Albuquerque morning journal., 1907-02-11
DELEGATE CONTEST
ASSUMING LARGE
PROPORTIONS
Testimony Being Taken in Sew
eraI Counties, Which, While
Only Half Completed, is All
ready VoluminouS,

In so far as the introduction of tes-
timony Is concerned, the contest in
stituted by the democratic organiza-
iion of New Mexico in behalf of o. A.
LarraZOlo. its candidate for congress,
against Delegate w. H. Andrews, is
assuming large proportions. Entered
into by attorneys for the republican
candidate now holding the certificate.
as something Of joke, the contest has
become a very serious matter, involv
ing the taking of testimony in at least
five counties of New Mexico and in
GLIDING number of witnesses so large
as to be almost staggering.
Attorneys f.. w. Dobson and T. n.
Wilkerson, engaged by the republican
organization to look after the interests
of Andrews. returned to Albuquerque
yesterday. the one from Las Vegas,
the other from Belen. where the TAX
ing of testimony has been under way.
The testimony in San Miguel county
did not proceed very far for when the
court reached the ballot boxes, the
county clerk. acting on the advice of
the district attorney. refused to de-
liver them to the court. thus stopping
the hearing, 1t is understood that
steps may be taken to force the clerk
to allow these ballot boxes to be
opened under proper precautions in
OIuti lHdL lDe cNlhtHNt ulltEth " fDN
contained therein may become availa-
BILE
The other attorney, Mr.. Wilkerson,
returned from Belen, where the Va
lencia county testimony has been and
is still being taken. Attorneys Sum-
mers Burkhart and E. V. Chaves APP
peared there for the democrats The
contestants base much of their case
against the showing they claim they
will be able to make in Valencia
county Much has been said of ir-
regularities there and one democratic
newspaper has told story of the vo-
ting Of the people of one precinct in
alphabetical order. Whether this will
be produced in the Valencia county
evidence, remains to be seen. The
charge made by this democratic news
paper. the Santa Fe Eagle is interest
ing. 1t is as follows:
One of the most peculiar things that
hanpened at the late elections. and
which rather takes the palm away
from fatigue precinct in Torrance
county happened down in Valencia
county where they believe in 16 to /,
that is to say 16 republicans to one
democrat. The ratio used to be higher,
only two years ago it was 900 to /,
but the county has brick school
school house now and is otherwise
showing SIGNS of reform, including an
increased democratic vote.
One of the precincts has not re-
formed That is precinct No. 23 and
is known as Bibo precinct. Tt appears
from the returns that there were SO
votes cast in that precinct and that
there were 50 votes counted for An
dreWs. LarraZolo got nothing and
there were no tallies in the book TO
show that any votes had been counted.
SO far this precinct is on a par with
Tajlque, in Torrance county. 1t will
be remembered in passing that Tajique
was once in Valencia county and had
had the benefit of a schooling in Va
lencia methods. but Tajique never got
50 far as precinct No. 23 in Valencia
county. There the voters were accom-
modating enough to present them
selves in alphabetical order to vote at
the late election. The poll book COM
mences with the AS and runs down
through the alphabet like the names
in a directory.
Ii is not to be supposed for an in
stant that these names were copied of
the registration list and voted by
proxy. Perish the thought! The only
explanation is that SO voters of that
precinct gathered at the polls and
then. after having arranged them
selves in alphabetical order, proceeded
to cast their ballots in order that the
poll books might show the names
nicely arranged i'm alphabetical order
The system should be adopted more
generally. The arrangement of the
poll book in alphabetical order Is
much better than the old hap-hazaro
manner of putting the names in just al
happens. Bibo precinct Is undoubtedly
entitled to the blue ribbon this year