Omaha daily bee., 1899-11-30
THOMAS CONTESTS ELECTION
Investigation ConVinceS Him He is
Entitled TO the Police
Judncship,

Benjamin f. Thomas republican candidate
for police judge at the late election, has
filed contest proceedings against Samuel l.
Gordon, the fusionist, who was declared
elected by a narrow margin.
The case will be opened in the county
court January and will be the first to de-
mand the attention OF d. NJ. Vinsonhaler,
the newly elected Judge.
Mr. Thomas does not allege fraud, but sets
forth that many mistakes were made in the
count and that other Irregularities were
committed. One OF the most prominent err
rors mentioned is the fact that many voters
did not vote for either ThomaA or Gordon,
but made the required cross mark on the
ballot in the square at the end of the blank
line following the names Of the regular
candidates, and that all such votes were
counted for Gordon, presumably because his
name on the ballot occupied space under
meath that of Thomas.
After going over all the figures. Mr..
Thomas believes that a correct count will
give him a plurality of 9SS votes. OF course
the hearing OF the case in county court will
involve a recount OF all the ballots and the
proceedings will probably last a week. II
MIR. Thomas should receive a favorable de-
cision it will open the way for other contests.
court, will probably hold good in the case of
other republican candidates.
Attorney E. c. Wocott, representing Mr..
Thomas, said I'VE did not enter into this
contest on the impulse of the moment. So
far as we are concerned. 1t is a friendly
engagement We have after mature study
and close investigation found that enough
illegal ballots were counted to give the po-
lice judgeship to Mr.. Thomas, therefore we
are asking the courts to act. We do
not allege fraud on the part of anybody
connected with the election, but simply that
mistakes were made. which, If rectifed, will
give the office to the republican candidate" "
The petition is lengthy document, which
after the usual preliminary preamble se:-
ting forth that there was an election" and
so on, delves into detailed figures showing
the count of the electors for each candidate
in each of the seventy-six voting precincts
of the city of Omaha.
In scme instances investigation shows
that in single precinct there was a gain
of as high as seventy votes for Mr.. Thomas.
According to the figures of the petitioner.
the fusion candidate received a total of $3.50
votes, whereas by the returns OF the can
vassng board he was declared to have re-
ceived 1926 legal ballots, and that the con-
tcstant received 7,7IS votes, while the re-
turns of the canvassing board gave him
credit for only JAP legal ballots.
In conclusion. following the voluminous
array of figures, the contestant sets forth
that unless relief is granted the fusion can
didate will enter upon and usurp the office
of police judge, and the court is prayed to
adjudge the contestant duly elected to the
office of police judge for the term beginning
January 4, 1900, and continuing two years.
Costs OF suit are also prayed for.
Mr.. Thomas says this contest is not
brought for political amusement or by rea-
son of any i'll will. but simply because a
close investigation has convinced him that
he was legally elected and was by mistake
counted out of his Office