Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1890-11-28
THE FACE OF THE HETURNs.

THE FACE OF THE HETURNS.
The Question as to Who WIN be the
Next Governor OF Our Little State
Some Interesting Comments.
The report of the state board of canvass
ers, published in full in yesterdays CoUR-
TER, revives the public interest which
had been tagging in the result of the re-
cent state election. The report in no wise
decides the matter, for, as stated yester-
day, the legislature has power to go be-
hind the face Of the returns and get at the
true inwardness of the case. That's one
thing that legislatures are for. A few
win be of interest The following is
from the Hartford Courant:
NOW FIND OUT.
The state board Of canyassers in their
report to the general assembly, which is
printed elsewhere, follow the only course
which fair-minded men in an intelligent
community could follow under the circum.
stances.
They report the returns as received, and
| with them the fact which those returns
bear with them and which is notorious all
over the state, namely, that large num-
| Der of votes cast have not been counted,
some for causes given and some for causes
| not given. Everybody knows that several
| Thousand votes were counted which had
| on them the word t.for;" the retdrns ex-
plain that some are rejected for having
| 'efor" upon them. Every intelligent per-
son must see the gross inconsistency of
such situation, and the general assembly
cannot accept the report without recognize
! ing the fact
The board has not made new departure
| in thus calling attention to manifest mac
curacies, for while such course is emil
| nently proper, it has also the sanction of
democratic precedent. In 1871 Charles M.
Pond, treasurer, Thomas M. Waller, secre-
/ tary, and Seth s. Logan, comptroller, did
| the same thing, as appears in the account
| elsewhere
This step advances the situation one
move further along, and the board have
done wisely in at once submitting to the
public a statement of what will be their
report SO as to avoid any charge of failure
to act in an open manner. When the gen
eral assembly comes together it will receive
this report of the canvassing board. There
is nothing in the report but facts and moth
ing in the form that is outside of prece-
dent. Will anybody think of refusing to
accept the reports Manifestly not. But
can anybody accept the report and not adj
NIT thereby that the situation calls for an
inquiry to ascertain the facts? It is equal
ly apparent that this conclusion in inevita-
BILE.
Suppose now that, led on by unscrupu-
lous advisers, democratic senate should
halt and refuse to make the inquiry that
the accepted report calls for. Do they not
then block the way for the choice of any
state officers at ala No one knows how
many votes have been wrongly rejected,
while all know that many have been. Per
haps everybody has an honest majority;
perhaps all but Judge Morris have. If the
democratic senate are advised into frac-
tiousness, may not the house lean back
!, and say that until they know the number
of votes rejected, and whether they were
rejected properly, they are not ready to
certify that anybody has a majority fol-
any ofices In that case Messrs. Alsop,
Sanger, Phelan and Staub might find
themselves by the stubbornness of their
, own democratic senate relieved of the
/ cares of Office, with all that implies.
Now it should be borne in mind, if any
wrangle, deadlock or dispute does come
| up, that the republican party isn't de-
, manding any offices and isn't standing or
i any technicalities. All it asks is that the
facts be ascertained, and that the genera
I assembly abide by the actual results an6
not by mere appearances. An investiga
! ton may increase the democratic majority
! All the thousands of ''for' votes may b,
illegal, though we do not believe it. Blu
what we ask is, find out. The general as
sembly of Connecticut is omnipotent il
: the matter. It will be informed of tn
, situation. Let it find out the true vot
q and declare it.