The Saint Paul globe., 1904-03-17
KRAMER DENIES
He MADE A MISTAKE
County Auditor Declares He
Doesn't Care Who Questions
Wisdom of His Course.

In his own opinion E. G. Krahmer, the
county auditor. did no wrong in failing to
supply enough Democratic ballots for the
fifteen precincts, an account OF which ap-
peared in Wednesdays G o b e.
The state law provides that the county
auditor shall prepare and have printed
ballots 25 per cent in excess of the total
vote at the last preceding election. Bal
lots apparently sufficient in number were
printed, but in dividing them the county
auditor failed to give enough Democratic
ballots to the fifteen precincts.
When seen by T G o e Mr.. Krah-
mer took the responsibility upon his own
shoulders, saying positively that the di-
vision of the ballots was made on his or
der, and that if there is anything wrong,
which he contends is not the case, ne
and not the employees of the office, is to
blame.
"Hod did this occur?' he was asked.
There is nothing to it, was the an
swer. 1.-THE city clerk was furnished with
plenty of additional ballots and it was
his duty to distribute them when they
were called for"
Were not some voters prevented from
exercising the franchise because of the
shortag of ballots?'
Defies Any Man to Show Him.
al defy any man to show me voter
who could not have had ballot promptly.
There were plenty Of ballots in the city
clerks Office
"On what vote did you base the issu-
ance of the ballots?'
ION the fall election of 1902"
"On the vote for what persons?'
ST decline to answer that question. This
whole affair is so silly that 1 do not care
to answer the charges
But the presumption is that you pur-
poSely sighted the Democrats because of
yOlIr DartiSan feelinp?''
No man who knows me would think
such thing. provided ballots accord
ing to what 1 thought would be needed,
based upon the vote at the last preced-
ing election. 1 have not given this mat
ter much thought as yet but 1 believe
that the reason the ballots were exhausted
was due to the fact that there was an
unexpectedly heavy Democratic vote in
the precincts where the ballots ran out"
But, MIR. Krahmer. will you not tell
the public the method by which you fig
ured the number of ballots that would be
needed by the various precincts?'
For answer Mr.. Krahmer turned to his
desk and picked up a paper containing
a tabulated statement of the first days
registration for the fall election. explain
ing that he thought this the best index
to the situation that could be secured, and
pointed out that he had given ballots 25s
per cent In excess of the registration in
question.
But does not the law provide that the
basis of allowance shall be on the vote
at the general election?" he was asked
Doesn't Care Who Objects
81 took this for a guide, am responsible
for having done so, and don't care who
questions the wisdom of my course.
Enough ballots were printed and were in
the possession of the city clerk, and If
they were not promptly and properly de-
txITc,c. For 1f vii, T -+@,,,
willing to shoulder the blame that at
taches to me, even if should make a
mistake, but object to having the guilty
party, if there be one in fact shoulder his
faults me. Those additional ballots
could have been delivered to any of the
precincts in fifteen minutes if the city
clerk had been prompt"
'You contend. then, that you did not
intend to deny the Democrats sufficient
ballots to carry on the primary?''
"Of course I did not. 1t would be fool
ish to do such a thing Why, when a
man comes into this Office looking for in
formation / do not stop to consider
whether he is Republican or a Demo-
crat, but attend to his wants. In fact,
the matter is not worthy of discussion
AS Mr. Krahmer states the ballots were
prepared in parcels for the different pre-
cincts, turned over to the city clerk, who
in turn gave them to one of the judges
of election. The parcels were turned over
to the judges just as they came from the
auditor The auditor. as he states. fur
nshed additional ballots to the city clerk
for the various wards, but the complaint
comes from the fact that not enough
Democratic ballots were furnished in the
first lot
May Refuse Auditors Demand
City Clerk Redington is hourly expecting
the county auditor to make formal de-
nand for the additional ballots that re-
main on hand. 1t is giveaA out that Mr..
Krahmer will not be giver4p possession of
the ballots for the present at least, and
it is claimed that he may find, if he con-
suits an attorney, that he has no right to
any further possession Of the ballots.
Although Auditor Krahmer treated the
matter lightly when interviewed, his other
actions indicate that he realizes that there
is a serious side to the question. This was
demonstrated yesterday morning, when
the city clerk was in the Office of the
county auditor. Mr.. Redington was en-
gagged in conversation with Charles E.
Keller, the deputy auditor, when Mr..
Krahmer came in. Walking up to Mr..
Keller Mr.. Krahmer said in not too
pleasant tone:
"If there is any talking to do, I will
do it."
After which he went to his private of
fee. This and other straWs have led to
the belief about the court house that the
not on the best terms personally.
The Second, Third, Fourth and Eighth
ward Democrats are angry because of the
alleged slight by the auditor, and assert
that he will hear from the affair If he
should come up for reelection.
City Clerk Redington's Version.
Chief Clerk Redington, when seen
last evening, entered q decided objec-
tion to the statement of Auditor Krah-
mer, that if there was any delay in the
voting it was due to negligence of the
city clerk.
Il am not anxious to quarrel with
Krahmer, but when he says that my
Office was to blame in the matter,
object. Most of the calls for extra bal
lots came late in the afternoon and
several between the hours Of and g.
] delivered some Of the ballots myself,
and was compelled to use an alderman
for a messenger to get the ballots to
the booths within a reasonable time"
Asked for corrected version Of the
Krahmer-Keller episode, Mr.. Reding-
ton said:
II was standing talking to Keller
about election matters, but not about
the ballots, when Krahmer came In,
apparently very much excited. Krah-
mer walked quickly to his private Of
fee and took off his coat. Coming
back, he walked UP to Keller and said
something about shutting up and