The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-02-01

Inc Other l66DSeS IN the majority re-
port are not the less remarka bic. 1t is
almost Incredible TO believe that an
intellf gent majority could come to the
conclusion that z. e. Robertson, born
and reared in Spanish Fork, having
property there upon which he pays
taxes. and never having voted any
where else. should be considered an
Illegal voter at the last election sim
ply because for a year or two past he
has been temporarily absent working
by the day. Is it not palpably true
as testified by one of the contestants
witnesses. that when Robertson's job
is ended he will return to his nome
in Spanish Fork? If Robertson was
an illegal voter because of non-resi-
dence. what must be said Of Brigham
Crochron, reputed to be a Republican,
who voted in the same precinct? Ac-
cording TO the evidence. Crochron lived
wherever night overlook him. He was
a member of Coxey's army. In 1894
he managed to get on the registration
Est and voted at Salem. in Utah coun-
ty. He admitted to one witness that
his home was in Davis county. He
possesses all the indicia of tramp;
and if the evidence is to be believed
he was in no sense and never had been
a resident of Spanish Fork.
Similar comparison might be made
between others whom the ma jon ty
end to be residents or non-residents.
according to their supposed political
affiliations. John W. Pike was sup
posed to be a Democrat. For years he
has been official sten0grapher of the
First judicial district; has resided in
Provo. and voted there for several
years. Last fall he moved his family
to Salt Lake. he himself remaining in
Provo attending to his official duties
and intended to continue there until
his office expired upon the Inaugural
ton of statehood. He had an office
there to which he carried the key; had
exclusive control of the same up to the
18th day Of January. 1896. The majority
concluded that he was a nonresident;
that his vote was. therefore, Illegal
On the other hand one Lew Oakley.
supposed to be a Republican, had been
agent of the Union Pacific Railway
company at Lelli Junction. and had
resided there for two or three years.
In July or August. 1895. he was re-
moved to American Fork and acted as
agent there He was discharged at
that point before the election, and
went TO Springville. where his parents
and babe resided, He returned to
Lehi on election day and voted and
left and has never been there since
him to Lehf or any of the characters
tics Of a resident Of that precinct. he
is, in the Judgment of the majority,
a resident and entitled TO vote.
Further comparisons might be made
between Maeser and Cowley, alleged
to be Democrats and illegal voters on
the one hand. and Wing, WalWorth
and Sterling, alleged Republicans and
legal voters. or the other hand, WITH
advantage to the party to which the
contestee belongs; but we destst be-
Iieving that if necessary this honor
able body will thoroughly investigate
the whole testimony and decide ac-
cording to proof and justice.
AS regards Maeser the undersigned
concede his vote was probably ille-
gal. although he was bona fide resi-
dent in the precinct in which he voted:
but as to Pike, Cowley and Robertson
we submit to deprive either of them Of
his vote, whatever it may have been.
would be a fragrant wrong. To charge
their votes against the contestee and
deduct them from his count without
proof that they voted for him would be
an outrage unparalleled in the annals
of election contests.
There are other discrepancies which
must not be overlooked. At Spring
vile a, paster of W. NJ. Roylance, Dem
ocratic candidate for the legislature.
was pasted over the name of the con-
testant, Graham and Thorn SO as to
make their names completely unrecog-
nizable, yet the ballot was counted for
Graham and the contestant. Another
ballot was found with the name of Roy
lance erased and the name of Bring
hurst inserted Notwithstanding there
was residing in Springville at the time
a gentleman named William Bring
hurst, this ballot was counted for r.
j. Bringhurst the contestant. We sub
nit that these two votes counted for
contestant should be deducted in de-
termining this contest
This in brief is the case presented by
the contestant by a fair analysis of
all the evidence produced. Can 1t be
possible that the house of representa-
tives of the Utah legislature first elect
ed under the constitution will by it's
action in this case establish a prece-
dent for the perpetrati ton Of injustice
and tagrant wrong through all time
TO come? VIII this body in order to
seat this contestant add to his vote
without evidence that ballots rejected
were cast for him? VIII we seat this
contestant by taking votes from the
contestee without clear proof Of their
inegality? Will we deprive him of
votes whether illegal or not without
evidence that they We're cast and
counted for him? These are questions
that confront US in the solution of
this difficulty. We submit there can
be but one answer. Truth must pre-
vail. Right must triumph. Justice
must reign supreme or the great pen-
pie whom we represent will hang their
heads In shame and humiliation; and
IN the years to come will repudiate
lle wrong by visiting upon US their
everlasting condemnation
we respectfully recommend that the
claim OF the contestant to membership
IN TINS mouse be rejected and the con
testee be permitted to retain his seat
Respectfully submitted
A DEBATE.
AT the conclusion Of the reading
Monson moved that both reports he
MED, the evidence be printed and the
consideration of the reports be set as
d speclal order for Tuesday at 2:3O
wye moved the minority report he
returned to the minority of the com
mittee with Instructions to segreeatA
the argument from the finding of
tacts and report the latter to the house.
He was out of order as Monson's mo-
ton was pending and upon that the
question occurred
Monson argued that the house could
not arrive at conclusion as to who
was right with certainty that justice
would be done unless each member
had the evidence printed and before
him.
Lewis, chairman of the elections
committee, opposed the printing. He
thought the majoritys Judgment
should be accepted, and that printing
was not needed
Monson replied that if the elections