The record-union., 1897-11-06
Beth Parties Chairmen Still Claim
ing a Majority.
The Case Of One Close County to be Sub
mitted to the Courts.
Official Returns to Date Show That
the Bodv on Joint Ballot Stands
Seventy-Four Republicans, Sew
enty Republicans and One
Doubtful.

COLUMBUS (O.), Nov. 5.-The Ohio
Legislature stands "A Republicans, 10
Democrats and l doubtful on the Of
fetal returns received up to tonight.
With a dozen or more of the eighty
eight counties close, there have been no
material changes, except in Wood
County, which will be claimed by both
parties until the courts pass on the ac-
tion of the Supervisors.
There have been no unusual proceed
ings before the returning boards of any
of the counties, except that Of Wood,
although both parties have had their
representatives and attorneys in their
county seats, wherever the vote was
close.
Chairman McConnville of the Demo-
cratic State Committee has not changed
his claims of a Democratic majority on
joint ballot, and will not do so until the
officials returns of all the counties are
in, and show the final result to differ
from those he has at hand.
Chairman McConnville and others
from the Democratic State headquar-
ters went to Cincinnati to confer with
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 20 Republicans
to 20 Democrats. and that the majority
on joint ballot for Senator Will not be
less than five. He says he is tonight
satisfied with the situation in Wood
County What he feared was that the
official count might wipe out the small
Republican plurality in that county.
Since the official tally sheets show
plurality of 81 for the Republican Rep
resentative, Judge Nash says he is Will
ing and ready to have any court pass
on the case. He says the law provides
that the members of the Boards or
Election cannot go behind the returns,
and the Supreme Court has held that
they have no ministerial powers what
ever, and 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 men,
bers.
In Wood County to-day Norris, the
Republican candidate for Representa-
tive, filed a protest against the board
counting the vote of Freedom Town
ship. because the ballots had been tai
lied in blocks of five. This precinct
gave Norris 151, and Mears, the Demo-
cratic candidate for Representative,
263 If the vote of the township had
been thrown out, it would have increased
the plurality of Norris by IL, but II
was counted The Republicans insist
that Norris will be declared elected IN
Wood County and that the Legislature
stands 20 to 40.
1t is learned here tonight that coun-
sci for both Democratic and Republi-
can Committees at Bowling Green to-
day agreed to submit the Wood County
case at once to the Circuit Court, ana
that the lawyers on both sides went to
Toledo for that purpose. The court Will
be asked to decide whether the Election
Board can go blind the returns. OF
course it will be left for proceedings in
contest in the House to decide whether
the vote of Center Township shall be
counted.
Information has been received at Re
publican headquarters of protests to the
Soldiers Home vote at Dayton, on the
ground that the voting precincts were
not in the proper place. If that vote
should be thrown out the Democrats
would gain two Representatives from
Montgomery County and one Senator,
enough Con the claims of the Republi
cans) to make the Legislature stand 73
Democrats to ~ Republicans on joint
ballot
Chairman Nash says there are about
forty precincts in the State where these
technical points on the location of the
- nd fc do m
issue of contest it will work both ways,
with no one knowing the final result.
Hon. Charles r. Kurtz, who was
Chairman of the Republican State Com
mittee in 1896 and 1895, says there is
nothing whatever in the talk about GER
tain Republican members of the Legis-
lature combining with the Democrats
to elect Governor Bushnell or any other
man Senator in place of Senator HANNA
who was indorsed by the republican
State Convention for both the short ana
full terms for Senator. Mr.. hurtZ says
no Republican member could afford 10
bolt the caucus nomination, ana ne does
not believe that a single Repubhcan
member could be found who would go
into such combine. AS ex-Chalrmah
Kurtz was defeated for reelection as
Chairman by Senator Hanna, ana ad-
mits he is unfriendly 10 the Senator
himself. this statement is believed TO De
the last that will be heard of the COM
bine against Hanna as the Republican
Senatorial nominee.
At Republican headquarters the re-
ports have never received any credence.
The managers state that If they are as
sured OF a safe majority on joint bal
lot they have no doubt or concern as to
what the majority will do.