The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1884-11-13
THE As.ociat.d Prass

NEW YORK, Nov. S.-W. II. French,
of the Associated Press, entered into q
full explanation this noon of the manner
in which the Associated Press gathers
its election returns, upon which the Re
publican national committee bases Its
claims to to the election of Mr.. Blame
1.-THE plans of the association are ex-
planned IN Mr.. French's words:
Here" said he, fare tables prepared in
blank on every county in the stat, be
ginning with Albany. These sheets
wide, as you see, are divided into linei
running up and down the page and
across. Every district and ward of {
city Is given, and by this means We may
put our f1ngres upon any voting distrIc
at an instant's notice.
SNOW, take Albany county as an Illus
tration. The first division is devoted
to Albany city. The divisions or blank
spaces are filed ont this way: Albany
First district, 1880, Garfield, $50; Han
cock, 2S8; Democratic majority, g; 1884
Blaine, 1856: Cleveland, pa; Bptler, Is
St. John, none; Republican majority
81; Republican gain, 80. This system
is followed out in all the two thousand
districts in the outside Of New York anC
| Kings county.
"'These blanks were prepared two o.
three weeks before election, and every
thing was got ready. Now, 1 will ex
plain how we got in our news, and show
YOU how correct our figures must be
Two weeks before election We sen
| blanks to q plumber of trusted agents il
each county. These blanks read:
| November 4. Smith, Associated Press
New York, County, District, Blaine
| Cleveland, Butler, st. John.
'Signed, -, -.
These blanks were distributed 70 tn
nearest telegraph offices 20 each district
j and by the operators they have been dis
tributed ct the district. These wer
filed out by trustworthy men and sen
in to US. The figures are transferred
upon our blanks and footed up. TheI
give MIR. Blaine slight plurality. w
have given no opinion, and have none
1t is not our province to do so. W
merely collected the facts. have rea
son to believe that the figures are col
rect. They are much more likely to b
correct than the figures of the count
clerks, who have no means of getting tn
/ figures except by hearsay. The return
come to them sealed. No one will knol
| which is right, the Associated press o
the county clerks, until the county can
wasting boards meet. ALI we lack nov
are twelve election districts to cOmplet
the list.
We wish, also. to verify seventy dis
trfcts. This will be done to-day. N
election has ever been so thoroughly re
ported IS this, nor SO correctly. Wher
are the conflicting figures found? II
Democratic counties. The county clerk
in Democratic counties have OYer-esti
mated the returns, notably IN Alben!
| and Westchester. That is, assuming
our reports to be correct.
Now, to satisfy all parties We hav'
sent out Invitations to the RepublI
can national and state committees, 70 tn
| Democratic national and state commit
tees, and to each morning paper, askin:
them to send each man to this Office
to verify our figures. We will place q
this table Democrat opposite q Repub
lican, and in that way the public viii
be convinced of the fairness of our &c
ports.
The morning papers say that at twt
O'Clock this morning the Associated
Press conceded the election of Cleve
land. It did nothing of the kind. It i
not the province of the Associated Pres
to claim or concede anything. The As
ISOLATED Press simply gives the figures
1 that come in; as the figures have come
| in they show small Republican mejori
ties IN the districts reported. The re
ports from the county clerks Office
give = small Democratic majority.
We merely sent the reports out as on
duty as news gathers required as TO do
| AS It now stands Blaine is slightly sheed
The state board Of canvassers are direct
| ed by Law to meet IN Albany on thu
Wednesday after the third Monday II
November, but may adjourn from day
TO day until ali the returns from the
| county supervisors have been received
The lstter are obliged to meet on the
hrst Tuesday after the election, end
after the vote has been determined, thG
returns are forwarded to Albany.
"There can be no tsmperIng Of the re
| turns while in transit. The law Il
very clear in providing not only for tht
severe punishment of fraud By such
messengers, but for any voluntary o.
negligent set on their part, whereby th!
| purpose of their appointment may b
nullified or endangered. It Spplies no
| only to messengers themselves, but an
person or persons who may hinder or Oh
struct, or IN any way interfere with tn
performance Of their duties. The stat
board is composed Of Secretary of Stat
Carr, Republican; Attorney Genera
O'BTIen, Democrat: Comptroller Chaplin
Democrat; Treasurer Maxwell, Demo
crat, and State Engineer Sweet, Demo
crat."