Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-04-09
RECOUNT IN CHICAGO
Friends of Stewart Think Har-
rison's Election Was Sc
cured by Fraud
THE VOTES TO BE REcouNTED
If Evidence Warrants Contest May
Be Started With View to Annulins
Harri.on's EIection-New Argument
for the Voting Machine-Would
Prevent Fraud in Count.

for the Voting Machine-Would
Prevent Fraud in Count.
Chicago, April e.-Jonn ]. Boehm,
democratic candidate or city clerk,
learned yesterday, by going over the
police returns from the various pre-
cincts, that he has been defeated on the
face of the returns by Fred c. Bender,
the republican candidate, by but 4s2
votes. He said at once that he would
demand recount of the ballots.
The first police returns gave Bender a
plurality of 3,772 votes. Boehm and his
friends went over the reports yesterday
and discovered number of errors in
addition. But in discovering several
they made several, and fer a time they
figured that the returns showed Boehm
elected by majority ever Bender OF
l,O4l votes. Boehm's friends did some
more adding, and found That the figures
showed that Bender had received 1885,
244 votes, while the democratic candi-
date had 135,752.
If Boehm makes contest, 1t IS
deemed likely that the entire vote will
be recounted by the election commits
sionsrs. Some of Graeme Stewards
friends assert that a recount will show
his election. A recount for all candi-
dates will cost little more than re-
count for one. If Boehl1 has the bal
lots checked over, certain friends OF
Mr.. Stewart will have the mayoralty
vote rechecked, If for nothing more
than the satisfaction of knowing that
their candidate was not counted out.
The police returns are the returns
made by policemen to tbs election COM
missioners. These policemen are sta
toned In the polling places, and as soon
as the vote is counted The judges and
clerks fill out blank for them and
they hasten with this to the city hall.
The reliability of these returns is
questioned by different persons, but
they are found, as rule, to be nearly
correct.
Canvass Begins.
The election commissioners will can
yass the returns this morning. This is
done by checking over The tally sheets
used by the judges and clerks OF cleo
ton In counting the vote. The canvass
may develop changes. It will
probably demonstrate whether glaring
frauds were practiced. Recounting the
ballots means the unsea.ing of the en-
yelopes in which the ballots are placed
by the judges and clerks, and checking
over each of the SO9,546 votes cast in
the city election.
Few of the men who took Leading
parts In the management OF Mr.. Stew
arts campaign could be found yester-
day. The candidate himself went to
French Lick Springs for rest. Chair
man Revell, OF the Stewart campaign
committee, went away Cor a rest, and
others have sought spots of seclusion
from the political world and It's strife
No one would speak officially on the
subject Of contest by Mr.. Stewart
The leaders Will watch the vote canvass
with interest, and IL any frauds are
discovered prompt action to secure
recount will be taken.
Favor Voting Machine.
The charges Of frauds in the election
count gave rise to an agitation for the
voting machines, 1t being asserted that
frauds are not possible with the ma
chine in use. Other advantages of the
voting machine are urged. A bill al
lowing the use Of the machine is now
pending before the legislature.
Judge Carter declares himself in ia
vor OF the use of the voting machine.
.In spite Of all the laws we can pass
and all the care we can take In select
ing election officials, we can not get
men who will count the ballots correct
lly." he said. 81 hope the legislature
will pass a law, authorizing the use OF
machines, so that we can begin to In
troduce them for the purpose Of testing
their merits.
.srhe voting machine has been In use
in Buffalo and Rochester, N. Y. for
several years. and they have been
success. They are beginning to intro
duce them in Greater New York. MIL
waukee has recently been testing the
machines, and will use them in future,
III am told.
TT machine has been invented thai
will not break down. 1t certainly would
greatly improve the present system OF
counting the ballots. They would in
sure accuracy, and give us quick re-
suits. 1 am told that in Buffalo the
result OF vote can be ascertained
within an hour after the polls are
closed"
"The only way we. can get men who
can count the ballots is to train them
to it," said Chief Clerk Powell. of the
board of election commissioners. 1T Is
astonishing the amount of ignorance
that is displayed by intelligent men. IN
counting the ballots. The questions we
are called on to answer ON election day
would astonish us If asked by a 10
year-old schoolboy. Machines would
record the intention Of the voter and
save us an immense expense in re-
counting ballots and making the cam
vass of votes"