St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-01-24
E. E. Price Successfully Re-
tainS the Seat Contested
by R. c. Dunn.
The Big-Hearted Princeton
Man Upset on That Little
Falls Recount,
In Connection With Which
We're Many Suspicious
Circumstances.
Batch Of Bills, Among Them
One to Extend the Aus
tralian Law.

The house devoted session last even
ing to the report of the election COM
mittee on elections in the Dunn-PrIce
contest. +. C. Stevens reread the re-
port of the committee. The point upon
which the contest hung was the recount
at Little Falls. d. w. BUckhart. the
attorney for Mr.. Dunn, eloquently re-
viewed the case. He claimed that the
recount at Little Falls should be admit
ted. The original canvass OF the vote
was irregular. The judges of cleo
ton were occupied in counting
$50 votes from the evening of
Nov. until the morning of Nov. 6. 1t
was proven that during that time I'M
limited whisky was consumed; that the
judges slept in the room at intervals;
that the ballots were not properly
guarded; that outsiders were admitted.
Cy Wellington replied OH behalf of Mr..
Price. He denounced the recount as a
fraud. The ballot boxes had been most
carelessly exposed, and it had been given
in evidence by a man named LafOnd
that the ballots had been dis
turbed. The ballot box was in the
possession of man named Staples, who
was notorious political striker. Itwas
also singular that in the recount Mr..
Dunn should be the only person to gain
votes. Upon examination OF the ballots
it was found that Dunn stickers had
been placed upon the ballots, and. it
was alleged. this was done after the Of
fetal canvass. 1t was noticed that
many of the stickers were not creased,
though the ballot papers clearly
Showed Crease
which was very evident that the stick
ers been placed thereon after the bal
lots had been east. Mr. Dunn gained
twenty-nine votes according to the Lit
tie Falls recount. According to this re-
count there were thirty-twO StlckerS on
the ballots cast for him. Three of the
stickerS displayed creases, but in the re-
naming twenty-nine stickerS there were
no crease, though FIVE of them We're
place.. across crease III the ballot.
Was not this suspicious, and of itself
enough to throw out this recount at
Little Falls?
Mr.. Bruckart was given an oppor-
tunity to sum up the case for the con-
testant, and F. c. Stevens, III order to
that the house receive in evidence the
recount at Little Falls. II. c. Stivers.
coming from the district the contest
originated, said that a mistake was
made by the printer in printing the leg
islative tickets in Morrison county. E.
E. Prices name was given as E. l..
Price. He explained that Mr.. Price,
being poor man, did not do any can
wasting out of his own county. There
was no reason. therefore, that there
should be no plot in Little Falls to give
MIR. Price any dyantage
In the Original
count over MI. Dnnn. Mr.. Price re-
ceived. on the average. the same vote
as the rest of the Democratic candi-
dates. Mr.. Stivers explained that the
Republicans originally protested against
the counting of the Pine river precinct,
and that the Democrats, knowing that
the poll was not legally conducted, had
conceded the claim.
f. G. Stevens argued, so far as the
Pine river precinct was concerned,
though the voting was technically not
in according to law, could legally be
counted.
Mr.. BJorge, of Otter Tail, member
of the election committee, was opposed
to recognizing the recount of Little
Falls. He believed that the ballots at
this precinct had been tempered with
1t looked suspicious to him, on this ac-
count, that StiverS lost nine votes,
Sheets five votes and Price fifteen.
every one of them being counted in
favor of Dunn.
Mr. McAllister-I would Ike to ask Mr.. Ste
yens q question. From the trend of his adj
dress | think it right that he should state
whether he is an attorney for the defense.
Mr. Steyens-I always hope know the ma
ture of an official oath. 1t is very evident
some members of this house are unac-
quainted with that.
Mr. Gallagher wished to explain his posi-
ton. He believed in justice, and that was
his reason for admitting the recount of Little
Falls.
: Pertinent.
Mr.. Wacek had question to ask Mr.. Ste
yens. Did it not look suspicious that upon
the recount the count for other candidates.
outside Mr.. Dunn and Mr.. Price, was found
to be correct!
Mr.. Stevens-Those are the facts and you
can draw your conclusions.
! r. A. Walsh suggested an adjournment, but
this was secuted by the members and 1t was
decided to at once proceed to vote. 1t was
then found that the motion of Mr.. Stevens, to
include the vote of Little Falls. was not
seconded. Mr.. SearIe at once seconded. and
requested to be heard for a few minutes.
The house CONCEDED the request, and Mr..
SearIe proceeded 10 denver SpeeCH lhNOr-
able to the case of the contestant.
P. A. Long rose to point OF order. This
discussion was Irregular.
The speaker ruled that the discussion was
irregular.
j. M. Diment protested against the shutting
off of the debate. The previous question had
never been moved.
Mr.. Gallagher-I called for the previous
question some time ago.
The speaker-The previous question has
inn 70 do rUith la nrOUi6oG
that we shall go so far and no farther. The
question before them was the seating of Mr..
Price or Mr.. Dunn.
Mr.. Stevens rose to a point Of order. The
constitution of Minnesota was above the
statutes, and it provided that the house had
full power to decide upon the eligibility of
its own members. If the gentlemen did not
want to hear the debate say SO and the sup
porters of Mr.. Dunn would stop.
Long Is Persistent.
The Speaker-The chair rules that the only
thing objected to is the motion by the gentle
man from Ramsey. Each member is at lib
erty to explain his vote.
Mr.. Searle-I may complete my remarks.
The Speaker-Yes.
Mr.. Searle proceeded to denounce the can
vass of the vote at Little Falls. 1t had been
SHOWN that the men were DRUNK. and upon
the face of such thing the recount should
stand
Mr.. Long rose to a point of order. Was
the gentleman explaining his vote, or argu-
ing the case for the defendant?
Mr.. Searle-I am explaining my vote.
Mr.. Long-NO one can explain his vote,
until the roll is called.
The Speaker-The gentleman is in order.
There is no disposition here TO shut off any
member. The fullest liberty will be allowed
every one.
Mr.. searle urged the admissabihty Of the
Little Falls recount.
Dir. Lynn, DIR. Greer and Mr.. stoeKwell