The Topeka state journal., 1897-11-05
COOK HAS 1876.
Republican Candidates Majori-
ty Slightly Increased
BY the Official Canvass of the
Vote.
KEPLEY WILLCONTEST
Claiming That 1876 of His Bal
lots Were Thrown Out.
Proceedings Will Not Begin I'm
til Thorough
Investigation is Made by the
Attorneys.

The canvass of the vote cast at last
Tuesdays election was made today by
the board of county commissioners. On
the face of the returns Porter S. Cook,
the Republican candidate for sheriff, is
elected by 126 majority.
The Kepley workers and Sheriff Kep-
ley, himself, were present this morning
when the first poll book was opened.
Mr.. Cook was there also, and the Off
GERS of the Republican central commit
tee watched the count. The Republi-
cans evidently anticipated some move
ment on the part of the Kepley forces
toward securing a recount, but nothing
was done. The canvass proceeded with
but a single interruption, and that was
made by George W. Clark, chairman of
the PopuIist committee, who wanted
the records to show separately how
many Populist, Free Silver and Demo-
cratic votes had been cast. Many of
the election boards had kept the entire
vote under the head Democratic"
There was no material change in the
result. Mr.. Cooks majority was raised
16 over that before published.
Eugene Hagan, attorney for Sheriff
Kepley, was not present at the canvass
He said today that he Will file a protest
and notice of contest as soon as the
vote has been declared.
I'VE can do nothing until that time''
said he, and We will not do it then un-
less we find that Sheriff Kepley was
really elected. We have information
now showing that 1876 Kepley votes
were not counted, and if that will
change the result, we viii make fight.
We have not heard from many pre-
cincts up to date, so we are not able
to say how many Kepley votes were
thrown out"
Sheriff KepIey said after the canvass
was completed that he is satisfied that
he was fairly elected.
Porter S. Cook, the successful candi-
date for sheriff is "a years old and has
lived in Shawnee county since 1870 He
comes Of old Pennsylvania Republican
stock and his ancestors have been Re
publicans as far back as the formation
of the Republican party.
Mr.. Cook came to Kansas without
money. Like other young men he left
the east in search of fortune with only
robust health on the credit side of his
ledger. When he reached Topeka he
hired out as a farm hand and worked
for one year for John Long who lived
three miles east of Topeka. The fol-
lowing year he worked on what is now
the r. Lice farm west of Topeka. That
was his last work done for hire. He
rented the Lee farm and lived there an
other year and then moved to Dover
and invested his savings of three years
in farm of his own.
He was successful as owner and man
ager of a farm. He owned the place
L N
Tomson and in addition to conducting
his farming business he was proprietor
of the village hotel Mr.. Cook lived in
Dover until 1888 when he moved with
his family to Topeka and bought a half
interest in the livery stable on West
Sixth street which he still retains.
While Mr.. Cook has been successful
in business, he would not be called a
rich man. He has never pretended to
be anything but plain and every day in
his manner and he has personally as
sisted in hitchinS and unhitchinS teams
at his livery stable ever since he NOV
ed to Topeka. People who called to-
day to congratulate him found him
very busy leading out horses and buck
ling harness.
Il want to see you a minute" called
a local politician.
! ''Au right" replied Mr.. Cook. Il will
see you as soon as 1 have finished hitch
ing up this horse"
This is a dialogue which, with many
others of a similar nature, occurred
dozens of times the past two days.
Mr.. Cook is not what would be called
a successful politician. While he is
personally popular with everyone he
knows he is slow to form acquaiHtances
and is not what is known as "a good
mixer" While he has for three years
been treasurer of the Republican cOun-
ty central committee, his duties have
never carried him into active politics.
There is no doubt Of the integrity of
Mr.. Cook. There is no blot on his char
acter. He has frequently been named
as administrator of estates, and is now
engaged in settling a nalf dozen which
have been entrusted to him.
Mr. Cook refuses to discuss the cleo
ton. or what he will do after he be
comes sheriff, but he says that he will
be ready to talk after the contest is dis
posed of.