The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-09-26
PRECINCT THIRTY-FOUR.

'At the first and only general election
held in the state Of Montana, in the month
of October last, a majority Of the board of
commissioners in the county of Silver Bow,
on pretexts the most fimsy, and which
found sanction neither in reason, precedent
or law, rejected the entire vote of precinct
"a, at which ia votes were cast. '-Demo-
cratic Platform.
Flimsy, without reason, without prece-
dent and in the teeth of law. An apt
description, for the facts prove that the
election at that polling place was as
peaceable, as fair, as orderly, and as
legally conducted as any in the length
and breadth of the United States. 1t
has never been contended that tho pre-
liminaries we're faulty. All the require
ments of the registration law were fully
complied with and registry list of 1872
voters was perfected, filed and placed in
the hands OF the election officers. It
cannot be disputed that every person
whose name appeared on that list was
by the law of Montana entitled to vote.
Fraud is amply guarded against. The
registry provided for by the act of
March, 1889, is itself thorough chal-
lenge and examination of every voter
whose name is entered thereon. In the
case Of naturalized persons, the facts
necessary are required, at the instance
of the register, to be proven by wit
ness in addition to a personal examina-
ton of the voter. There is q further
safeguard in the fact that this registry
had to be publicly posted for seven days
or more before the election for further
challenge, if any cause for challenge
we're known to any one. Clearly, then,
these 1872 voters were entitled to the
privilege Of the ballot. We are
not aware that, even by the
prejudiced section OF the republican
party, any attempt has been made to
invahdate the legality of the registra-
ton at this precinct, but in the face OF
the wild tissue Of misstatements that
have been uttered it is well to empha-
size from the very outset the law and
order that prevailed. The registration
agent was himself republican.
The election was presided over by
three judges and two clerks. OF the
three judges, two were republicans.
Every requirement of the law was care
fully and honestly carried out. Every
precaution that human ingenuity has
been able to devise to secure the free
dom and purity of the ballot, and to ex-
clude fraud or corruption, is shown on
evidence to have been vigilantly OBJ
served. The ballots were prepared at
public expense, by the county clerk,
with all the circumspection required by
law. We have his sworn affidavit to
prove that at the proper time he placed
in the hands of the judge of election
authorized to receive them 800 ballots,
being 200 ballots for every 80 registered
voters or fraction thereof.
On the day of election, we have evil
idence that the voters passed into the
booth, one at time, and then the cleo
ton officer, at the direction and in the
presence of the voter, marked the ticket
and designated the names for whom he
wished to vote. That vote was stamped
as official by another judge, and by an
other was dropped in the box. There il
evidence to prove this, but there|ls no
one jot of evidence that any intimida
ton, bribery, corruption, or undue influ
ence was exercised towards any of thee'
men that day.
From the affidavit of the county clerl
it further appears that he received bacl
600 ballots, and the remaining 200 ar,
accounted for under oath by the judges
OF election by the fact that ia wert
voted and 26 were posted up and report
ed when they were blown down by tn,
wind. Two of these judges were repub
licans. At the proper hour the count O
the ballots was begun in the tent where
the election had been held and where
there was no fire. Towards IL p. m. the
wind rising and the tent becoming very
cold, the boxes and ballots were re-
moved into a room in house on tn,
same lot and almost in contact with tn,
tent in which the counting had been be
gun, and there the count was finished
The poll-list showed TIA names. TIL,
ballots deposited in the box showed II!
votes, and every ballot was regularly an,
officially stamped. The proper an,
truthful returns were prepared and exc
cuted. The vote that had been cast wa
signed by the three judges, of whom
two we're republicans, and attested b
the clerk. The sealed returns were de
livered by one Of the judges-delivere
personally with seal unbroken to tn
clerk OF the board OF county commits
sioners, who was the legally designate
depositary Of the same. Mail facilitie
nearer the place Of election than th
place Of delivery to the clerk there wei
none. The returns, when opened b
the county canvassing board, shove
that the vote cast for the candidates {
the democratic party varied between IL
and l72. The republican vote varie
from 2 to 6. Such is plai
unyarnished tale OF the election at pr
cinct 81, and each and every fact is SUI
ported by sworn testimony.
I'm accordance with the provisions
tha law, the canvsssing board met I
il ,saa oahss - saseiVssarns