The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-02-11
II Would CAUSE A FURORE
TALK OF DIRECTING TO COUNT
M ING OF SOUTH CAROLINA'S
M ELECTORAL VOTE.
MIGHT MAKE Mr.. 0LNEY PRESIDENT
For the Next Four Years by Delaying
the Count Beyond March 4-How-
ever, 1t is Believed Mr.. Murray
"A Will Reconsider.

ai Washington, Feb. 6.-Senator Hoar,
chairman of the senate committee on ju
dietary, was asked today concerning
possible objection to counting the electo-
raj vote of South Carolina, such as is
threatened by Representative Murray of
South Carolina, who has charge of Il Pc
tition alleging fraud in South Carolina
presidential election, in the joint assem-
<bly of the two houses Of congress next
Wednesday. He said:
THE act of February 3, 1887, pre-
scribes very clearly the method of pro-
ceeding in case objection is made to a
counting of vote Of any particular state.
The law provides for objections, but it re-
auires that all objections shall be in writ
ing, clearly setting forth their object, and
with argument, and that they shall be
signed by at least one senator, as well as
at least one representative. 1t is further
provided that no return shall be rejected
from any state unless there is more than
one return, and when there is more than
one it is directed that those only shall be
counted which have been regularly given
BY the electors who shall have been choS-
en- according to law. Each state pro-
vides its own tribunal for declaring the
result of it's election for presidential cleo
tors, and when this tribunal has made its
return the government is required to GER
tify the result of this election. The vice
president lays all the papers before the
Joint assembly.
I'm case any objection is made it is
ponaccory for tho hnusnS n Spno rate and
pass upon the matter. We can not go
Into the returns of each state and deter
mine the legality of any election in them.
All that we can do is set forth in the stat
utes."
The senator expressed the opinion that
if put to test the law would be found in
adequate, and "that all would work out
right" He declined to express in more
definite terms the object of making such
ut is said that Mr.. Murray's purpose to
<cOntest the electoral vote of South Car
olina was a complete surprise to even
the republicans. 1t is hinted by the
leading members of the house that any
protest made by Mr.. Murray, even if sup
ported by senator and representative,
must essentially prove abortive and be
nothing more than q stage performance,
as there are no contestng returns. There
4 in Florida, Louisiana and South Carolina
eases.
Representative Strait of South Caro-
.lina said II had expected that the re-
gpublicans of South Carolina might try to
bring their contest, which the state board
N Of canvassers rejected, before congress.
AIt can do nothing towards the election of
Mr.. Mckinley. 1t might delay the count
beyond the 4th of March and make Mr..
Oney president for four years. if made
A partisan question. The whole thing
seems ridiculous to me-"
Senator Tillman of South Carolina said
that if Mckinley is to be inaugurated on
g March the vote of South Carolina will
have to be counted next week. He as
serted that the opposition to counting the
vote had developed from scheme to re-
duce South Cardinals innuence, and de-
ciared that if the republicans intended to
make an attack on South Cardinals state
constitution it must be done in some 9TH
er manner than endeavoring to prevent
the counting of her vote for Bryan.
Representative Murray of South Caro-
lima has been appealed to by his associ-
ates not to persist in his program to ques-
ti0n South Cardinals electoral vote, and
it is likely he will abide by their wishes.
The program of the South Carolinians is
stated tonight as not unknown to the
democratic members here.