Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1896-12-17

rressmen and the presidential
electors. The state canyassing
board consisting of the Governor,
Secy. Of State and Chief Justice or
the Supreme court, refused to can-
the returns from the counties OF
Lawrence, Butte and several unor-
ranized counties attached to Butte
for elections purposes, on technical
irregularities in the returns and a
messenger was sen to the Hills with
instructions to secure proper returns.
But they now bob up with the claim
that the law requires the board to
complete its work within thirty days
after election. The returns as they
stand without the counties above re-
ferred to being included, give the
congressmen and electors to the re-
p~ublicans, and the supreme court
has issued a citation to the governor,
to show cause, on Saturday next,
why a peremptory writ of mandamus
should not issue compelling him to
issue certificates of election to the
republican candidates for congress
and the Mckinley electors. There
is hardly room for a doubt that certi-
fcates Of election will be issued,
with a supreme court and set OF
state officers such as we have in this
state. Day County Herald.
There was absolutely nothing in
the action Of the ca~nvassing board to
inspire Or Justify any statement like
the aho, and it only goes to show
how impossible it is for a populist
newspaper to present political news
in anything like a truthful manner
No body could have acted fairer
tn an did the board and what strain
ing of technicalities did ccu were
in favor of the populists. Grigsby,
Null and Lee, who were present,
have publicly stated that everything
was open and above board and de-
clared themselves thoroughly salts
fed with the proceedings, but it
don't suit the purpose of such papers
as the Herald to admit anything of
that nature.
The facts in the case are that the
board decided to accept all returns,
with the exception Of those from
Lawrence, Butte and unorganized
counties attaching, to which object
IONS were raised by the couesl for the
Republican candidates, and which
were without the official seal Of the
County Auditors. These were de-
cided to be "no returns" but the
board also decided to adjourn from
day to day until Dec. 18th and the
Secretary of State was authorized to
90 to these counties for properly
authenticated returns for canvass on
that date. This action was taken
despite the protests of the attorney
for the Republican candidates who
claimed that the law required the
board to complete its work within
thirty days after election and that il
did not possess the power to adjourn.
Governor Sheldon then explained thai
as there was no statutory provision
governing the case and doubt had
been expressed by attorneys as tc
the power Of the board to in any way
extend the time of making such a
canvass, the board had consulted and
decided to take the action aforesaid
so that no ones interest might in any
way be prejudiced and that the
board would, on the date set, can
vass all the returns and issue certi-
f~icates accordingly. This statemen.
of the Governor was given the widest
publicity by the dailies at the time
and everyone who read it Except
the editor of Herald) understood it
settled the case as far as the board
was concerned in favor of the popu-
list candidates.
The attorney for the Republican
candidates applied for a writ OF
m%andamus compelling the board to
issue certificates to his clients on
the grounds he had taken. This
case was made returnable on Satur-
day last and the writ refused thus
UNFOLDING the boards action, vet
Mr.. Kelley gravely informs his
readers THAT there is hardly room
for a doubt that the certificates OF
election will be issued with a su-