Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-01-12
STIZENS WONDER
u THs REPUBLICAN STYLE OF EXAMINING
ELECTION RETURNS
Is a Sample Of the Way County Business and
Affairs Are % Be ScrulH,z3d
and Managsd.

There was renewed interest yester-
day, in the INSCRIPTIONS misuse OF
power by the Republican members OF
the Board OF Commissioners, claiming
to be the Canvassing Board OF OHIO
county. and the REGISTERS narrative
of one or two phases Of the situation
was read with avldity and commented
upon generally in a manner the reverse
of complimentary to the members Of
the Board. IL was often recalled that
the Board-or the six Republican mem
hers Of it-sitting under their OathS OF
Office. had SOlemnly declared, In closing
nm the work OF "eleCting' ). u. smith,
that they had carefully examined
the returns, and aScertained the result,
and the more this declaration was con-
tsmpated the more the wonder grew X
this piece of work was % be an index
10 the general management OF the al
fairs Of the county by the majority OF
the Board. The fact OF course, IS that
four of the six Republican members had
never examined anythiug except the
sealed votes la Union and Washington
districts, and yet they didn't WAX an
eve when DO came tO saying they haQ
gone over the whole gTound-ior tnat Is
what they said by their action, 81 10
meant ANYTHING az olI. And this being
40. a member whose conscience wouldn't
allow him 20 sign sheriff trautheln.
certificate. with a plurality oi llj, found
no difficulty in signing smiths ceruh-
cate with plurality. even When he
knew there were 23 votes SUI uncolul-
ed, and that an order 0i tue Circuit
Court was being cJutem1tlously ls-
nored.
There Is another phase 90 this matter
which invites discussion. The SIX lee
publican members OF thc Board cons.l-
er themselves majority or Che Canvas
sing Board OF Ohio county. lt this o.
so. how could they escape being caught
in the meshes of Judge Campoeiis man
damus, which forbid the Board from
taking final action until they had done
thus and so? To be sure, counsel for
Smith put 10 a waiver but what OF
Justice did that convey 90 Mr. % Kane,
the contestant, who was a party equally
interested with Mr.. Smith, and why
should a body-in reality a court-anx-
ious TO do justice, consider any such
thing for moment? The tact
was well known Co the Republican mem
bers that If, as they claimed, they were
the Canv assing Board Of the county,
Judge CampbelrS orders were in force
against them, and that Mr.. O'kane's
rights as well as those OF Mr..
Smiths were involved in a manner
which could only be rightfully settled,
first, by Obeying the mandate Of the
Court, and secondly, by passing upon
all the ballots I'm the possession OF the
BOARD. Yet the Republicans, throwing
aside every consideration, and Ignoring
Justice and the higher Court, took
a short cut through mandamuseS,
orders 10 settle and sign eX-
ceptions, uncOunted ballots, and
everything else which stood In the
way that they might reach the goal OF
a certificate iOr Smith, latter having
carefully examined" the returns. Per
haps the Board doesn't stand in dread
OF proceedings in contempt, nor yet OF
public opinion, but circumstances can
be imagined in which 10 would be well
for them to have wholesome dread Of
both.
1t has been remarked by an apologiSt,
IN the employ of Mr.. Smith, that the
new Board stood, when IL was ready 10
eount In Mr.. Smith, exactly where the
DID Board stood when il commenced the
recount. If 10 did, and was really the
Canvassing Board OF Ohio County, it's
duty was 10 have commenced where the
Did Board commenced and recount the
entire vote OF the county, SCrUtinizing
and passing upon each and every ballot
before it declared it had carefully eX-
lmlned" the returns. For otherwise,
that statement was bald-headed and
false. II is pretty safe TO say that the
law does not contemplate new Can
wasting Boards counting twenty-siX
ballots out Of 10000, aud then certify
ing that it has carefully examined" all
the ballots, ETC., make a declaration Of
the result, and issue certificates.
Exclude everything else in this mat
ter but the action OF the Republican
members of the Board, and you have as
fine an example of political bunko work
as was ever seen. Add the other ingre-
dents, and the whole can't be matched
anywhere.
ABOUT PEOPLE.