The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-11-06
WOOD COUNTY CONTEST
THE COURTS WILL HAVE TO DE-
eide THIS CONTEST.
HANNA CAN'T FEEL COMFORTABLE YET
The Republicans Claim Majority Of Five on
Joint Ballot But the Democratic Chairman !
Still Says That Democracy Has
the Majority.

Columbus, O., Nov. 5.-The Ohin leg
islature stands "A Republicans, 10 Demo-
Gratis and one doubtful ON the official re-
turns received up to tonight. With a
dozen or more of the So counties very
close there have been no material
changes except in Wood county, which
will be claimed by both parties till the
courts pass on the action OF the super
vsors. There have been no unusuai
proceedings before the returning boards
of any of the counties except that OF
Wood, although both parties have had
their representatives and attorneys III
the county seats. Wherever the vote
was close, Chairman McConylile or the
Democratic State Committee has not
changed his claims of Democratic ma
iority on joint ballot and will not do SO
till the official returns of all counties
are in and show the final result to diner
from those he has at hand.
Chairman McConville and others from
the Democratic State headquarters went
IN Cincinnati tonight to confer with Mr..
John r. Mclean and other party lead
ers regarding the contests that are TO
be made in the close counties.
Chairman Nash insists tonight that
the legislature stands rs Republicans
TO 20 Democrats and that the majority
on Joint ballot for Senator VIII not De
less than FIVE. He says he is tonight sat
isfed with the situation in Wood coun-
ty. What he feared was that the Official
count might wipe out the small Repnnli-
can nIurality of 81 for tie Republicans
representative. Judge Nash is willing
and ready to have any court pass on
the case. He says the law provides
that the members of the board of elec-
ton cannot 20 behind the returns and the
S11nreme court has held that they have
no ministerial powers whatever, can
not hear evidence or use their dlscre-
ton In throwing out any votes. Ihat IS
left to the courts and to each branch
OF the legislature in passing on the ere
dentials Of its members. In Wood coun-
" to-day Norris, the Republican candi-
date for representative, filed q protest
against the board counting the vote or
Freedom township because the ballot
shonld be tailed in blocks Of five. This
nrecinct gave Norris 151 and Meares, the
democratic candidate for representative
of3 If the vote of the township had
heen thrown out it wsuld have increased
tbe plurality Of Norris by 112, but II
was counted. The Republicans insisted
that Norris will be declared elected in
Wood county and that the legislature
stands rs to 10.
ARRANGEMENT OF COUNSEL.
Columbus, Ohio, Nov. Sit is learned
here tonight that counsel for both tht
Democratic and the Republican com
mittees at Bowling Green today agreed
to submit the Wood county case at onct
TO the Circuit Court and the lawyers OF
both sides went to Toledo for that pur
pose. The court will be asked to decide
whether the election board can go pc
hind the returns. OF course 1t Wll D'
left for proceedings in contest In ths
House to decide whether the vote OF Gen
tire township shall be counted.
Information has been received at Re
publican headquarters Of protests to the
Soldiers Home vote at Dayton on thS
ground that the voting precincts were
not in the proper place. II that vote
should be thrown out the Democrat
would gain two Representatives from
Montgomery county and one Senator
enough ION the claims OF the Republi
cansl to make the Legislature stand Z;
Democrats to ~ Republicans ON join
ballot.
Chairman Nash says there are abou
forty precincts in the State where thes
technical points ON the location OF TN
no]ls can be raised and il it is mad
an Issue of contest it will work botl
ways with no one knowing the final re
suit
GABBERT WON.
Denver, Col, Nov. 5.-Chief Justlc'
Hayt conceded the election OF his op
ponent. William III. Gabbert, the Popu
list and Democrat candidate Gappert'
&c