The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-12-05
And Pass Over Five for Consideration
When the Rest Of the Vote Has
Been Canvassed.
BRIEF CLASH AT THE START
CUSTODIAN OF THE RETURNS
FINALLY SURkENDERS ALL.
Ruling That FavOrs Republican,
Warm Time Probable When the
Contests Come Up Wednesday.

FRANKFORT, KY, Dec. 4-Fifty-one
counties were canvassed by the Kentucky
Board Of Election Commissioners to-day,
out Of total Of lis in the State. or these
fifty-one counties, five were passed over TO
be considered Immediately upon conclusion
Of the work Of the canvassing board. Tho
counties canvassed give Goebel a total vote
of 74,1S4 and Taylor 6S,9IS The countie;
passed over are Christian, Fleming, Green,
Harlan and Harrison.
The board met at IL 80 o'clock In the Of
fee Of Secretary of State Finley, all thre
members, ex-Chief Justice PRYOR, OF th'
State Supreme Court; w. 7. Ellis and {. b.
Poyntz being present. No time was wasted
and Immediately the board got down TO
business. There was clash between the
commissioners and Secretary Of State Fin
ley, who by virtue Of his Office. acted as
custodian OF the certificates received from
the county boards of election.
1--WE are ready for the returns. Mr.. Fin
ley" said Judge Pryor.
"Adair county" replied the secretary.
handing out an envelope
"Why don't you give US the returns from
the entire Slater" inquired Mr.. Ellis.
~ am custodian o. these returns" replied
Mr.. Finley. "and as such prefer to keep
them In my own hands. 1 do not mean that
the board for instant woui- misuse
them. but as they are In my charge, and
am responsible for them. 1 cannot give
them up, except as they are required by the
board"
"They are the property of the board. Mr..
Finley" replied Mr.. Ellis, land the board
has all the right in the world to have them
t,, oil at "A
1 am willing that you should be joint GUS
todian of the records while they are in the
possession Of the board, but / consider even
that a concession on the part Of the board.
81 must decline to hand them over" was
Mr. Ffnley's reply, "and request leave to
consult with my legal advisers"
Mr. Ellis waved his hand in assent, and
after short talk with Augustus Wilson. OF
Louisville, the attorney acting for the Re-
publican party, Mr.. Finley turned around,
| remarking: II will waive the point. Mr..
Ellis; here are the returns and he handed
| them out. This was practically the only
argument that occurred during the day,
and 1t was carried on without bitterness or
| discourtesy on either side.
RAPID WORK.
Once begun the canvass went on rapidly,
thirteen counties being disposed Of when
the board adjourned at 1 o'clock for dinner.
It reconvened at 2:30, and within three
hours thirty-eight counties. including the
| Ave that were passed. were canvassed. The
board will meet again at $3.50 tomorrow
morning.
| The first county over which any trouble
| arose was Christian, which gave 2,Sl6 votes
| to Goebel, and 3.471 to Taylor. 1t was
! of arif feS g
| in the precinct of Hopkinsville. whicn will
be made the subject Of discussion before
| the contesting board tomorrow or Wednes-
day. Fleming county was the next county
laid over for future argument. The coun-
| ty commissioners first certified to 1858
votes for Goebel and 1880 for Taylor. Later
| they discovered errors in the count. and
| sent a substitute certificate giving Goebel
| In and Taylor 1.665. The county was
| passed by mutual consent of Democrats
and Republicans. Green county was passed
| on account of alleged irregularities in the
| Brentwood precinct.
When Harlan county was called Judge
| Hargis, acting as chief adviser for the
| Democratic party, rose and asked the
| county be passed on account of irregulari-
ties, the nature of which, he declared he
was unable to state. being in ignorance
| concerning them. He knew there were
| some however Mr. willson quizzed him a
little as to the nature of the trouble, but
Judge Hargis declared he had not read the
charges. and did not know what they were.
| The county was passed. as he requested,
the Republicans offering no objection.
The election commissioners of Harrison
| county had sent two certificates. footing
UP differently, because of trouble in Gym
| thana. This was on account OF an injunc-
tion issued against them by Judge Kim
brough, ordering them TO certify for all the
Republican candidates. The first certificate
was filed in accordance with the injunction.
The injunction being dissolved later. a
second certificate was filed. making a diff
ference of l33 votes In Taylor's count
| 1t will probably take the board the great
| er part Of tomorrow TO canvass the re-
turns OF the remaining counties. and it will
then resolve itself into a contesting board,
adjourn to the large hall in which the Leg
| islature meets, and for a time vocal fire
works will be in order. The real work that
| will count for the election OF Goebei or
Taylor will begin then. and every inch
| will be fought fercely by both sides.
A SINGLE STRAW.
/ There was nothing in the work OF to-day
that will count for much unless IL be the
decision Of the commissioners OF Brack-
en- county. Here the polls were closed when
| twenty-three Democrats and six Repub-
| licans were waiting to vote, all desiring to
vote the straight party tickets. They were
at the polls in time TO vote, but the supply
| OF regular ballots had been exhausted and
their votes were refused. The County Com
uissioners asked that the votes be admit.