The record-union., 1896-06-17
CONTEST LAST NIGHT.
The Committee on Credentials
Wrestles With Knotty Problems.

The Committee on Credentials met in
the dining-room of the Capital Hotel at
Z o'clock last evening, Miles Wallace of
Modoc and Hugh NJ. LaRue, Jr., of Sac
ramento being Chairman and Secretary,
respectively.
A motion to make the meeting ex-
ecutive was defeated, but later in the
evening all persons excepting those
presenting the cases of the contestants
ard members Of the press were ex-
cluded from the room.
The Alameda contest was first taken
up, and r. NJ. Fitzgerald, Chairman Of
the Daggett delegation, presented the
claims of that delegation in an able
manner. He stated that the Daggett
contingent's claim was based upon pri-
maries regularly called by the County
Committee, while the opposition based
their claims upon the authority of a
call made and signed by several COM
mitteemen, under which primaries were
held. AT these primaries all kinds of
people were allowed to vote without re-
gard to party or previous condition.
A. r. Baum represented the Foote
delegation. He said the call under which
their primaries were held antedated
the other call which was said to have
been published on the Goth of May He
said no meeting of the committee had
been called to issue the call under
which he based his claim, but that a
majority of the Central Committee
signed the call, and upon that author
ity the primaries were held
One of the members who had signed
the call sent out cards to the different
members of the committee calling a
meeting This called meeting, which
was attended by only three persons, is
sued second call. Under this call
the primaries were held upon which
the Daggett contingent base their
claims.
F. Cunning, who was the member of
the committee referred to by Baum.
stated that he was vice-Chairman of
| the Central Committee. He denied
having carried around the paper for
| signature on which was based the first
primaries.
/ W. w Foote then took the floor. and
asserted that a most damnable fraud
had been committed by Patrick O'Kane.
who was present, and who ought to be
III the penitentiary.
That's all right, Mr. Foote," said
O'Kane, with a sneer.
Yes" returned Foote, that's all
right, and I'll fix you"
You would, If you had your deserts
| be In the penitentiary," shouted Foote
shaking his fist at O'Kane.
Thank you, Mr.. Foote," said O'Kane
| That's all right roared Foote .T'll
fix you"
You're not big enough to do that"
returned OKane, and the Chairman
took a hand and threatened to call up
ergeant-at-Arms. Accordingly
O'kane subsided and Foote went on in
nls attempt to prove his words and show
Why Patrlck O'Kane ought to be in the
penltentiary. He produced affidavits to
show that fraud had been open and
above board at the primaries in the
bird Ward of Oakland, and stated that
when he went to cast his ballot at the
primaries, he was told by O'Kane that
his name had been already voted. He
said the "Banjo-Eyed Kid" had been
imported to work in connection with
OKane and other notorious ballot stuff
ers. lie dld not aim to impIicate Mr..
| Fitzgerald, whom he believed to be in
nocent OF even the thought of fraud
| Okane attempted to get the floor but
was promptly sat upon by the commit
tee and ordered to take his seat. This
| he did after good deal of grumbling,
because the committee wouldn't give
him a chance to defend himself
Mr.. Fitzgerald ,ook the floor again.
| and declared that he had never been
notified of any contest by White, who
had charge of the Foote primaries. He
stated that meeting had been held
without notice and without warning.
and that no County Committee in the
State had q right to canvass the vote as
was done by the County Committee of
Alameda County. He thought Patrick
O Kane ought to be heard in his own
defense.
Yes said O'Kaae. that's right
| No, SIR" roared Foote, that's not
right. l won't allow you anything"
Here Chairman Wallace again slipped
in and quelled the riot in its ineipieney
Then Fitzgerald brought out his bun
/ die of affidavits to prove his case He
went into details and finally came back
10 Foote, whom he said was as well and
favorably known throughout the entire
State as he was in the Third Ward in
Oakland.
You don't believe I'd commit fraud
Continued on Sixth Page)