Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1894-11-30
ELECTION BLUNDERs.


In the discharge u IT, duties ia
making the cfiicIal count Of the lot,
general election, the canvasslng board
has found II necessary to 20 10 Ogden
TO investigate the action Of the iudgei
Of election there. The reason for thii
movement n that tho election RETURN
nom Weber county, as shown by M
examination Of the poll lists aud tally
sheets, were In such deplorable con
dillon 10 far as inaccuracies aud dis
orepancles were concerned, ~ 10 make
them In some respects unreliable, and
to require n recount u tho ballots, IN
order that the expressed wish Of the
voters might be definitely ascoftainod.
The cause Of complaint is hardly such
AZ might arise from the hurry Of y
count or through judges being some.
what tired with long days toll, but
IL rather suggestive Of gross inoompe-
tency or carrlosaness, that while Il
may have no criminal intent, l.
In IT, nature a menace to the sanctity
OF the ballot box.
30 fat a. the returns OF the late cleo.
tion are concerned, It mag be stated
that to the extent to whiol the canvass
has been completed up TO the present,
there IL abundance OF material 10 show
considerable lnoompetonoy on the part
Of many Of those who were named as
judges. Most Of this, however, has
been Of a nature which did not prevent
the ascertainment OF the correct result,
upon the exercise Of considerable
patience and ingenuity on the part OF
the canvassing board; though the
absence OF tally sheets, errors In foot.
ings, improper filling out Of blanks,
etc, have been 20 frequent as to cause
great annoyance anu sometimes serious
puzEling to know Just what to do that
no wrong may be committed. Gener
ally the plumbers committed have been
clearly unintontional 30 far a. n desire
10 change the result Is concerned. With
tho case OF some Of tho Weber pro
cincts, however, there may be doubl
In some minds on this point. So grave
were some OF the errors dis.
covered, and 20 apparently In
excusAble, that inquiry as l.
how they could occur brought tn
response that 'the Judges must hav,
been full;" and with regard 10 on,
precinct It was stated that tho Judge
were too drunk 10 make the count
which was completed by the spectator
permitted to witness It, and who r,
CURED the judges to certify 10 IL
correctness.
The blunders complained Of deman,
the adoption Of some plan TO effect q
reform 10 the selection aud conduct o.
Judges Of election, Tho suggestion
that men placed In such an impOrtan
position have the opportunity OF bu
coming inebriAtod while performing
tho functions Of their office IL 10
serious n matter to be passed by lightly
The instances referred to In this eleC
tiou are by no means the fret or onl!
ones whore election judges have becl
stuffed with liquor Or beer till lhel
were unable 10 perform thci
duties lnlelligenly. And while Their
IL liability Of men being aI
pointed to that Ullee win
will not abstain voluntarily from th
use Of int5xlcants when engaged 81
their duIiss, there ought to be som
regulations inhlbiling lhe presenoo o
alcoholic beverages within reach o
the judge; or, n one indulges IN thei
use, to have him superseded byu belt,
man. In the matter OF seleUtin
judges also, there should DO a higho
standard OF qualification th an IN MOI
required. IL IL well known that th
appointing power cannot soruunlzs {
youuh Tor even a respectable prOpUTtio
OF the judges named, because Of On
impossibilty OF the commission g0in
TO every precinct IN the Territory 10
that purpose, hut those who soud /
suggested uumua should bu given {
understand that only men capable O
least TO the extent Oh reading CAREFUL
the instructions Issued to them aud o.
manipulating figures With REASONABLE
degree OF accuracy arc acceptable.
ltis not probable that any necessary
trouble viii grow out Of the pres.u
count That this is the case VIII b
duo to the extreme care tho can
yassers are giving TO tne matter /
order that NO wrong may be Per
peIrated, No doubt there will be som
changeB from the result as formerl
unohloially announced, but these wi
be only such "a the facts warrant. But
10 DO lorewarned is 10 be- forcarmod, III
leafon OF the present Ia to guard as Il
lHposaible against repetition OF VIII