The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-11-05
DEMOCRATS CLAIM FRAUD
A CHANGE OF TWO
VOTES WOULD MAKE THE
BODY DEMOCRATIC
THE LEGISLATURE IS NOT CONCEDED
Chairman McConyilIe is Still at His Post--He
Says the Returns from the Doubtful Coun'
ties Have Been Held Back and
This Looks Suspicious.
This Looks Suspicious.

his Looks Suspicious.
Columbus, o.. Nov. 4.-The talk about
q combine in the Legislature against
Senator hanna has subslded, pending the
interest in the official counting OF the
vote in the close counties. AS the offi-
cial canvass OF the vote in the 81 coun-
ties proceeded to-day the Republican
plurality on the State ticket Increased
ar on the legislative tickets the margins
became narrower.
While the Republican plurality on the
State ticket exceeds 2S,OOO the vote
ON the legislative ticket is almost as
close as it could be. For this reason there
Is still unusual anxiety at the respec-
tive State headquarters of both par
ties.
The Republicans still claim that the
Legislature stands 10 Republicans to
20 Democrats on joint ballot for Senator
and that their candidates for Represen-
tatives in three of the close counties have
been elected by the following plurality:
Delaware county 20; Wood county rs;
Noble county 50; total of l42 IN the
plurality OF these three counties. 4
change Of 72 votes properly distributed
In these three counties would therefore
have turned the result in the Legisla-
ture by giving these three representa-
tiyes to the Democrats. Then the Leg
islature would have stood u Republi-
cans and 73 Democrats on joint ballot
for Senator.
When it is remember that the total
vote of Ohio last year was over 1.O00,-
600 and is almost one million this year
could readily seen that II is such a
small percentage that it cannot be clear
ly expressed in figures or fractions or
language And this is what makes the
Democratic State Committee to be so
closely on guard in watching the count
ing in the close counties. Ihe ofhclal
count of Delaware county is in,but with
protests and notice Of contest from the
Democrats and the same is true or
Noble county. The official count of
Wood county may not be completed until
Saturday although it may be finished to-
morrow.
In Wood county to-day the Democrats
protested against counting the vote of a
precinct where the place Of voting was
outside OF the precinct, but within the
ward. Had this precinct been thrown
out it would have elected the Demo
cratic candidate for Representative by
a plurality of FIVE instead of the Re
publican candidate by %. The vote of
tbe precinct was counted and the Demo-
cratic protest filed. Other technicalities
are expected in the progress of the vote
in that county tomorrow. In Noble
county there was long contest over -
scratched tickets that were finally
thrown out because they were not prop
erly marked. This was Republican
loss. Every point is being contested in
thu official count Of the close counties.
Chairman Nash says tonight that the
Republicans have a safe majority OF i've
on joint ballot in the Legislature.
He admits that the pluralities are
s--all in some counties, but claims they
are safe. He has no doubt Of the re-
suit in any OF the counties which he
claims except possibly Wood county and
In the event OF the loss Of that Repre-
sentative he says the legislature would
still stand "A Republicans to Il Demo
crafts and have majority Of three on
Joint ballot for Senator. Chairman Nash
said the returns from the thirteen district
showed that the Republicans had
plurality Of 432 SO that there
is no longer any Of the State Senators in
doubt and the Senate will stand ID Dem
ocrats to II Republicans.
At Republican State headquarters
Summit county is not considered SO
doubtful as heretofore and its two Rep-
resentatiyes are being conceded to the
Democrats. This would make the House
So Republicans and 81 Democrats.
Chairman McConyille does not admit
that the Republicans have carried the
18th district for their candidate tor
State Senator and he still claims the
Representatives from Noble, Delaware,
Wood, Muckingum and other counties
claimed by the Republicans. lie also
expects the official count to give the
Democrats two of the twelve members
of the Legislature from Cuyahoga coun-
ty. In all these counties in and in 9th
ers he says there will be contests for the
seats in the event of certificates of elec-
ton being given to the Republicans.
Chairman McConville charges fraud
In the close counties and in some Repub-
iican counties. He says nearly all the
close counties have gone Republican
heretofore and the Republicans still
have the machinery in these counties.
He says the returns have been held back
and it looks suspicious. Other counties
have completed their counting while
the doubtful counties are still at it. He
says the result~gas known definitely IN
Cincinnati yesterday morning and he
cannot get definite results even tonight
from Cleveland where he expects the
yote to be very close on two or three
members Of the Legislature.
Chairman McConville will remain here