Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-02-16


at the head of his ticket and placed a
cross in the bracket opposite McCas-
krin's name gave the latter three
voters. Under this ruling McCaskrin
was elected by a majority in the dis
trict of several hundred votes. But
Mr.. Stead instructed the election com
mittee, before the beginning of the re-
count, that where a republican mark
ed the circle at the head OF his ticket
and placed a cross in the McCaskrin
bracket he gave one and one-half votes
to the latter, and none to the republi-
can candidates, unless he specified
which one he preferred to ballot for.
Since three votes" was printed after
the name of the democratic candidate
Mr.. Stead ruled that the democrat who
marked the circle at the head OF his
party ticket and crossed the square be-
side the name of McCaskrin manifestly
he meant to give the independent three
votes, and they should be so counted
The same rule, he held, should apply
where the prohibitionist voted after
the same fashion. But where the So
cialist marked the McCaskrin square.
the attorney general ruled there should
De equal division OF the votes between
the socialist and Independent candi-
dates, for the reason that the number
of votes each was entitled % was not
printed after their names. Under the
Hamiin opinion the election judges as
sumed that the socialist who marked
the McCaskrin square intended three
votes for him. and in most cases they
we're SO counted.
McCaskrIn Asked for Witnesses.
The proceedings before the subcom
mittee of the house election committee
yesterday were devoted to the hearing
# the testimony of with esses summon
ed from the cities of Rock Island and
Moline. The privilege of summoning
witnesses to prove the circulation OF
he Hamlin opinion was asked by Mr..
McCaskrin. Each side was limited 90
six witnesses. Tho &c vho were placed
IN the stand during me afternoon were
J. K. Brandenburg. of the Rock Island
Union; John Sundine, of the Moline
Dispatch; w. r. Moore. of Moline;
Nd. L. V. Eckhart, of Rock Island
AID. John p Sexton. of Rock island,
and J. NJ CoiIigan. of the Rock Island
Argus.
Mr. McCaskrin sought to establish
hat there was great confusion among
he voters, especially those desiring TO
support him. as to how they should
mark their ballots and be sure they
would be counted as they wished. He
said the opinion of the attorney gen
eral was not solicited by him and
was published in the newspapers of the
titles of Rock Island and Moline on
lay when he was campaigning in the
southern part of the district. He made |
the point that the great majority OF
he voters read that opinion and were |
suided by its provisions when they en- |
tered the booth on election day. Those |
who did not read it in the newspapers |
ne proved by some of his witnesses, |
saw it posted at the polling places on |
election day. Judge Monroe, of Spring |
ield. is appearing as attorney for Mr.. |
McCaskrin. Hon William McEniry, |
of Rock Island. is counsel for Mr. |
Cooke Mr.. McEniry objected to the
consideration by the committee of the |
testimony offered by the contestee, and |
vill move that it be stricken when the |
-oport is made to the full committee. |
However. Mr.. McEniry cross-examined |
he McCaskrin witnesses, and in the |
2vening had six testify TO dis
rove the claim of the contestee that
nc Hamlin opinion was as generally |
as he sought to repI esent
t had been Mr.. McEniry had sum
noned as witnesses, f. b. McKeever,
If the Moline Mail; T. l. Stanley, of
the Moline Journal; Val. J. Peter. OF
The the Rock Island Volks-Zeitung
l. c. Berry. of the Tri-City Unionist
Siemon of Rock Island. and
others.
Eckhart star Witness.
The star witnesses for Mr.. McCask-
rim in the afternoon were Aid. Eckhart
and Air. Moore. Aid Eckhart believed
hose who voted for McCaskrin intend
cd that he should have their three
votes. He knew that among the shop !
men of the city. of which he was one
had large following. an
le had heard them talk before and ar
ter the announcement of the HamilT
ruling. and he could not see how the
intent of the voter who marked the
square could be questioned
Although Aid. Eckhart said he was a
he had attended several of
the McCaskrin meetings. at which he
heard the candidate explain how to
mark the ballot in order 10 ~'-e hir
three votes. Aid. Eckhart also saw
the posters bearing the Hamlin opin-
ion and a picture of McCaskrin thac
were tackled near the polling places or
election day When Judge Monroe
held up one of the posters 10 have I'll"
witness identify it Aid. Eckhart said,
Yes. indeed ! saw il. I saw a number
Of them. I could recognize what they |
wore 4 half mic away without the aid |