Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1894-11-17
THE BLUFF CALLED.
In Spite of Threats and Winchesters
the Votes in DOna Ana We're
Counted.

There were exciting times at Las Cruces
Oh Monday and Tuesday last while the
board Of Dona Ana county commissioners
was in session canyassing the election
returns. According to the certificates |
issued the Democrats elected on the |
county ticket the representative, one
county commissioner, probate clerk,
sheriff, assessor, coroner and surveyor.
The Republicans elected two county com (
missioners, probate judge, collector,
treasurer and superintendent Of schools.
The county gives Joseph majority OF
AZ instead of the majority of $50 claimed
by the Republicans for Catron. Miles,
Democrat, for tie council, beat Ancheta,
Republican, in Dona Ana county 2 votes
for representative 4th district, Young
1912, Christy 1876: for representative
18th district Pine 1,2i7, Fountain 1,l93.
The independence Democrat says:
The general result was determined by
the disputed precinct of Dona Ana. While
it is pretty well known that somebody
tampereu WIN the palio' DoA III 'uau pre-
clnct, there was no strictly legal grouna
upon which the board could be constraln-
ed to throw out the vote. The only in
tellgiblt return from that precinct count
ed and certified the 81 questionable
votes, ard under the law the board WAS
obliged to canvass that return, notwith
standing any suspicious it might enter
tain as to the legality of the method by
which the ballots got into the box. The
supreme court in the casa of Bull VS..
Southwick was quoted by Mr.. Fielder in
support of the position taken hy the board.
That decision says: "Canvassing boards
of election have only ministerial func-
tions to canvass and count votes as re-
turned by the Judges of election. They
have no judicial power whatever to pass
upon and decide as to the illegaity of in
diyidnal votes received and returned TO
them by the Judges of the election" And
much more to the same effect is fonnd in
the votes may be doubtful but only in
court can the returns be attacked and
evidence taken as to the alleged stufling
or stealing of the ballot box. contest
instituted by any defeated candidate
would bring out the facts, and in no other
way can the result as declared by the
board, be set aside or changed.
'0N fAA % AMI Dhof''
While no unprejudced person pre-
snmes to assert that the result AZ de-
80, .,- . -. ..:,
ciareu necessarily ICY l''e'' 'no '"Ai'S
and freely expressed Will OF the people,
the Republican politicians are not In
position to complain consistently OF IN
falr treatment. lhey put themselves out
of court by endeavoring to coerce the
county commissioners with threats and
displays OF armed force Long before
the meeting OF the board, prominent he-
publlcans declared publicly that tneV
would hang the commissioners and shoot
Democratic leaders unless the board
should throw out the vote OF Dona Ana
precinct. Such talk became 80 general
aud violent that the Democrats armed
themselves in sell defense, and when the
Republicans responsible tor the situation
saw that the Democrats were ready to
call their bluff they repudiated the war
talk and proposed compromise.
On Sunday night Sheriff Lohman
agreed that only his regular deputies
should attend the meeting of the board to
preserve the peace, but on Monday morn
ing several special deputies and persons
not officers went down to the court house
with arms in their hands. They were fol-
lowed by deputy u. s. marshals armed
with Nlnchesters, and when the two
forces were sized up the Republicans dis
covered that they had no advantage.
conference was held and some pretty
plain Salk was made by Judge Fall to
the woud-be bul-dozers and strangers.
Sheriff Lohman finally agreed to send
away all the armed Republicans except
his two deputies, but he wanted the depu-
ty marshals to leave also. Deputy Can't
ley, from Silver City, announced that he
had been ordered by the U. 8. marshal
, to assist in preserving the peace; that he
did not propose to interfere in any way
with the canvass.ng board, and that he
would perform his duty as peace officer.
Then the Republicans wanted Deputy
Marshal Oliver Lee sent away, but Lee
would not be sent, and it was finally
agreed that the four officers should re-
main and cooperate in maintaining
order.