Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1896-11-12
MAY Be CONTESTED,
BENNETT AND KANE HAVE
SMALL MAJ0RlTES,
Commissioners Complete the Official
Canvass Of the County's vots-Few
Changes in the Unofficial Returns
Good Republican Fight

The county commissioners hav'
completed the official canvass Of tn,
county's vote and the returns from
each precinct are published today b,
the REFLECTOR. The changes mad
are very slight from the figures
originally given by this paper ant
show that the line up between th'
Republicans and the combination o
all other parties whatsoever was very
close. While Bryan carried tht
county by l16 Leedy and Morrill,
were exactly tie. The National
Democratic ticket had 16 votes,
Middle-of-Road Populists II, Prohibi-
zionist 28, National Prohibitionists s.
1t should be mentioned that
the total vote on president is given
by taking the average Of the 1C
electors Of each party. This for
Mckinley is the vote Of Scott and for
Bryan the vote Of Roetzel. The
other electors received more or less
than these two who got the average.
The first names on the list received
the largest votes. On minor state
officers the vote was:
Lieutenant Governor-Richter 2289,
Harvey 2SS7.
Auditor-Cole 2285, Morris 1881.
Treasurer-Atherton 228l, Heffie-
bower 1927.
Attorney general = Dawes 227O,
Boyle 2SS9.
The greatest interest centered on
the vote on county attorney and
when it was counted it was found
that Robert Kane, Populist, has just
5 votes majority over G. W. Hurd,
Republican. For representative R.
J. Bennett, Republican, has 8 ma
jority over j. h. Vickers, Populist.
1t is not unlikely that contests will
follow. Mr.. Vickers could bring any
kind of a contest in his case and
would be given his seat by the Popu-
list house of representatives on any
kind of evidence. Whether he will
think it worth his while or not re-
mains to be seen. In the case Of
county attorney there is unquestion-
ably sufficient ground for a contest.
In Flora township five or six Popu-
list votes were cast by men who ac-
to the best information OBJ
tainable are not naturalized citizens
3f the United States. In Abilene are
two or three votes where it is very
doubtful If legal residence has been
obtained in the ward and in one case
The voter is probably not legal voter
n the county. While it is not desir-
able to question the will Of the peo-
Pile nor is there any disposition to do
10, no man should hold office or be
deprived Of office through fraudulent
7oting. Too much laxity has un-
Iuestionably prevailed in this county
IN the part Of election boards and it
would be lesson worth having II it |
we're stopped summarily. The right
II franchise is too sacred and its i'm
,ortance too great to allow OF any
arelessness in voting. A contest
would too settle several disputed
'oints in the marking Of ballots which
ught to be determined.
Allowing the election Of Bennett
nd Kane the Republicans get five
ficers and the Populists three while
n State and national issues the coun-
y practically divided even. When it
J remembered that Weaver carried
be county by 22S, that the Republi-
an ticket in 1894 lacked 800 Of
lajority, that last year the Populists
lected three officers by 100, 700 and
90 respectively, the magnificent
ght put up by the Republicans be-
omes more praiseworthy. They had
pposed to them not only a solid
lsion but considerable detection OF
liver Republicans who voted for
opullst nominees almost without ex-
option. Against such odds the Re-
ublicans won splendid victory and
icy have today the best organized
nd most thoroughly harmonious or
anization the county has seen for {
any years, well equipped for future
ctories. ;
The Republicans also elected both
igh school trustees, which is proof