New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-12-03
THE STATE BOARD MEETS.
REPUBLICAN COUNSEL NOT PERMITTED TO
SEE PUBLIC PAPERS


REPUBLICAN LAWYERS TO TAKE
THE DISPUTED ELECTIONS
TO THE COURT OF
APPEALS
rBY TELEGRAPH TO THE rnIBuxET
Albany, Dec. "a year from the present day
the State Board Of Canvassers of New-York may
doe meeting to canvass the vote for President OF
the United States. Suppose the Presidential
election turns upon the vote Of New-York. and
there are only few hundred votes difference
between the two candidates for President as
happened in 1Ss4. And suppose, further, that the
precedents which the Democratic Boards Of Super
visors have been so busy making the past three
weeks at David b. Hills instigation, Of disrc-
garding the votes cast for the Republican can
didates for members Of the Legislature, have been
repeated hundred fold by other Boards Of Super
visors in dealing with the vote for President.
Under such circumstances political agitation would
be so intense, there would be such consciousness
among hundreds of thousands of voters that they
had been robbed Of their political rights, that
every patriot could not but fear that civil war
would break out. There is feeling among all
the leading politicians of Albany of both political
PARTIES that most dangerous precedents have al
ready been established in these election cases.
and a hope that the State Courts may
vet sweep them away. Whether the
members of the State Board OF Canvassers ap-
preciate the gravity of their duties the present
year. as related to the Presidential contest of next
year, will be determined by their own conduct in
a few more days They can confirm by their
action the bad precedent made by the Boards Of
Supervisors or they can destroy them.
The members of the State Board of Canvassers
are Frank Rice, Secretary of State; Charles +.
Tabor, Attorney General; John Bogart, State En-
Ctnsn Trna nnA
Edward Wemple, State Controller. They met
this forenoon in the State Capitol to begin their
work of canvassing the vote for State officers,
for Congressman, and for State Senators. Inc
meeting was held in the room of the Secretary
of State at tie northeastern corner of the Capitol
1t is a big room, and therefore was we'll adapted
for the use to which it was put since there was
a large body of spectators present. The State
Board of Canvassers sat at big table at one
corner of the room, and the chairs of the specta-
tors filed the remainder of the floor space. Seated
in chairs near the members OF the Board
were the counsel of the two great political parties
Of the State Every one knew that the white
haired but bright-lookng man of middle age was
George Bliss. of New.York the chief Republican
counsel Seated by Mr. Bliss were the other Re
publican counel-Willism. A. Sutherland OF
Rochester, recently the Republican candidate Tor
Acknowledgement; Matthew Hale, Of Albany; John
f. Parkhurst, of Bath; William Nottingham, OF
Syracuse; Grenviile NJ. Ingalsby' Of Sandy Hlii'
Robert F. Wilkinson, of Poughkeepsie; j. Rider
Csdy. of Hudson and Eugene Buringame, of AL.
bany. Most of these men represented some
Republican Senator.eect whose certificate Of cleo
ton had been put in peril by the illegal acts OF
Democratic Boards of Supervisors Chief among
the Democratic counsel was Daniel u. Grimm,
of Watertown the chairman Of the Executive
Committee of the Democratic State Committee, al
though he did not make any direct appearance,
remaining in the background, which was, per-
haps, diplomatic in him, owing to his being the
personal representative of Roswell P. Flower, the
Governorelect Here are Mr.. Grifns subordi-
mates: William j. Roche, of Troy; James NJ
Whitman, of Whitehall, and ex7Judge Gilbert, Of
Otsego County
Before the State Board of Canvasscrs could get
to work. the Republican lawyers imposed upon il
fresh order from the courts. Mr.. Burlingame
gave to each member of the Board a mandamus
signed by Judge Landon, 'of the Supreme Court.
forbidding them to consider the resolution passed
by the Democratic Board of Supervisors of Steu-
ben County alleging that Franklin ID. Sherwood,
Republican, who received 1900 plurality for
Senator in the XXVIItb District, is ineligible
to be q member of the State Senate. Mr.. Sher-
wood, who had accompanied his counsel, Mr..
Parkhurst, to Albany and was present. smiled as the
order was presented to the various members OF
the State Board. Elliot Danforth, State Treasurer,
at rushed off with the order 10 Governor Hill
and doubtless the wire pulling Executive had a
few moments of panied expression as he looked
at il. Then Mr.. Danforth returned TO the room
Of the Secretary of State with the order and
doubtless stated what Hill thought about it.
G4ot, H., IIo-lS Sl>
Board to order, but had hardly done so when
the white head of Mr.. Bliss came up behind the
chair of State Treasurer DanfOrth. Mr.. Bliss was
suave and polite in manner, but he was deter
mined and he not awed because he stood
in the presence of the State Board of Canvassers.
"Of course" he said, 81 this Board intends to
execute its duties strictly according TO law, but
it is a matter of public notoriety that it will
have before it various papers contestng the seats
of Senators-elect upon which it will need light
appear here, representing several Republican Sem
ators-elect who have been informed that paper
have been filed here hostile to their in-
terests. We are not acquainted with ths
contents Of these papers and, therefore in Justice
to our clients, should be permitted to inspect
them. l would suggest for the convenience Of
the members Of this Board that some future date
be set for the examination of the election returns
Of the Senate districts, and that meanwhile we
be permitted to have access to these papers IL
the Board would oblige me, should like TO look
new at the papers filed here by Michael +, Col
lins, Democrat, contesting the seat of John ii.
Derby, Republican, in the XVIth District My
client had go plurality, and is naturally curious
to know the ground upon which his right to his
certificate is contested. In respect TO the Senate
districts respecting which the courts have issued
wrts addressed to this State Board Of Canvassers,
of course, you will not act
ave will regard the orders Of the writs, said
Mr.. Rice in a cold manner.
Then" said Mr.. Bliss, l should like TO look
~ tho nrotest Of Michael F. Collins against your