New-York tribune., 1902-03-17

discover the facts and satisfy the people We
would be satisfied to have another election for
Mayor ordered by the courts, on the ground OF
illegaties in the November election 1 have
no doubt that another election would result in
the overwhelming defeat of Mayor Fiske.
AT the time of the election in November the
voters of the city were slow believe that there
had been such an enormous increase in the
city's debt in Mayor Fiskes administration as
has been shown since the election. The feeling
of Indignation about the state of the city's
finances is so great at present that DR.. Brush
probably would have almost a walkover in an
election. Mayor Fiske undoubtedly received
large number OF Republican votes because he
has made himself popular by grahting favors
and forming pleasant social relations. Many
Republicans undoubtedly voted for him purely
for friendly reasons, unwilling to believe that
his administration had burdened the city with
such large debt.
II began the suit for recount of the votes in
Mayor Fiske's own district. representing the Re-
publican organization of the city. DR.. Brush
absent at the time. When he returned and
learned more about the situation he began pro-
ceedings for a recount of votes in several Gis
tricts. If there is judicial recount of the votes
we believe that it will show that DR.. Brush was
legally elected"
one of the districts in which DR.. Brush has
asked for recount of votes is the First Elec-
ton District of the First Ward. His application
declares that one vote in that district
marked as void by the election officers. but later
was returned to the ballot box and counted for
Fiske. He asserts also that the return of the
election officers gives 431 ballots voted, with the
statement that there were 227 votes for Brush,
1875 votes for Fiske. 8 blank ballots and void
ballots, or 42S, so that 3 ballots remain unac-
counted for. Alpheus p Guion. who watched
had
that IT was made by the light of a candle.
The splits" he swears, were read by Robert
Foreman, one of the Democratic inspectors, who
held up the ballots to where the light of
candle fell them, and where only one other
could them by looking over his shoul-
der. The tally kept upon his calling off the
splits Several mistakes were complained of by
a watcher for the Prohibition party, who so
overlooked Ats ~Nsdng. The person keeping
tally said he couldn't keep UP with him
In three districts Of the Fourth Ward re-
count Of votes was asked for by Dr.. Brush on
the ground of similar irregularities. The tally
sheets fail to account for all the ballots said
to have been cast. In district there were
thirteen votes declared to be void, but all the
votes cast are not accounted for in the return
In another district the return showed four
blank ballots. while the tally sheet showed only
one blank ballot, and the ballot clerks record
ed one less than the number of ballots found
in the box by the inspectors. J. II. Jones. presi-
dent Of the Republican organization in the
Fourth Ward, has expressed belief that there
were many errors in the count in the ward
Il believe" Mr.. Jones said yesterday. that
DR.. Brush was robbed Of the election by errors
in the count. We have not made accusations
of fraud. and I doubt If fraud was intended by
the election officers. The fact is however, that
men are appointed to positions ballot clerks
and poll clerks, not because they experts,
but because they are political workers in need
Of jobs. 1t is not surprising that they make mis-
takes in the count Of the votes. In the First
Election District Of the Second Ward there
was an apparent difference of sixteen in ballots
voted and ballots counted. With such a dis
crepancy in the count OF the ballots alone, II IL
quite possible that there were enough errors in
the count of the votes for Mayor 70 give 70
Fiske his narrow majority Of 20 votes.
In other districts believe there were more
errors If there is a judicial and correct re
count Of the votes in all the districts believe
DR.. Brush Will be found TO be elected. In the
Second Election District oF the Fourth Ward
there a long delay on the morning or the
election, because a Democratic clerk could not
perform his duties properly. There was a long
line of men who had business In New-fork TO
attend 10 and wanted to catch trains. At length
the clerk was induced to resign, and an old
man put in his place The old man tried
to keep a tally sheet when the votes were
counted. and he was obliged to take his figures
from another clerk. There was no check against
errors in that case. We have heard OF other
cases in which tts- v As apSArsnt inability or
the clerks TO CORE pCrsibIs "fstakes in the
count.
The attitude of the Democrats IN opposing
recount of the votes ia an indication that they
well as the Republicans believe that re
count would show the election Of DR.. Brush.
think the belief that DR.. Brush was defeated ly
errors Is general in Mount Vernon. IT would
satisfy most people if there either
count or another election for Mayor In the
Fourth Ward the Republican alderman
elected with plurality of only six votes. There
has been talk of a contest in the courts by the
Democratic candidate. No such contest has
been begun, however and that is another indi
cation that the Democrats are afraid of a re-
count of the votes"
Edgar SlausOn, a member Of the executive
committee Of the Republican City Committee.
declared yesterday that he not sanguine
about the result Of a recount Of the vote for
Mayor. Il believe" he said that too many
Republicans voted for Fiske because they did not
want Dr. Brush 10 get too much power in the
organization DR.. Brush has been opposed to
the leader Of the organization in Mount Vernon.
Senator Mills. I am inclined to believe that the
fight for a recount of votes is being made
bluff by the very men who did most to defeat
DIR. Brush"
we fought the application for a recount Of
the votes, acting for Mayor Fiske, said yester
day that the decision Of the Appellate Division
of the Supreme Court for a recount in the FIRST
Election District of the Second Ward did not
mean that there was 10 be a recanvass off the
votes In the district. The decision. he said lis
that there shall be another count OF the ballots
in the box TO ascertain If there are more ballots
there than the number stated by the inspectors.
The inspectors said there were 49, ballots cast,
and Ave were declared void and placed in a sep
arate envelope. The ballot clerks said there
4S4 ballots cast II the inspectors were
correct there should be Al ballots remaining in
the box hut if the clerks were right there may
be 40 If the recount shows that there are only
All ballots the box. then the contention of the
Republican rs fails and there is end 10 the
contest. If there are more than that number in
the box. then the court orders that there shall
be another canvass Of the ballots.
why have the Democrats opposed the re-
count Of the votes?' Mr. Sinnott asked
We'll" he replied. we offered to have a re-
count of the ballots ballots, to decide II there
had a the Z,