The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-11-06
CASE ALREADY
in The COURTS
COUNTY
CONTESTED
If the Struggle Is Reduced to Tecfni=
Calities the Republicans Prom
ise to Do Their Share.

COLUMBUS, O., Nov. 5.-The Ohio
legislature stands "a Republicans, 70
Democrats and 1 doubtful on the of
ficial returns received up to tonight.
With a dozen or more of the eighty
eight counties very close, there have
been no material changes except in
Wood county, which will be claimed
by both parties until the courts pass
on the action Of the supervisors. There
have been no unusual proceedings be-
fore the returning boards of any of
the counties except that of Wood, al
though both parties have had their
representatives and attorneys in the
county seats wherever the vote was
close.
Chairman McConville, of the Demo-
cratic state committee, has not chang
ed his claims Of a Democratic major
ity on joint ballot, and will not do so
until the official returns Of all counties
are in and show the final results to
differ from those he has at hand.
Chairman McConville and others from
the Democratic state headquarters
went to Cincinnati tonight to confer
with John r. Mclean and other party
leaders regarding the contests that are
to be made in the close counties.
Chairman Nash insists tonight that
the legislature stands rs Republicans
to 70 Democrats, and that the major
ity on joint ballot for senator will not
be less than five. He says he is salts
fed with the situation in Wood county.
What he feared was that the official
count might wipe out the small Re-
the face of the official tally sheets
shows a plurality Of 81 for the Repub-
lican representative, Judge Nash says
he is willing and ready to have any
court pass on the case. He says the
law provides that the members of
boards of election cannot go behind
the returns, and the supreme court
has held that they have no ministerial
powers whatever cannot hear evidence
or use their discretion in throwing out
any votes. That is left to the courts
and to each branch of the legislature
in passing on the credentials of its
members.
In Wood county today Norris, the
Republican candidate for representa-
tive filed protest against the board
counting the vote of the Freedom town
ship because the ballots had been tall
lied in blocks Of five. This precinct
gave Norris 151 and Mears, the Demo-
crat. 263 If the vote of the township
had been thrown out, it would have
increased the plurality of Norris by
112 but it was counted. The Republi-
cans insist that Norris will be declared
elected in Wood county, and that the
Ieoic1a tire stands rs to 20.
Hon. Charles r. Kurtz, who was
chairman of the Republican state COM
mittee in 1895 and 1896, says there is
nothing whatever in the talk about
certain Republican members OF the
legislature combining with the Demo-
Gratis to elect Gov Bushnell or any
other senator, in place of Senator Han
ma. who was indorsed by the last Re-
publican state convention, for both the
short and the full terms for senator.
Mr., Kurtz says no Republican mem
Der could afford to bolt the caucus
nomination, and he does not believe
that single Republican member could
be found, who would go into such
combine.
AS Chairman Kurtz was defeated for
reelection as chairman by Senator
Hanna, and admits that he is un-
friendly to the senator himself, this
statement is believed to be the last