Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1882-12-14

The muddle into which the Returning
Board at Columbus has fallen becomes
interesting to the public when all the
Wallace. of the Eighteenth District, re.
ceiyed fifteen votes more than his Repub.
lican competitor, but that twenty-three
of his votes were not returned in his full
name of Jonathan H. Wallace. They
we're returned variously as for Jonathan
Wallace, ]. II. Wallace, John Fl. Wallace,
Major Wallace, Wallace, SC. The Re-
turning Board heard arguments as to
their right to count these votes for Jon.
athan II. Wallace. Judge Thurman ap.
peared for Wallace, and Samuel Shella.
barger for Mckinley. It was conceded,
after the argument, that the duty of the
board was purely ministerial "one, and
the votes would have to be counted
strictly as returned. This would give
Willism Mckinley, jun., majority of
eight votes over Jonathan III. Wallace.
Had the board simply so decided, it
would have given universal satisfaction,
although the Democrats would have felt
some disappointment over the fact of
Wallace's failure to get the certificate.
But it seems that in another contested
district-the Seventh-there were 3,517
votes cast for 81. L. Morey. while all the
others were cast for Henry T.. Morey.
Thus the strict rule, while it would have
seated Mckinley, would have unseated
Morey, and forced upon him the burden
of contesting the seat before the Lower
House of Congress, instead of putting
that burden upon his Democratic compe-
titor, Mr.. Campbell, who claimes to have
| been elected by a majority of the legal
voters. This would never do. For a
board, constituted of Governor Foster
and Secretary Townsend, to unseat BROTH
err ,Morey would be treason to the "grand
old party" So they decided to usurp
Judicial functions" although shown by
Shellabarger to be unlawful, and count
for both Messrs. Morey and Wallace the
votes given for them by their initials.
This was decided after a careful examin-
alton of the returns had shown that it
would add but seven votes to Wallace,
and still leave him in minority of one.
Thus, by evasion Of law and assumption
of authority. Messrs. Foster & Co. ''coun-
ted in" both McKinly and Morey.
While this was going on Mr.. Campbell
sat quietly by and said nothing until il
was made apparent that the board had
finally refused to assume judicial func.
tions to the extent of counting twenty
three votes for Wallace, although with.
out murmur they had assumed such
functions to count 3,517 votes for Morey.
Thereupon Mr.. Campbell said, and still
says, that there can not be two kinds ol
law in Ohio-one for his district and one
for Wallace's. He intends either to have
a certificate granted Co him. or have one
refused to Mckinley, and has gone tt
the Supreme Court to test the question.
He is willing to withdraw his suit an d
lose his certificate, provided one is giver
to Wallace, and trust to the case he car
make upon the merits of his cause il
Congress. In this he shows that he il
not lighting for certificate of election
but for the great principle as to whethel
q Democrat is entitled to the same pro
lection under the laws that q Republican
is SO readily granted, He should be up
held and encouraged, as he no doubt is
BY every citizen VINO loves 9 Stree ballo
and fair count. - Enquirer.