Los Angeles herald., 1892-12-03
COULDN'T PUT CLUN|E OUT
A Row Over the Bay City
Election Returns.
Arbitrary Proceedings of the
Canvassing Board.
An Attempt to Eject Democratic
Attorney Fails.
Returns All in Except from Alpine and
San Francisco Counties-Novel
Features Of the Vote.
Coast Notes.

By the Associated Press ]
SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 2.-There was an
exciting scene at the meeting Of the
election commission today. The trouble
began last night when Attorney Andrew
j. Clunie. who is representing the Dem.
ocratic party during the progress OF the
official count of votes cast in this city at
the recent election, made some charges
against Auditor Smiley and Tax Col
lector O'Brien, who are members of the
election commission. When the board
met this morning an alteration arose
between Attorney Clunie and Auditor
Smiley and Tax Collector O'Brien.
Smiley and O'Brien informed Clunie
that they would not recognize bis
authority, and they threatened to
have him excluded from the room.
The parties became very much excited,
and Smiley told Clunie not to speak to
him again or he would "spit down his
throat" Affairs finally calmed down
for time, but when the commission re-
assembled this afternoon Auditor Smi-
ley offered resolution declaring that
Clunie's conduct was unbearable and
ordering the registrar to exclude him
from the room. This led to more
trouble, and Clunie declined to leave.
He warned Registrar Brown not to
touch him, and told him if he did SO he
would be criminally liable. Brown re-
fused to put Clunie out, and Smiley
and O'Brien then called upon
Police Officer Scott to do
30. Scott demurred, when Clunie
warned him. A man named Lauter-
back, who is employed in the auditors
Office, appeared. Smiley ordered Lau-
terback to put Clunie out, and Lauter.
back accordingly graeped the attorney
by the collar. This was the signal for a
general disturbance. A number of Gu
MES friends jumped over the rail and
grabbed Lauterback, and q general
scrimmage ensued. Lauterback was
thrown to the floor and badly kicked.
The disturbance was finally queiled and
Clunie was still in the room. Some
time was spent in arguing the matter,
but Clunie still refused to 60. and in
order to clear the room the board ad-
journed.
Captain Douglass and squad. Of po-
lice were present at the session of the
commission this evening. and made an
ChOIt W PlCtCAb httOIuoy lTOIu
entering the room, but finally permitted
him to do 70. Clunie walked into the
main room, and as the crowd
of spectators made way for
him he stepped over the railing
and into the enclosure near the COM
missioners. Tax Collector O'Brien
called upon the police to eject him, and
as they did not do go he took his hat
and left the room himself. Smiley and
burst, the only other commissioners
present, asked ex-Judge Sullivan and
other Democratic leaders present
to appoint another attorney to
represent the party, but they de-
clihed to do so,s and Clunie was
permitted to speak in his own behalf.
In his speech he repeated the state.
ments which he had formerly made, to
the effect that Smiley and O'Brien had
been engaged in crooked work" in con-
nection with the canvass, and he asked
to have the full board present to act
upon his case. With this understand
ing the matter went over and the meet
ing adjourned.