Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1894-12-15
THEY DIE HARD.
The Republicans File Other Contests
for Offices Won by Democrats
Legislative Seats.

ELECTION contest cases seem to be the
order of the day and yesterday the merry
war was made still further interesting by
notice served on Mr.. VIM. e. Dame, the
Democratic representative to the lower
house, to the effect that Mr.. Thomas j.
Helm, his opponent in the late election,
would contest his right to the seat which
he won by majority of three, according
to the canvass of votes by a Republican
board. The notice states that upon De-
cember 90 evidence in the case will be
begun before Mr.. George Johnson, who
is the special master named for that pur-
pose. The notice is signed by Messrs.
Catron q Spiess and Gen. E. l.. Bartlett
as attorneys for Mr.. Helm and the
charges are practically identical with
those set forth in the contests filed by
two other Republican candidates, Messrs.
Atanacio Romero and Joseph P. Conklin,
previously mentioned in these columns.
The allegations as rule are very gen.
eral in their character and develope by
this fact and the general stereotypedness
of their framing that the Helm contest,
as we'll as the two others filed by the Re-
publican candidates, is simply the result
of
DESIRE TO EVEN UP
for the filing of similar petitions this
week by four Democrats who desired to
avail themselves of the rights which the
illegal votes cast by Republicans in the
late elections furnish them. In fact one
of the Republican contestants states
openly that he never would have con-
tested had it not been for the fact that
several Democrats did so and he wanted
to play even, if his political bosses would
supply the money. In one or two in
stances the Republican contestants con-
descend, in their petitions, to 60 into
particulars to the extent of mentioning
the names of some of the alleged illegal
voters. In 80 dong they betray the
weakness of this attempt to defeat the
peoples will, for number who did not
vote at all are alleged to have voted the
Democratic ticket, while in other in
stances the charges made are notoriously
false.
Mr.. Dame will be represented in the
contest case by Mr.. J. H. Crist. He is
confident that for every irregular Demo-
cratic vote cast, dozen illegal Republi-
can votes can be shown by unquestioned
proof and that the only just result of the
proceedings will be to confirm Mr..
DANES title to an office which he has won
through the suffrages of clear ma ority
of his fellow-citizens.
spIEss AS A BLurFEn.
Mr.. Charles A. Spiess, the would-be
councilman from Santa Fe county, caught
the election contest fever late yesterday
afternoon and served Mr.. John P. VIC
tory, his successful opponent in the race,
with notice of contest. The charges
set forth are precisely the same omnium
coverum allegations filed by Messrs.
Helm, Romero and Conklin and are
blanket.like to the extent of ludicrous-
ness. If they were one half true hardly a
single legal Dem ocratic vote was cast in
the late election and on the whole it would
seem that Mr.. Spiess, like his companion
Republican contestants, has set a great
big drag.net with the hope that one or
two minnows may be caught. Evidence
in this case will be taken before Mr..
George johnson on December 20.
STILL ANOTHER.
Secretary Miller this morning received
nstice of contest instituted by Mala-
quias Martinez, the Republican defeated
for the council up in the counties of Rio
Arriba, Taos and San Juan, against Ce-
sario Garcia, who had good round ma
jority of the votes cast. As everyone in |
the district knows, Garcia was elected be-
yond dispute, but the Republican bosses
told Martinez to contest so he has done
30. The Democrats OF the territory will
see, however, that the will Of the people
is not defeated and Martinez will have
his pains as his reward for filing the con-
test.
CHRONIC CONTESTANT.
A great many smiled very audibly
when they read in the New MEXICAN a
few days ago that Atanasio Romero had
Eiled contest against Frank Gonzales
for the Office of assessor, for Mr.. Romero
has quite record as a contestant. -Four
years ago he ran against Eugenio Yrri-
,ari for the same Office and was defeated
BY good big majority. OF course he
although he privately
;old his friends it was q little bluff he
vas working, with no hope of success it