Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1906-08-08
VOTING MACHINE
MASS MEETING.
HELD AT THE COURT HOUSE MONDAY
AFTERNOON.
COUNTY WELLREPRESENTE
Large and Enthusiastic Meeting Of Repre-.
sentative Citizens Demand Resembling
Of Action Of Board Of Supervisors
in Purchasing Voting Ma.
chimes.

determined gatherings we have ever
seen in Winneshiek county assembled
/ at the court house Monday afternoon
in response to the general call TO at
tend the mass meeting to consider the
voting machine proposition. Through
out practically the entire county the
different townships held meetings and
elected delegates to represent the
various townships in this county mass
meeting.
When the meeting was called to
order Atty. E. R. Acers was made
chairman and Atty. @. N. Houck
secretary. A committee on credentials
was appointed, consisting of N.
Willett, N. E. Ramsey and A. E.
Thune, which committee reported
after deliberation. that duly accredited
delegates were present from everv
township and precinct in the county
except Fremont, Orleans, Jackson and
Washington.
N. Willett was then appointed a
committee of one to wait upon the
Board of Supervisors in the supervisors
room below and request them to appear
before the mass meeting. They re-
ported that they would come when the
meeting was ready to receive them.
N. E. Ramsey was appointed COM
mittee to notify them that the meeting
was ready to receive them at any
time. After they had come into
the meeting, Atty. Acres stated briefly
the object of the meeting to them,
showing them petitions against the
purchase of the machines, that the
voters believed the purchase was
unauthorized, and wanted the Board
of Supervisors to rescind the contract
and notify the company by wire to
that effect, and if necessary stand a
suit for damages. Chairman Nicholson
of the Board replied that they could
do nothing at that time and place, that
the Board transacted their business in
the Supervisors room, and that they
could legally take no action there,
that they had come only to listen.
Upon request of j. Weitgenant Of
Ossian the contract for the purchase
of the machines was read
Upon motion of Dr. E. Nj. Heflen of
appointed to go TO the Supervisors
room and confer with them in regard
to making some kind of settlement,
resembling the contract and settling
with the company the best they can,
or offering to pay the company the ex-
renses they had incurred, etc. and
throw up the contract. DR.. E. NJ
Hefien, Calmar; l.. T. Fosse, Ridge
way; 0. G. Evans, Decotah; Gus
Johnson, Glenwood and o M. Selnes.
Hesper, were appointed. A recess
was taken while this committee con-
ferred with the Board, which went
into executive session. The agent of
the U. S. Voting Machine Company
was present to look after the interests
of the company.
Upon the return of the committee
they reported that while before the
Board. Supervisor B. E. Jewell of
DEBORAH presented resolution (see
resolution in official Board proceedings
in this paper) calling attention to the
alleged unconstitutionality of the law
permitting voting machines to be
used. etc. and revoking and annulling
the contract.
Upon the resolution Jewell and
Hover voted aye, Kubish, Nicholson
and Wolfenberger No, and the resolu-
tion was lost. The committee further
reported that the Board of Supervisors
said that they did not have an oppor-
tunity at this time to properly consider
the matter. consult counsel, etc., and
wanted reasonable time to act.
Several delegates from different parts
of the county spoke concerning the
matter, most of them being of the
opinion that a peaceful settlement
should be made with the company if
possible, if not. that an injunction
proceeding should be started by some
one, restraining the Board from pur-
chasing or receiving these machines.
This seemed to be the general opinion,
and accordingly committee of one
from each precinct was appointed to
raise funds to employ counsel, and to
take charge OF the matter for the
citizens of the county. The committee
is as follows:
Bluffton-Wesley Gibbs
Burr Oak-Dan Price
Calmar %. A. renold. DR.. E. NJ.
Hefen
Sumner-A. P. Anderson
Military-Judge John DeCou
Jackson-James Hoye
Highland-Nels Larsen
DEBORAH Twp. -Nels Ramsey
Glenwood-Gus Johnson
Madison-Gilbert Haugen
Bloomfield-Ed Allen
Observation-Disclosures Tweet
Hesper-H. O. Moeller
Lincoln-L. 7. Fosse
Frankville--Peter Ramsey