Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-11-17
MAKE A BAD NESS
County Canvassers Don't Know
Where They Are At.
The CONGRESSIONAL JANGLE
Becomes Nor. Complicated - BslknaE
Doesn't Want q Recount and
Richardson Doea

Yesterday morning Charles 4. Belk-
nap withdrew his petition for recount
OF the votes IN Kent county. The board
OF eanvasssrs met AZ 10 O'Clock and
held . DonnybEook fair for two hour.
Then is adjourned. -Four committees
were sppointsd during the more quiet
intervals 10 canvass the vote on the
various tickets The committees are
- follows:
To Canvas Votes on Electors and
state Icket-H- B. Proctor. Charles
l. Hogadons. Wellington RAsco, Abrs-
ham Berry,, James Hin.
senatorial and Representatvs-John
Benjamin. Hugo +. kathbon, Moses
Rosenberg, John De<iraaf, Mathew B..
Hatcn.
County Oftiesrs-Nicholss ID. En-
mons, Fred Loettgert, W. ID. Frost, NJ.
NJ. Perry. George W. Harlwell.
Constitutions Neutrality-suspicious. d.
AcIntyse, Everett l.. Hedger.
Lively -qussbiss
Roger A. Butterneld and Moses Tag
CART represented Mr.. BelknAp At the
meeting OF the board n the morning,
and l. NJ. Turner appeared for George
+. Richardson. A motion 20 take the
petitions OF Mr.. Belknap and Mr.. Moul-
ton from the table was lost. Harry De
GRAF then moved that committees be
appointed 10 canvass the vote. Alder
mao stein objected, and after the
smoke lifted . communication was
read from Mr.. Belknap. Withdrawing
his application for . recount.
L. l. Launiere moved that the re-
quest be denied. and a. . substitute
Supervisor Benjamin moved that IL be-
granted. Mr.. Launiere alleged that
Mr.. Belknap had made very specific
charges OF error and fraud and had
presumably acted N good faith. The
people demanded q recount IN order
that the question might be settled and
accordingly ne WAS IN favor of recount
ing the votes
Mr.. Turner said the law distinctly
provides that recount shall be made
when demanded. He said Mr.. Rich
ardson had joined with Captain Belk-
nap IN demanding . recount. He
maintained that the nature of recent
returns should not affect the action of
the board and declared that the petit
ton having been made, II could not be
Withdrawn.
Mr.. ButrerdeId's Plea.
Mr.. Butterheld presented Nr. BeIk-
maps slce OF the case and said in sub
stance that the duty of the board IS to
canvass the returns as they appear on
tne face II q candidate feels sg-
grievec he can put up MS 800 as the
law provides, snd petition for a re-
coanl, but h!s rights DO not affect any
other candidate. The application must
bs made personally. Even If candi-
date should feel himself sggrieved aud
demand a recount he can, If he sees
IL, waive his right and Withdraw his
petition for = recount # he wants to
and nobody can prevent II. lie held
that Mr.. Richardson had not estab-
llsaed any claim upon the board aud
that the board should proceed with me
canvass
Gu bibles Ahout the Law.
Alderman stein declared that Mr..
buttcrneids ella IN was shreSd one
sud insisted that the plea be with
drawn. Mr.. Turner got the attention
Of the board and he ins sied that Mr..
Richardson was before the board right
folly and accused Mr.. Belknap Of try
inz TO sneak out OF 10. VI Butterfield
SAID, 'the law IL specific and provides