The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1896-06-19
Mitchell Republicans Will
Contest Election.
THEY ARE NOT SATISFIED
Will Try and Shut Out Two or
Three Republicans.
Portland oreeonian.l

The Mitchell republicans are evidently
in sore straits. They hardly know just
where they are ct when it comes to siz
ing up the legislative vote for United
States senator. Populist Bourne, secrc.
tary of the state central committee, with
bis silver. plated staff of assistsats,
whistle merrily while crossing the politi-
cal graveyard, in order to keep up cour :
age, but the whistle is not happy one
and their troubles have evidently Just
begun.
The purpose of the. Mitchell republi-
cans is to secure some kind of a recount
in Multnomah county. At the official
canvass which was finished Friday, I.
Cader Powell had complete abstract of
the legislative vote for the benefit OF the
Mitchell republicans; but the official
count simply verified the previous re-
turns, which gave to the republicans
three out of the four senators and five
out of the nine representatives. In order
to get at the ballots cast in each precinct
and discover ii any mistakes we're made,
the proposition now is to have recount
as to two candidates, between whom
difference of bnt few votes exist. A
formal contest has been instituted By
Charles A. Burckhardt, Mitchell iepub-
lican candidate for recorder, against
Phillip S. Malcom, the republican nomi-
nee, who has been elected by small
plurality. A close relative of Burckhardt
has said:
"No matter whether Malcolm is count.
ed in or not it will make no difference
as arrangements have been made for
contest and recount, backed by Mitchell
republicans, in the hope that they may
discover some discrepancy which will
give them two or three more legislative
members"
II the proceeding is carried out, what.
ever may be the result, so far as legisla.
tive candidates are concerned, the action
will be purely preliminary. Each branch
OF the legislature is the sole judge of the
election and qualifications of its members
in case OF a contest. While it is claimed
that recount can be demanded in the
courts, the fact remains that, whatever
action is taken, it will not be binding on
the legislature, as the two bodies must,
il appealed to, ultimately pass on the
merits OF the case and decide.
The Mitchell republicans want to place
Populist Bourne in the speakers chair.
That is part of the ante. election bargain
bstween them and the populists; but
they are shy on votes, counting all possi-
BILE strength. The republicans will con
troll the lower house, by small majority,
and, while some OF this number are
known to be staunch supporters Of
Mitchell, they will doubtless draw the
line on Bourne, as speaker. 1t is on
Bourne as speaker, and the power that
he In that position can WELD, that the
hopes OF the Mitchell republicans rest
for unseating enough republicans in the
house to carry out programme now in
progress OF incubation. The fret part Of
the scheme is, as stated to secure a
recount in this county between Burck-
hardt and Malcolm, and then, il possi-
BILE, to have the precinct votes for legis-
lature also reviewed in the hope of gain
ing some basis for legislative inquiry.
1t is very likely that the Mitchell re-
publicans may run against snag in try
ing to secure recount. They would
hardly relish too close scrutiny of the
votes dast in precinct No. 8 on election
day, as it might probably result in
throwing out the entire precinct. Some
of the leading populists are quietly
watching what is daily going on, and,
from hints dropped, it would appear that,
when 1t comes to protest tho populists
will also be on hand, particularly so far
as precinct No. 8 is concerned.