The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-04-08
BungIing of the Poll Books viii
Stand.
SIX COUNCILMEN VOTE.
Three Excused. From Voting
and Two Oppose Action
Protests of the Members Are En-
tirely Ignored.


vote Stood For-Miller, Myers, CLANCY,
Roundtree. SWendson. Hughes. Against
Morgan, Snattinser. Councilmen Belts.
Weber and Warner refused to vote on
the question AS it required a majority
OF the vote Of the council and as there
were but eleven members present Mr.
Hughes was obliged to vote for himself
in order to be elected whichc, Of course,
he didn't like to do
The vote was on the report of the COM
mittee which had been appointed by
Mayor Drew to canvass the returns as
given the city clerk by the judges and
clerks Of elections
Mr. Swendson. who f. an ardent Hughes
supporter, was chairman of the commit
tee and he made the report which recon-
mended that the certificate Of election be
issued TO Mr.. Hughes The report was
signed by Swendson. Roundtree. Clancy
and Warper, Mr. Warner signing under
protest Mr.. Warner objected to the
adoption Of the report when it was pre-
scented to the council and said that it
was impossible to tell from some Of the
tally sheets what the result was, but
Swendson. ROundtree and CLANCY, the
other members of the committee. while
admitting that some OF the sheets were
not well kept, in fact, were in bad shape,
decided that they should report in favor
Of Mr.. Hughes.
Mr.. Warner said that he thought the
sheets were in such shape that the coun-
before voting on the report Of the com
mittee. He cited the fact that in the
third precinct of the Third ward that
there we're nine more votes counted than
were cast, and also called the attention
of the council to the fact that the judges
had certified that the returns on the back
of the sheets were correct These re-
turns showed that Mr. Parker had a ma
jority OF the votes cast
Mr.. Swendson moved that the council
accept the report OF the committee as
the determination Of the council. and
that certificates Of election be issued to
the men named
Mr.. Warner moved to amend by ex-
ceUting the hrst precinct Of the Second
ward and the third precinct Of the Third
ward.
/ do not believe that the council
should declare these men elected until
It has gone ever the tally Sheets said
Mr. Warner. Every member should
see the sheets. and I defy any man to tell
the result from these sheets"
Mr.. CLANCY agreed with Mr. Warner,
and said he wanted the entire. council
TO see the tally sheets
Mr.. Roundtree made a speech for Mr..
Hughes. and said that the figures as re-
turned by himself and Mr. Swendson
should be accepted
Mr. Morgan asked Mr.. Warner to ex-
plain what he meant by saying that they
were unable TO tell the result. Mr. War
ner said:
- seems to me that It is impossible to
tell what the clerks meant by their
tallies IN some of the sheets. I think
that totals as sworn to on the back of
the sheets which are signed by the judges
and clerks Is the correct figure and ac-
cOrding to those figures Mr.. Parker has
a majority Therefore I can not agree
with the chairman Of the committee in
recommending that a certificate be is
sued on the returns as made by the
chairman OF the committee
Mr. Swendson said all that he could
see was that the face of the returns
showed that Mr.. Hughes had been elect
ed and that he should be given the GER
tfficate.
Mr.. Warner said that there were two
precincts which could not be counted,
and that he had asked Mr. SWendson to
make q report showing the minority
side Mr.. Swendson snatched the sheet
out of my hands, said Mr. Warner,
"anl said that he was chairman of the
committee and would report as he
pleased. I asked that the council con-
Side~ my report as well as Mr. SWend-
sons think have as much right to
msaSe report as he has, and I think the
council should know both sides of the
quest zion. and not only the side that Mr.
Swendson desires TO be heard"
MI Swendson objected to any ques-
ton coming up while his motion was be
ing considered. and the mayor sus-
taiaed him Other counciImen got the
ficor. and the motion was not put until
It was discussed.
report Was always in order. and the
mayor agreed with him, but said that it
was an amendment and not a motion
which was being discussed
Mr.. Snattiuger said that he did not
care who was elected. but that he
wanted the man who got the most votes
declared elected. 7 have heard a great
deal Of talk since have been sitting
here and do not now know more than
! dill yesterday morning. DO not want
70 vote on this question until I know
what I am DOING
A.r Bird said that the tallies only
should count. and not the total of the
sheets He was asked a question by
Mr. Overmyer but would not answer
IT, as he said it had not bearing on the
question IN point THE question was.
IS when the tally sheet is ilegible2"
MI Swendson tried to talk the third
Time ana was called down by Mr. Aer-
gan who said twice was enough TO hear
from Mr. Swendson
Mr. Morgan said We have several pre-
cincr IN which more votes are counted
than were cast and hope every mem
Der here viii vote against the notion
Mr. Belts said that he wanted ali the
council to see the sheets. II don't believe
IN taking vote without knowing what
I am voting upon"
Mr. Warner again said that he had a
report he would like to read
Again Mr. Swendson and Mr.
Roundtree objected. but this time the
mayor said II couAQ Dc read and the
clerk read 1T. The report stated that
there was an uncertainty in several pre-
cincts and that It was impossible to tell
from the tally sheet what the vote was
but that the summary. which is made on
the last sheet OF the tally. was sworn
to by the judges and clerks and these
figures added showed that Mr.. Parker
had 6237 votes and that Mr.. Hughes re-
ceiwed 6.326 votes.
a vote was called for and resulted as
stated above.
When Mr.. Hughes voted for himself
there were boots and cries OF derision
Mr. Lerimer got the floor and said that
he had advised Mr.. Hughes to vote for
himself. It was evident from the feeling