Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1889-10-26
THE FUNNEL PRECINcr.

v 0OAO w 0oCOl tdlus
The three judges were appointed by
Jack and Hall in exact accordance with
the law, and the two clerks were SO ap-
b pointed.
Commissioner Ja.k told County Clerk
and Recorder Charles e. Booth to use the
utmost care in all clerical work pertain
ing to establishing the precinct; to see
Q that the law should be complied with in
every particular so that the Democrats
would have no excuse whatever for MAX
ing an after-election kick. Mr.. Booth
carried out Commissioner Jacks instruc-
tions to the letter.
Every man who voted at the precinct
had been duly registered and not one
was challenged, although the registry
books were always in the hands of Re-
publican registry agents and were con-
stantly scanned by shrewd party men
who were acting for the Republican com
mittee.
The number Of men who voted is not
in excess of the number registered. The
three judges, all appointed by Commits
stones Jack, have sworn that there wal
a free vote and a fair count.
MI. Keefe, the contractor and a Repub-
lican candidate on the representative
ticket for Lewis and Clarke county, de-
clares to the same effect and that he will
have no further business with Mr.. Jacks
hardware store, of which he was a large
patron, because of Mr.. Jacks vile insinu-
atoms.
There was no evidence of fraud upon
the face of the returns.
There was not an illegal vote cast nor
is it SO alleged. The Irregularities were
only such as might be expected under
the first operation Of an election law SO
complicated and full of embarrassing
details as the Australian sys EN-. They
did not in any particular affect a free
vote and a fair count as has been fully
explained and sworn to by witnesses
whose credibility cannot be successfully
impeached. Grosser Irregularities exis-
ted in a majority Of the precincts of the
territory. They existed in Republican
precincts in this county but they slipped
through Commissioner Jacks hands like
a CREASED pig. The returns for precinct
No. 2 were in the handwriting Of one Of
the judges instead of one Of the clerks, :
but it was a Republican precinct and d
hence Jacks eagle eye saw it not. Q
Fraud was evident upon the face of the !
for Meaderville precinct No. Ill q
but that being overwhelmingly Repub- s.
lican, Jack counted it with a smile OF Il
ii
The ballots were secretly counted in
,recinct No. IA but that being Repub- =
lean, Jack again smiled, winked at
and proceeded with the count.
The board of %canyassers sat with "
losed doors for nearly an hour which =
7as a violation of law. TI
Judge Knowles sitting on the supreme m
ench of Montana declared that a *can- W
board had no judicial powers; u
it could not inquire into a question do
fraud; that its functions were but
inisterial; that it could only certify that
other election officers had de-.a
AIRED certain results. Judge Knowles 90,
IS not been heard of in this matter bu
nee he was confronted by that decision. un
g challenge him to say through any oe'
per that he did not SO declare the law wv
be.
But Jack and Hall nevertheless put on r
9 judicial wigs, looked wise and finally its
that as the Tunnel precinct did yes
It vote as Mr.. Jack bet his money, and MI
at as to count its vote would make the 90
80, ant
ui0 Donioci"'lc liz "ouiu sustain in
allegation of fraud, declare his bets to 6
, the .legislature Republican and his rea
dicial decision the supreme law of the D
OF course, that learned jurist, SON
sociate Justice Vim. E. Hall "Me TODD Sta
farce and gained for himself more stea
than he ever had before or ever a"o
u have again.
Ind upon what evidence did they base D
ir first, last and monumental decision? ieas
nry Bernard, the murderer, was the Tpa
ncipal witness and he had not been viii
of the penitentiary long enough for
hair to hide his scalp. Mr.. M. L. Hol- u
Olef Oleson and the other political gov,
o-workers whose names the afidavits Tho,
rned, did not allege fraud but they senc
Q simply in the nature of ornamental
lesses to signatures and hero IL
'hics that were accepted as such. r. ~
men, and four only, swore that they still
voted the straight Republican ticket, cour
lie the returns showed that only three
n,.,, - Pu
'o' ~ u 'heSe Keny
oouiu feau ano "rlte d IL Is most meet
enable to presume that owing to the will
plications of the Australian system
~ fhn uvnh4 WI