The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1905-02-25
ELECTION
CONTEST
Committee Hearing
On haWaii's
Case.
Continued from Yesterday
(Conclusion)

| Mr.. Kalanianaole. But you could if
| you wanted to?
| Mr.. Atkinson. The Governor can
Mr.. Miller. Suppose that the law
was as it is there and as it is in many
| of your States, and yet on all of the
! ballots sent out there was, in pencil
| a certain number put, say 20, on each
| ballot; but before these ballots went
| into the box the judges or the inspec-
/ tors Of the election erased that 20
| from the ballot Would that make it
an illegal ballot simply because it had
a distinguishing mark on it when it
came from the printer? If that
! would not make it an illegal ballot.
neither would this, even though he put
number on which was not in con-
i formity with the law, which number
was taken off before it was voted, so
that when the ballot was counted there
would be no distinguishing mark on
the ballot.
Mr.. Mcclellan. As matter of fact.
in all the cases where the numbered
ballots We're put in by mistake in the
ballot boxes 1 understand that the
judges. because the matter was brought
to their attention before the closing of
the polls. before any ballots were
counted, removed all numbers, before
any ballots were counted, so that 1 I'M
derstand there is no dispute on the
part of the compliments that any
numbered ballots We're counted. Is not
that correct Mr.. Secretary?
Mr.. Atkinson. I do not know.
Mr.. Mcclellan. That is my under
standing
Mr.. Atkinson. All of this matter
came up the day after L left. left
the day after the election on some
national business, and I have not heard
the thing discussed in it's details.
Mr.. Miller. I am speaking OF your
idea. It seems to me that the practical
test is that it is means of identifiC a
ton of that ballot. Can you identify
that ballot? If you can, it is fraudu-
lent, and it is wrong; and if you can
not identify it, it is all right.
Mr.. Weems. There is means of
Identification when it is handed back
to the election officials, and if they
tear it off there is not any after it goes
into the box.
Mr.. Mcclellan. think it is only fair
to state that this election. as the com .
ments in all the papers show, was the
most orderly election that has been
held in the Territory since its organ !
ization as a Territory. I have been
there and voted in every election since
the annexation, and this, it seems TO
me, was much the most orderly cleo
ton that has been held there. There
are no charges of any stuffed ballot
boxes There have been one or two
charges in one or two precincts in pre-
vfous elections. but. as I understand it,
there are no charges in any precinct in
n inc of hat
this time, and it was a thoroughly we'll
conducted election.
The Chairman. How many precincts
are there?
Mr.. Miller. There seem to be 54.
The Chairman. In the entire Terri
tory?
Mr.. Atkinson. Yes. sir.
The Chairman. Only "a?
Mr. Atkinson. Yes, sir.
The Chairman. Election precincts?
Mr.. Atkinson. Yes, sir.
We have had previous trouble in
counting. A county was thrown out.
There was a scalawag down there be
fore my time, an inspector of cleo
tions, who played a number of tricks.
One of those he played was that he
would get a ballot to count it, and he
would tear it down in that way Gin
dica tine). and then he would say
Here. that is a bad ballot, and that
was thrown out. 1 made it boast
that 1 was going to give them square
deal in spite of anything, and yet here
thew are going to charge fraud against
me the first thing.
Here is something that I did not
bring out. We are compelled by law
10 appoint members of the opposing
Of aIa
hat the parties are all represented
The Chairman How many election
officers are there in each precinct?
Mr.. Atkinson. Three.
The Chairman. Two inspectors and
/ judge?
Judges Of election.
The Chairman. one at least must be
ong to party different from the 9th
II two?
Mr. Atkinson. Now, sou take the
4awaiians down there, and I had the t
greatest trouble in appointing them I
rhey will change their party you
know. They are appointed for -FOUR I
ears. They hang over from one time a
q another. The majority that served 7
n this election were appointed by our I
,radecessors. The Governor had the T
.ppointing of them. but in some cases
hey were all hold overs. and they y
you'd change their politics, come up
,ublicIv and join the other party we
we're I'D against it then. you know.
Mr. Miller. Suppose in this case we
,ad not anything to do with this mat
err. and there was a contest III lIe
ext Congress and We were on the COM
1fttee and we had those ballots mere
nd counted them; how could We HHu
nv Distinguishing mark OF any h'lIu
N the ballots that would JuslltE Us
n throwing out any OF thehi' II lIe9e {
II have been removed?
IT, chairman. You probably would
o+ find any: but the question would :
hon come up whether the ballots when
,a1da5 n the voter, when marked by
lin, had some devices on them PROM
- - the act of Congress. That IS ,