St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-01-30

looking up the question as to whether
this ballot box should be received In ev-
idence, and decided 1t should, although
do not think it unimpeachable evil
cence."
He then referred to the age of the
judges aud the facts that most of them
had indeed "grown old in the service;"
One or them, LammerS. who read
nearly all the tickets, having become
to transact the duties OF
town clerk by reason OF failing sight.
All the members Of this board testified
to the exceptional honesty OF each
other. They had all served together in
previous years, and had so much conf.
dence in each other that the cOuntingwaS
not supervised as it should have been.
The hard work and its length convinced
him that it would be almost impossible
for the judges not to make mistakes in
counting.
Now, there are some things In this
case that go to corrObOrate the fact that
these men, while intending to be honest,
did make mistakes. Take the record.
457 votes were cast, and yet but 800
names were checked off. Taking these
things into consideration, l do not SEQ
how these men could have counted
those ballots correctly.
Another point: At the hearing be-
fore the committee the respondent ad-
mitted that the ballots in the box were
the same as those counted on election
night, save and except that stckers had
been placed upon certain tickets,
enough to change the result. lie has
dropped this point in the hearing be-
fore the senate. Then, too, | was not
pleased at the closing portion of Mr..
Searles' brief, where he says the elec-
tion of Mr.. o Brien was bought"
Then he referred to the number OF
workers out i'll MIR. OBrien's interests
and claimed that it was absurd to claim
tnat the 200 or more workers OF Mr..
O'Brien could only have been able to
get two or three votes in that box with
O'Brien stickers upon them. This he
thought is almost beyond belief that
only two or three ballots could have
been placed in the box with O'Brien
stickerS upon them. He then referred
10 the manner in which the ballots were
tied up, and claimed that it was almost
impossible to make any change OF bal
lots. Continuing he said earnestly:
Il am convinced beyond reasonable
dOdbt that mistake was made In count
ing the vote at Marine. | believe. on
the contrary, that there is an abundance
of evidence on the other side. recog-
niZe, as all of us do. that we are here to
do simple justice, and L have no politi-
cal sy mpathy here. If | had, should
incline toward the respondent, 1t Is q
grave question and l believe have
stated facts that warrant me in taking
the action that have taken and shall
take to-day"
The Sage Talks.
A long silence followed the conclusion
of this speech, and then Senator Dom
nelly took the floor and said:
IL nave no desire to make speech OF
formulate an argument" said the Sage
of Nlninger. II came to this case with
out any other thought than to do JUS
tice. never met the contestant except
on this floor. 1t would, indeed, perhaps
have given more pleasure to have voted
to retain MIR. Searles in his seat rather
than to seat the contestant. The number
of ballots found in that box was the same
as the number placed in that box. We
can give free swing to our minds and
suppose great many things, but where
is the proOt?"
The senator from Dakota demon
strated how we'll the Marine ballot box
was taken care of. and claimed tn ere
were few, II any, country districts in
which such great precautions were
taken. The whole matter could be
stated in this way-that against the ball
lot boxes was the canvass made by the
Judges. The recount showed that the
board had made mistakes in counting
the votes given for twenty-one out OF
twenty-seven candidates. These mis-
takes were particalarized, and the Sage
said:
Again we can fall back on our imag-
nations and claim tnat they were
changed but the ballots are the final
proof and the best evidence, and, under
the circumstances. Ishall be constrained
to vote for the contestant"
Two Chances.
Here Senator Mcmillan sent up the
following resolution:
Resolved, That James ). O'Brien Is,
and Jasper n Searles is moi, entitled to
a seat In the senate from the Twenty
third district.
II offer this as a substitute" said
Gen. Sanborn, of Ramsey, and he sent
up resolution reversing the Mcmillan
resolution.
"The question is upon the suostI-
tute," said the lieutenant governor.
Before this vote is Jaken," said Sem
tor TawneY, of Winona, 81 desire 70
avail myself or the privilege of explain
ing my vote. From the time when |
first heard of this contest realized
that this contest would be judicial and
not party question. have refrained
from talking of the contest, although
had abundant opportunities. am glad
it is not TO be settled OH political lines"
The senator from Winona read decls-
ion after decision and made accusation
ofe SnnnfnF Craven tried
TO call INN down once on the ground
that he was not speaking to the resolu-
ton. The Winonan continued firing
everybody until, finally, Senator Brown,
of Mcleod. arose and inquired:
sis the gentleman trying the case
over again? am under the impression
that he has already explained his vote. /"
Senator Keller narrated his expert
ences as a member of the committee on
elections. claiming that Dir. OBrien
should be seated. The committee had
carefully examined the evidence and
made up their minds unanimously.
Senator Stevens, of Ramsey, had more
than reasonable Doubt, ana ne pro-
posed to vote for Mr.. Searles.
Senator LeaVitt, of MeekeT, was glad
that ne conId make up his mind in re-
gard to the case without charging fraud
on either, side. Carelessness and in
competency were the causes OF the mis-
takes of the judges.
Senator DedOn knew certain OF the
Judges, having been in hammers EN-
ploy in 1851. He thought he was honest.
He had friend who had heard of an
other Judge, one Swenson, and he was
satisfied that Swenson, too, was honest.
Senator John Day Smith rehashed the
theory that some one had tampered
with the ballot box, and for the reason
that he thought this more likely than
the tneory Of mistake he should vote for
Mr.. Searles.
Senator Allen, the Republican men,
Der for Carlton county, declared that he
should vote for the contestant because
he believed that the ballot box had been
cared tor and as carefully guarded as 30
out of 100 in the country. The careless
ness of the judges was proven ana
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