Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1899-03-15


At this time it looks as if Lack
township would be the seat of an
el ct;on contest.
Lack township by Act Of Assem-
bly, approved the 5ih day of April.
1849, was divided into two election
districts. This was done for the
convenience of the voters. All that
portion of the townsh p lying north
westwardly of the summit OF Shade
mountain constituted Black Log
election district and the voting place
was at the Birch Run school house.
Lack township is like any other
township in its government aud with
the exception of election Office 8 and
an assistant assessor the same officers
govern that township that govern
any other.
But there being two elec ion dis
tricts, there must of necessity be
two sets of election officers, one set
for each district But the balance
of the ticket must according to law
be the same
The Republicans and Democrats
in Lack township nominated candi
d .tes for the respective Offices The
Republicans of the Black Log cleo
ton district as is their right nomin
at d candidates for election officers
and assistant assessor. But the
Democrats Of Black Log made no
ticket.
Thep, we have been informed, Il.
G. Rhine, the Commis sioners clerk,
went into Black Log with q nomIn-
alton paper which contained the
names of the Lack township Demo-
cratic candidates to which were add
ed the names of can didates for elec
ton officers of the Black Log cleo
ton district.
There were eight names signed to
the nomination paper which was
headed: "The nomination paper of
the Democratic party"
To call this nomination paper
democratic" was clearly a violation
of the law, which provides, that no
words shall be used in any nomina
zion papers to describe or designate
the PARTY or policy or political appel.
lation, represented by the candidate
named in such nomination papers as
aforesaid, identical with the words
used for the like purpose in cer,ifi-
Gates Of nominations made by poll
tical party which at the last preced-
ing election polled two per centum
of the largest vote cast.
When the Commissioners printed
the tickets for the election they
placed this ticket that came in un
der the head Of nomination papers,
in the Democratic column. 1t con-
tanning the names of the regular
Democratic nominees for Office in
Lack township, with the exception
of the Black Log election district
officers. Under the head of Repub.
can were placed only the names Of
the Back Log election district Office
candidates. The balance Of the
ticket was blank.
Now, the sequel. There were
four candidates for the office of Sup.
ervisors; two Democrats and two
Republicans, and when the vote was
announced it was found that in Lack
t1wrsti ip, the Republican candidates,
Messrs Carruthers and Hampton
were so far ahead that the vote of
Black Log election district would not
change the result and the c=rtiicates
of election were given to them. Later.
it was found there was no Republican
ticket at the polls in Black Log and
the returns from that district changed
the esuls and elected the Democrats.
Now, the Republican candidates
for Supervisor, having the certifi-
Gates of election will pre- sent the
certificates together with their bonds
to the Auditors this week and will
demand that they be sworn in.
The Auditors not being election
Ulcers. must accept the certificates
and bonds, if they do not, writ of
mandamus will issue out of the
Curt to compel them 50 to do, and as
the Court cannot go beyond the Ger
tiicates Of election for evidence to
determine the legality or illegslity of
the election will COMPEL the Audi
tors to accept the bonds.
If the Democratic contestants con :
test the election they will be met |
with the Act of 1897, which author
ICES the Court where an omission has
been made in printing the ballots
the result of the election
may have been affected. to declare
the election invalid aud to fill the |
vacancies by appointment.
DIR. Kings New Discovery.