The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-03-22

Testimony ON the Part of Contestant Closed
With Gain Of so Votes for Fred
erick the Democratic candi
date Over and Above VIII
sons Majority


SUN MA5VEASy.
Iowa CRY, Ia, March 10, 1888.
Special Correspondence to the Argus.
Those informed upon Iowa poliiicslare
well aware that the seat of the congress
man elect for the Fifth congressional dis
trict is the subject of close and exciting
contest The facts are these: When the
republican convention met at Cedar
Rapids, several strong candidates for
Nomination were in the field, aHd it was
only after protracted struggle that the
dark horse, james Wilson. of Tama, won
the day. Mr.. Wilson is a man of large
reputation, has had long experience in
politics and held several high offices, and
formerly represented this district in con-
gress.
When the democratic convention met
at Marshalltown they quite unanimously
nominated Ben. r. Frederick a wealthy
manufactures of that city. In the en-
suing campaign Wilson took the stump
and explained protective tariff to the
farmers. Ben Frederick is self made
man of large natural abilities and proved
an extremely popular candida e. His
agreeable personal presence won him
many votes from the dsaffected republi
can ranks. The fact that Mr. Wilson
was not the unanimous choice of his
party was against him. As result OF
the complexity of the issues and party
descriptions several democrats were elect
ed TO Office in this district and Wilson s
majority as candidate for congress was
only %. Mr. Frederick enioined the state
board Of eanvassers to exclnde the re-
turns from Taylor township, Marshall
county, which would have given him a
small ma ority. The grounds upon which
the injunction was issued were good as
the township board of trustees themselves
certified to the illegality of the canvass.
the state board nevertheless refused to
obey the injunction. The restit however
was So close that Frederick determined to
contest the election at any rate. Tim
Brown, Esq, of Marshailtown, was re
tanned as attorney, while Mr.. Wilson en-
ploycd separate counsel for each county
sof tine district. By agreement consessant
was allowed forty days to take his testi
sInony, and respondent forty days there
after in which to take evidence on his
own part. In order to expediate the
matter, Eldon Moran. stenographer of
Iowa City, was by agreement appointed
commissioner to take all the testimony in
the case The first session was held at
Iowa City Feb. 22d and 23d. Since this
time sessions have been held in every
county in the district and testimony taken
almost every day up to the present irf1e.
As the result of evidence introducedtcon-
tessant claims so votes gained, 65 by re
count and II illegal votes cast for Wilson.
The number of votes claimed in each
county are as follows: Johnson county,
12 votes on recount; Lynn county, votes
on recount and illegal votes; Denton
A md 4
votes; Marshall couaty, 25 votes on re
count; Iowa county. 5 votes on recount
and l illegal vote; Tama county, 10
votes on recount and illegal votes.
1t is matter of surprise that the
Judges of the election could in so many
cases have made mistakes as to the mum
Der of votes cast for The candidates for
the Office of representative as the evidence
plainly shows has been done. In several
where Wilson was unpopular
his name was crossed off the ballots.
These erasures, however, were in many
cases unnoticed by the judges who count.
ed the ballots late in the evening by a
dim light. In some cases republican
boards held open the polls until late
hour for the purpose of accommodating
republican voters who were expecting to
arrive on trains. The vote of Gov. SheT-
man was contested on the ground that he
had lost his residence in Benton county;
also that of Judge Shane on the ground
of insufficient mental capacity, tle result
of paralysis.
By agreement of parties contestant will
take the testimony of twenty-two wit.
nesses in Benton county in March, where
he expects to gain a good many more
votes. A good many. republicans concede
that Frederick via gain the seat. The
testimony on the part of respondent be
gins this week and will continue forty
DAYS. He expects to show fraud but
nobody yet knows where Frederick will
then have ten days 20 Introduce testinlo-
NY on rebuttal.