The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-11-06
Republicans Are Certain of Four Ma
jOrity on Joint Ballot, and Claim
They Will Have al Least One More.
WOOD COUNTY CASE In COURT
LEGALITY OF ONE PRECINCTS VOTE:
TO BE DECIDED TODAY.
No Opposition to Mr. Hanna for Sem
May Injure Republicans.

islature stands "a Republicans, 20 Demo-
Gratis and one doubtful on the official re-
turns received up to tonight With
dozen or more of the eighty-eight counties
very close, there have beenn material
changes except in Wood county, which
will be claimed by both parties till the
courts pass on the action of the supervisors.
There have been no unusual proceedings
before the returning boards of any of the
counties, except that of Wood, although
both parties have had their representatives
and attorneys in the county seats wherever
the vote was close.
Chairman McConville, of the Democratic
State committee, has not changed his
claims of a Democratic majority on joint
ballot, and will not do so till the official
returns of all counties are in and show the
final results to differ from those he has at
hand. Chairman McConville and others
from the Democratic State headquarters
went to 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, of the Republican COM
mittee, insists tonight that the Legislature
stands 70 Republicans to 70 Democrats, and
that the majority on joint ballot for sena-
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 face of the official tally-sheets show
a plurality of 81 for the Republican repre-
sentative, Judge Nash says he is willing
and ready to have any court pass on the
case He says the law provides that the
members of the boards of election cannot
go behind the returns and the Supreme
Court has held that they have minis
terial powers whatever, cannot hear evil
dence 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 members.
In Wood county to-day Norris, the Repub-
lican candidate for representative, filed a
protest against the board counting the vote
of Freedom township because the ballots
had been tailed in blocks of five. This
precinct gave Norris 151, and Mears, the
Democratic candidate for representative,
263 If the vote of the township had been
thrown out it would have increased the
plurality of Norris by 112, but it was coun-
ed. The Republicans insist that Norris will
be declared elected in Wood county and
that the Legislature stands rs to 70.
Information has been received at Repub-
lican headquarters of protests of the SOL
diers' 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 repre-
sentatives from Montgomery county and
one senator, enough ION the claims of the
RepublcanS) to make the Legislature stand
seventy three Democrats and seVenty-tWo
Republicans on joint ballot Chairman Nash
HniIf nrfx nnfc IN he
State where these technical points on the
location of the polls can be raised, and If it
is made an issue of contest it will work
both ways, with no one knowing the final
result.
Hon. Charles r. Kurtz, who was chair
man of the Republican State committee in
1896 and 1885, says there is nothing what
members of the Legislature combining with
the Democrats to elect Governor Bushnell
or any other man senator in place of Sena-
tor Hanna, who was indorsed by the last
Republican State convention for both the
short and the full terms. Mr.. Kurtz says
no Republican member could afford to bolt
the caucus nomination, and he does not be-
lieve that a single Republican member
could be found who would go into such q
combine. AS Chairman KurtZ was defeated
for reelection as chairman by Senator
Hanna, and admits he is unfriendly to the
senator himself, this statement is believed
to be the last that will be heard of the COM
atorial nominee. At Republican state head
quarters the reports have never received
any credence. The committeeman state that
if they are assured of a safe majority on
joint ballot they have no doubt or concern
as to what that majority will do.