The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1908-04-01
ECHO OF ELECTION
in ALFALFA COUNTY
Where "COunting Oul' and
"Tampering With Bal.
lots Were Charged

@MurIeyl'
The reading clerk drawled out this
name at roll can this morning and a
now volcs was heard to answer here
from The democratic side Of the house.
This, briefly, lndidates the end Of
the long drawn out contest between
the two candidates from Alfalfa coun-
B
Murley, the democratic nominee,
claimed that he was counted out Ia
the contest OF last September but
certifcate OF election was issued to
W. II. II. Al.en, the republican candi
date who was shown on thc returns
10 have been elected BY a majority of
fhirtY seven. When The Legislature
opened Murley came to Guthrie and
5ustituted contss'. He has been q
guest NJ the Royal hotel ever since.
For several weeks after opening OF the
legislature little was heard about con
tests II WIS known That three were
pending. One between Workman and
Dixon, from Okfuskee county. was
settled by the republican Withdrawing
and leaving Workman in peaceful pos
session Another between Evans and
OMealey, from The GrantAlfalfa dis
trict, was settled IN favor o. Evans.
the republican.
AS the days went by Mnrley grew
more and more insistent E3idence
was submitted before the committee
on privileges and elections and finally
the committee decided or a recount of
the entire county. though Murleg hRl
asked a recount on ontN five townships.
Tine refusal OF County CLERK kinche-
loe TO give up the ballots and the eN-
citing occlirenees incident hereto, are
matters OF too recent history 10 re-
quire "A repetition The ballots were
recognted, but The committee report
did not reach the house untll Monday.
When IL did "a storm broke loose, and
the ground IS stl wet with the mois-
tire Incidental 10 that great tempest
a majority report OF the committee
stated that Mgrley was properly elec-
ted and that the recount showed a
safe majority rsr him. II also recon-
mended that he be seated The min.
ority report was exastly opposite Ia
its statements and recommendations
Chappei, OF Logan county. presented
the case before The house for Mr. Al
len He had IN his possession some
anidayits from members % he eleo
tion board Ia Allne precinct. one of the
disputed precincts, Which he desired
10 read in connection with his argu
ment Tnis proposal raised an argu
ment which took up the greater por.
ticn OF the session OF Monday after
noon, ana was still pending when the
matter was again called up yesterday
afternoon. TillOtson had moved that
chappel be allowed TO read these afl
daYts. and his motion was carried af.
ter a long parliamentary squable, Van
deyenter moved 10 reconsider and his
motion was pending ai the time OF ad.
iournment Yesterday afternoon he
Withdrew HE motion 20 reconsider aud
Chapel proceeded with his argument.
dsring the course of which he read
fAe much discussed afiidayits
GAappel. ~ his srgssnca' sall that
ID anN ease the recount would give
klleu majority OF ten votes There
was no eyideHce. he said. In the MAJ
jOfiiy report except that taken before
Murray during his trip to Cher3kea.
He stated that the evidence taken be-
tore the committee had not been tran
fcribed aud submitted to The house.
ana that the only evidence was the
opinion OF the committee IN its majori-
~ report he again cited some law
ala read from q number of aiiidavits.
Among these was one from n + Ford
who WAS Inspector Of the election n
Aiine precinct on September IT, II
cited the vote and said that Allen
received 81 and Murley only 80, The
affidavit set forth that If any change
hsd hecn made ia the ballots on re-
liiras lt had been made since they
llad been deposited with the county
al srk Chappel admitted that the bali
lois had been tamnored with, thoagh
lss whom he could not pretend 10 say
Otner aiiidayits 20 the same effect
were read. among them one from =. g.
Thomas, c;erk, and j. L. Watkins,
Judge at Aline precinct They also
ssiea tbai the ballots and poll books
clrrcFnonded
rlh0tton nov moved tlnf the cp.
fe cWtest be recommitted 20 the
cmmiuee GA privileges and eiactiolis
fad ihaf they be- Instructed 60 take
f1ther testimony n necessary, have
ana fsnsmit It With their report and
accommodations 20 the house
Mnrray siztad that dauinG the uoon
fenf 4 rumof had been circriaed a.
le encct that the contest was 70 be
nmliied and smother-d in the
ee
fl|ol promptly disclaimed ans
fnrA Aoilfe ana niatad That be Uut
Nlllas IA his loiion 20 limit the time