The Columbus journal., 1897-12-29
The Election Contest.

1t is we'll known. Of course. to those
JOURNAL readers who take any interes;
at all IN public toficIall matters. tina,
three republican candidates in the late
county campaign. viz: ]. H kilian for
county Judge. E. Pohl for clerk and p.
q. Bender for sheriff, we're found by the
board Of canvassers, who simply looked
ove the returns made by the various
judges and clerks Of election and tabu-
lated what vas certified up to be near
est the goal Of election.
From what was known of the support
they received from the party opposition.
II was plainly evident to party workers
that there was something wrong, some
where along the line.
Legal proceedings were instituted In
contest by Messrs. Pohl and Bender. and
during the past week, al various times.
the counting of the original ballots has
been made by Judge kIlIan of the county
court and the attorneys IN the case rep
resenting Pohl and Bender of one side
and Phillips and Byrnes of the other.
The ballots as recounted. so far. with
the first and second wards Of Columbus,
Cres;on. Grand Prairie and Monroe not
recounted. give a majority of - for Pohl
and of l. for Bender.
Il must be remembered that the entire
,-.,r. TO- ..ar-Ac- -raz .ruapo.H n, sha
p~lesdings, the attorneys for Pohl and
Bender setting forth In legal language
the reasons for contestinG, and virtually
why a recount of the ballots should be
had. the opposing attorneys making a
general denial, and Yet asking that the
ballots be counted in the townships of
Walker. Bismark, Sherman. Grand Prai-
RE. Granville, Joliet, Humphrey. Bur
rows and Shell Creek. Incidentally, We
wish to call the particular attention Of
Journal readers TO the last statement
above. as II may throw light on certain
phases of the case before II is ended.
Al the beginning of the hearing, a
motion was made b. attorneys for Phil
lips and Byrnes against the admIssa
bIlIty OF the ballots as evidence. but II
Was thought advisable 10y the court 10
defer the argument until later. and SO
the question was taken up a. Monday
afternoons session. and resumed Tues
day morning. the Judge reservlng his
decision until Wednesday morning. on
the admIsslbillty of the ballots.
The form Of ballot Is the worst We have
ever had. To confuse the average voter:
there was room for mistakes: room for
laundering. and also room for what Is
called sleek work"
We are told that in acOunty adjoining
Platte the fusion forces were directed by
marking under the rooster. under the
house or under the bell: and their
Judges were advised TO count and tally
such. straight down. paying no attention
To crosses that might be made opposite
the names of individual republicans on
the blanket ballot.
II this same plan mas been followed in
this county. 1t would give about such
results as are seen.
II Judges have been thus advised they
should not hesitate TO tell the truth
about il. An honest confession is good
for the soul" 4 man can easily he mis-
taken IL his judgment. but criminal
knowledge involves a bad intent going
along with a bad deed. Don't let the
sleek" fellow scare you into telling d
falseEooG.
We believe hat no expense should be
spared to probe this matter 20 the bot
tom.
Let US see TO 1t that u ballots are
counted as they are deposited. and the
proper returns made.
Eternal vigilance is the price Of lib
erty" in all the senses il which that
term is used.
TabIer's Buckeye Pile Ointment re-
liayeS rhe intense itching II SOOrheS