The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-11-22
Republicans Endeavor-
ing to Override tho Will Of
the People.
They Violate the Law Of the State
Shamelessly and Noto-
riously.
Retain Power by Frsud-status
Of Affairs.

HARTFORD, Nov. Z.-The Carele8meGs with
which the new secret ballot Law Of Con-
necticut was drawn has led the way to SER
ious complications, which may result in
the election of \ republican governor by the
legislature instead Of the seating Of demo-
crat, who was elected by the popular vote.
Under the law any party can provide for it,
own ballots. The voter is required TO cast
it in sealed envelope, and therein lies the
secrecy. This paved the way for serious
trouble at Bridgeport. One hundred and
twenty-six ballots were thrown out in the
Fifth ward for tie reason that they were 90
marked that they could be identified. II ig
understood that the democratic city clerk.
Mr.. Mullins, who was one Of the party
managers that day. learned that republicans
we're hiring men at 81 each. and furnishing
them with marked ballots, so that the pur-
chasers might determine. when the count
was made at night, whether "the goods had
been delivered" Mr.. Mullins took hand
in the counting in the ward that night. and
detected 116 straight republican ballots,
ten scratched" republican ballots, and
one scratched" democratic ballot. These
we're thrown out of the count, a republican
counter, who was job printer and press
man, joining with Mr.. Mullins in noting on
the package that the votes were marked.
All the counters present assented to it,
Late in the evening the chairman Of the
republican town committee, who had heard
of the affair, came to the polls and insisted
that the marks on the ballots were nothing
more than ''specks'' due to misprintinR,
piece OF the roller having broken off and
caught on the electroplate from which the
tickets were printed. He produced some
unused ballots, on which there was small
elongated mark close after the letter ''v'' in
governor. Mr.. Mullins insisted that on the
rejected tickets. which were not shown to
the republican committeeman. there were
various small marks. evidently made with
pencil. On one OF these that he remem-
bered there is dot following the last letter
in governor and a small dagger after the
''l'' in Samuel. They are small marks, but
would be perfectly plain to the republican
counters, who could readily keep tally of
these ballots and report to their town COM
mitteeman. The committeeman insisted
produced we're ink marks only. Mr.. Null
Inns borrowed rubber and easily erased tho
marks, without disturbing the adjacent
printed letters.
Upon the rejection of those ballots much
depended. BY it Judge Morris, the demo-
ity Of "a. II they had been counted he
would have been over 100 short of clear
majority, and the election OF governor
would have gone TO the legislature, which is
republican. All the other democratic nop-If
inees on the state ticket are elected by safe
majorities. The republicans will endeavor
to have an Investigation Of the 126 ballots
and to have them counted for Gen. Merwin.
But the legislature alone can revise returns |
of state ticket and order an investigation. |
It must be ordered by concurrent vote of
both houses. The senate is democratic,
have elected their governor on the face of
the returns. They hold the fort, and don't
propose to open gap in the wall. They
claim that if the bridgeport ballot box is
opened. and even if it was found that the
ballots were properly thrown out, there is
places will be called for; and they say the
votes in the boxes may have been fixed
since the republicans have found them
selves in the minority.
1t is necessary that both houses OF the
legislature shall declare the election of
ing its action on the majority for Judge
Morris on the face Of the returns, will be
ready to pass a resolution declaring him
elected. The republican house will table
the resolution and demand an investiga-
ton. Hence a deadlock Is expected.
The republicans are talking of legal pro-
ceedings to secure the opening of the Bridge
port box, but it is doubtful whether they
can reach solution of the difficulty in that
way. The legislature, and not the courts,
passes upon such questions and orders re-
counts. The managers Of both parties are
stubborn, and the democrats especially so,
because their candidate for governor, while
having only "a clear majority, had 1856
more votes than the republican candidate.
Hence. they are not disposed to yield an
inch'of their advantage; Whatever hap,
pens. Gov. Buckley will hold Office until
the affair IL settled.