The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-11-07
They Allege Defective Republican
Ballots Were Counted and Inn
mediately Burned.
STATEMENT OF THE CHAIRMAN
ODELL'S PLURALITY PUT AT 0,122 BY
FRANK CAMPBELL.
Latest Returns from Other States
Mr.. Overstreet's Estimate ON the
Next Congress.

NEW YORK, Nov. 6.-Chairman Frank
Campbell, of the Democratic state COM
mittee, Secretary John A. Mason and FL
lott Danforth were in conference this ev-
ening. Mr.. Campbell afterward issued the
following statement of the position Of the
state committee on the results of the cleo
ton:
After having carefully examined the re-
turns gathered by John A. Mason sec
retary of the Democratic state committee.
as filed in the offices of the county clerks
throughout the State, 1t appears on the
face of the returns that Mr.. OdeIl has a
plurality of 9.122. These figures do not in
clude in some Of the counties the vote
cast by the greater New York Democracy
ticket, which has on 1t the name of Bird
S. Coler for Governor. This will mater
tally reduce this apparent plurality.
1--WE claim the election by q safe ma
jority of John Cunneen as attorney gen.
eral and the return of John Clinton Gray
of the Court of Appeals.
I'VE have reliable information Of thou
sands of defective ballots having been cast
and in certain districts where the returns
were strongly Republican the ballots were
burned by the inspectors Immediately after
they were counted, which is a direct viola
tion of law. as they should be kept six
months by the proper officials before they
should be destroyed. These facts and all
others will be thoroughly investigated by
representatives Of the party, who will ap-
pear before the canvassing boards in all
the counties of the State on next Tuesday
to see that an honest count is had, and
until that time the actual result cannot
be stated"
above statement. The dismantling of the
state headquarters followed soon after the
issuance of the statement.
John A Mason. secretary of the Demo-
cratic state committee. said earlier in the
day: There Is nothing new to add to our
position. We neither concede nor claim,
anything We are receiving the official re-
turns gradually. Until we know something
of the officials we cannot say a word There
are circumstances connected with the cleo
ton that we are now looking into that we
may not be through with when we have the
full returns in.
What are the circumstances? Mr.. Ma
son was asked.
well. the matter Of defective ballots and
protests and some others that / am not
ready to mention If the Official returns
iustified our suspicious said Mr. Mason
1--WE would 60 before the county canvassers
I'm counties up the State when they meet
on Tuesday next: the next step would be
to appeal TO the State board of canvassers
IL we considered that justice was not beine
done us. and after that we would have to
90 to the courts. OF course, / am not saw.
ing that We will have TO do this THAI
is only the modus operandf IL we are justi.
fed in making contest.
bird 8. Coler. the recent Democratic can.
didate for Governor. has sent a letter OF
thanks to Charles +. Murphy. leader OF
Tammany Hall. The letter follows: AAc.
cent nv sincere thanks for the effort pu,
forth by the Tammany Hall organization
and for the splendid results achieved
shau always feel that the interests OF
the uarty are fully protected In the hands
~ an organization that Ii at the present
time keeping in such close touch with ths
terests. Again thanking and congratllatfna