for
Welch, and the votes cast for
Welch for Attorney General should be
counted for Little. The question turned
upon the intent of the voters, which was
just and honorable way of settling the
matter. We have no doubt but the next
Congress will deal with this question in
an equally fair and impartial manner,
keeping in view the rights of voters as
well as candidates.
By obeying this rule Jonathan H.
Wallace should receive the commission
retary of State. The Review then
goes on:
Since the above was in type we find
the following Canton dispatch in the
Cincinnati Enquirer:
CANTON, o., Oct. Is Major Mckinley,
who was up for his third term in the
18th District, refuses to accept the re-
suit as announced by the State Board of
Canvassers. He bases his action on the
fact that a number of tickets cast for j.
H. Wallace, bearing the wrong initials
to that gentleman's name, were thrown
out, which ought to have been counted
for him. This action on the part Of Ma
jOr Mckinley will result in Wallace
getting the certificate of election.
We don't see how Mr.. Mckinley could
do anything more to his credit. He would
certainly cut sorry figure, after stump
ing his district in favor of "pure bal
lot and a fair count" going back to
Congress with a majority of eight from
a district with a Republican majority of
$500, when even that majority of eight
is obtained by throwing out number
of ballots, not by reason of wrong in
itials," but by still more trifling tech
nicality.
1t may do for the Cleveland Leader
and other partisan Organs" to insist on
the electing of Mckinley in the face of
these facts, but the doctrine of "free
ballot and fair count" is OF more i'm
pOrtance to the Republican party than
the simple election of Major Mckinley
or any other man. The Republican par
ty can afford to stand by its principles.