The Red Cloud chief., 1897-04-02
ECOUNTTNPpOGnTS
REPUBLICANS NOT REPRE-
SENTED.
Sew Board Appointed Under the Last
Recount Act at Work ON the uaiiots-
WIN Hasten the Count rs Much as Pos
sible so AS tn Adjourn Early.

W So ~ 'J'"i
The recount is on again Mt the state
house. The work was commenced last
Friday evening under the provisions OF
IN act Of the legislature which repealed
I'm act passed early i'm the session, A
aew board was appointed Friday by
he presiding officers Of the two houses
If the legislature. While the act pro-
tides that republicans may" be rep
resented on the board IL was decided
by leaders of the fusion majority h a
such representation should not be al
owed. The board comprises seven
~'usionist members OF the legislature.
Speaker Gatiin named Representatives.
Dobson of Fillmore, Gerdes of Richard
.on, Fernow of Adams and LOOMS OF
Butler. The last three composed the
committee which seized the ballots re-
,ently by order Of the house. Licuten-
,nt-Governor Harris appointed Sena-
;ors Canaday OF Kearney, Sykes OF
Adams and lieapy OF Sherman.
Presiding officers of the two houses
" the Legislature gave reasons and ex-
plantations for making the appoint
nents under the law. Mr.. Gafin's tx
~,lanation was in this form:
Pursuant to, and by authority OF u
aw passed by this legislature. ;. +.
1872, IL at this time becomes my duty to
appoint a committee consisting OF four
members of the house to act In conjunc-
lion with a committee of the senate to
-ecanvass the vote on the constitutional
amendment relative 20 the increase OF
supreme judges.
''In naming this committee I desire
i AlA -I.l III 80 ..-...l,a I'm
one member Of this committee may be
a republican,. yet in view OF the Tact
that the republicans have opposed this
recount in every way possible from
the beginning. and after having had a
uon-partisan board appointed under a
law passed by this legislature for the
express purpose OF having this canvass
made by such board, they have resort
ed To the courts with injunction pro-
seedlings instituted for the purpose OF
defeating and in every way possible
sought to embarass the canvass and
prevent the count from going forward
to an honest and fair completion, and
in view Of the fact that nearly every
republican member of this house, in
the explanation of his vote yesterday,
denounced the recount, objected to IL,
and voted against it; therefore, 1t seems
reasonable to presume that IL appointed
upon this committee they would con-
ltinue to delay, obstruct and prevent the
recount in the future. ! firmly believe
that the great majority Of the people of
the state, irrespective of party are infa-
vor of an honest and speedy recount OF
the ballots; and believing also that the
people of the state are entitled to have
this count completed without further
obstruction, and also being satisfied
that the committee to whom this mat
ter is intrusted, will, with proper re-
strictions, proceed with the count In q
public way, allowing press representa-
tives and others to witness the count
in progress, so far as ~ be done, with
out endangering the ballots or delay
ing and retarding the work; therefore,
in view of the effort that has been
made to defeat the recount l do not
feel justified in embarrassing this com
mittee in it's work by placing upon the
committee any person who Is not favor.
able to a fair. impartial and honest
b count without further delay and OBJ
struction. After carefully considering
:. the matter from all standpoints, I have
, selected the following members Of the
1 house as such COMMITTEES: Dobson,
Gerdes, Fernow and Loomis."
observation-disclosures Harris present
ed to the senate the following explana-
ton of his action in the matter:
1T becomes my duty to appoint q
committee to count the ballots cast on
the constitutional amendments pro-
'viding for increase of the number Of
, supreme judges, at the election held
; November 3, as provided by the act
passed March 25, 1897; said committee
to act with a similar committee from
the house, appointed for the same pur-
pose. That an American citizen shall
be permitted to deposit his will by
ballot and have 1t honestly counted,
Is not only the spirit of our constitu.
tion, the organic law of the nation, but
,ommends itself to every patriot In our
state and nation. Any attempt to OBJ
!, struct, thwart, retard or hinder Q
count of ballots is unlawful and revo-
lutionary, no matter by what agency,
Or from what source, and places the
obstructionists under suspiscion, by
fair minded men, Of improper and per-
'onal motives. The people of Ne
braska will demand of this committee
\ fair, honest count, open to represent
atives OF the press. open to the inspec.
ltion OF 'the honest citizens who ask
Shue ~ "hA III Niou VI ZIG ClJILcuS
shall he recorded. It Ii to be hoped
that the work may be done without
further hindrance, by men whose sense
Of duty is greater than party fealty, I
have selected Senator'S Cauaday, Sykes
and Heapy as the committee from the
senate to act under and by provision of
the law"
The board worked all day Saturday
until late, its progress being watched
by representatives of the press, who
had been admitted only after Repre-
sentative DObson had threatened TO re-
, sign II they were not allowed to do so.
The recoun shows gains by precinctS,
the gain being from one or two TO a
dozen or more, and In some cases az
high as half a hundred. One precinct
in Holt county which was returned as
81 for a. thirteen against, ON recount
showed la5 for and 10 against, a gain
OF 1@l. Plum Creek precinct In Pawnee