Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1897-02-06

arrangement. was comparatively u
stranger to Us all.
Before election it was generally
known that certain persons not resi-
dents of the county intended to vote
for the opposition. and at least one of
these persons Swore that he would do
so even at the expense of bloodshed-
Their votes were challenged They
were sworn and the election boards
were compelled to admit them
Nothing further could be done except
by legal action under the law govern
ing COME ted elections. The number
of these votes was more than enough
to change the result.
OF the nine election boards in the
county five had but one Republican
member each. In one precinct an
opposition Judge was appointed who
1t was a part of his duties to assist
voters in marking their ballots, but
lie has heretofore required assistance
himself. l do not claim that these
election boards were unfair. but they
were certainly not unduly favorable
to me- Each of the five precincts
cast majority against me, and in one
instance L received but one-fourth of
the total vote.
When the result of the election was
known talk of contested elections be-
came general. The best informed
men of all parties conceded that there
was good and sufficient cause for con-
test, and. indeed. there was no other
means legally of determining the
exact or just result in the case of
superintendent. l fully believed that
| was the choice of majority of the
voters of the county: that j had re-
ceived a ajority of all the votes cast
| for superintendent, and certainly a
majority of the legal votes so cast /
modestly believe this opinion is
/ shared by a majority of the voters
OF the county to-day. at least so far as
they are Informed of the facts.
| Holding this belief, and advised by
| competent, conservative authorities
| of different parties, after due consid-
Grafton of the facts above stated.
| decided to contest the election of Mr.
Balcom. who must have known that
he was not legally elected and who
could have arrested proceedings at
any time. l began this contest be-
| lieving it to be my duty-a duty L
owed to myself, to my party and to all
| supporters, and. more especially, my
duty to the public in the interest of
good government and a pure ballot,
and for the protection of all legal
voters. This step was taken without
any i'll feeling toward MIR. Balloon or
any other candidate, and without
envy of any successful aSpirant. l did
not begin on this action for the mere
purpose of holding on to job. have
| had fiattering offers for my services in
other work, but have not accepted be-
cause L could not leave my children.
l began with due consideration of the
opinion of those to whom contests in
general are diStaSteful. In regard to
this case, the number holding such
views are quite limited and generally
confined to the opposition, as might
| be expected. AS to accept results as
they then stood wonld have been to
endorse fraud and invite further
! illegal voting in succeeding elections.
[ could not do otherwise than l did.
and / believe | should have had, at
least, the moral support of all good
citizens in the effort to arrive at hon
orable conclusions, clearly expressed.
/ | began without yindictiveness and in
no spirit of vengeance. The action
was brought independently of the
action of others and upon my own re-
Sponsibility alone. 1t was brought
with all expedition consistent with
! thorough preparation. / looked up
my own evidence, but the natural
antipathy of some to give testimony
and the partisan feelings of others led
/ to the suppression of evidence and
made its acquisition somewhat diff
cult. Some of the most important
was not divulged until the close of
the trial. l was just as diligent in
searching for Illegal votes cast for me
as against me, because they would be
just as vital to my case as any; but. so
| far as L can learn, / did not receive
one such and no effort has been made
| to show that / did. nor that | at any
time violated or disregarded any law
pertaining to elections or any other
law.
| During and since the trial reports
have been induStriouSly circulated to
the effect that my trial was running
/ l.r, IN IAIt
dollars 1t would seem unnecessary
to deny this, as the county does not
pay one cent of the costs. | have paid
my own expenses without any assist
ance from any person, committee or
otficial-either county, state or fed
eral- The story is told only for the
purpose of creating a prejudice against
me, and only the ignorant can be de-
ceived by it. 1t is also rumored that
/ purchased votes and employed other
illegal or immoral means to secure
my election. Those who know my
circumstances will give no credence
/ to the former, and L trust that my
conduct has been such at all times as
to discredit the latter story, which is
| told for the purpose of injuring my
character before the people and de-
] stroying my influence in school work.
practices and am positive nothing of
the kind has been done i'll my behalf.
On the other hand, semi-public
meeting was held in the Office of ID.
III. Hinkel by the political friends and
party managers OF Mr.. Balcom some
time before the trial. As reported in
the independent. this meeting was
held Tin the interest of Justice" for
the purpose of securing counsel and
evidence and raising fund to defray
Mr.. Balcom's expenses. The county
clerk, G. NJ Ufford, ana Register
Frakes, of the United States land
office. were given or took prominent