Arizona republican., 1894-11-20
HALF DONE. The Official Count Pro-
 Ceeds Slowly. A WrangIe Over Two lr- regular Returns. The Record Broken Between Phoenix and Wickenberg. Either George or Parker Will Come Under t..e Wire Today Only
 Neck Ahead.

The board of supervisors began the official count yesterday. So many un- expected obstacles presented them selves and the work proceeded so slowly that it was rumored that the board had entered into a conspiracy to allow the present officers to hold over another year pending the conclusion of the count. When supper time came only the four Phoenix precincts, Tempe and Mesa had been counted.
 The chief obstacle to swifter move ment was the closeness of the race be- tween Parker and George for supervisor. Therefore everything affecting the in- terests of either of these candidates be- came the subject of bitter struggle. Early in the count the matter of the re- turns from Lehi and Wickenherg pre- cincts came up. There had heen an ir- regularity in both which the Repu5- licars said was fatal but which the Democrats declared was capable of repair.
 In the bustie of closing on election night the election boards had sealed the returns and dispatched them to Phe- nix without the formality of attesting to their correctness.
 A messenger was sent to Wicken- berg yesterday morning and the record for long distance travelling in Arizona was broken. The dis tance is sixty-five miles. The inspector, judges and two clerks reached here soon after night. The distance. therefore, traversed by the messenger, supposing he returned, was 130 miles.
 But when they presented themselves objection was made to their correction of the returns. Papers eniJining the board from proceeding with the count were prepared by Col. Franklin acting for Capt. George. Demand was again made upon the board to permit the Wickenberg election officers finish their work. The board at no time directly refused to do so but said the demand would be considered when that precinct had been reached in the count.
 A legal discussion filled up the rest of the session, Judge Kibbey and Judge Frazier acting for the Republicans and Col. Franklin and J. L. B. Alexander for the Democrats. Republican obiec- lion by the way was not strenuous and at length the motion of the Democrats prevailed.
 A play upon words occurred during the debate. The neglect of the election officers was kindly slurred over by one of the lawyers as an "inadvertance." " Said one of the officers in the course of subsequent remarks, "The judge calls it an 'inadvertance; I say we just for got to sign it."
 When the returns were opened for signature it was discovered that some thing else was needed. They consisted solely of the tally sheet. The certifi- cate was blank and to make matters worse the blank was an antique form issued when the Populist party, which appeared to be so prevalent at Wicken- berg, had not entered into the widest dreams of the blank makers.
 Another wrangle ensued, the Repub- licau attorneys objecting, and finally submitting under protest to the ad- visory efforts of J. L. B. Alexander. It took two hours to make the necessary corrections.
 An attempt was made to precIpitate the Lehi case, but the board of super VlsOrS had decided to take recess un- til this morning. The precincts counted were the four of Phoenix, Tempe, Mesa, Consolidated canal, Goldfeld, Buckeye, Gi'a Bend, Lower Gila Bend, Meridian, Alham bra, Glendale, Orme, Agua Caliente and Cartwright. There are twelve more precincts to count. Those can- yassed show only slight changes from the unofficial returns previously published and in no wise affect the standing of any but the two neck and neck candidates. By the offic ial count so far as it has proceeded, plurality of ffty-three is shown for Parker. The Wickenberg vote, which, though opened, has not been counted, and the Lehi returns which are known also to be DamOcratic together with others