The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-06-28
Writes Letter to Hon. D. H.
Mays, Proposing Means
of Settlement.
SAYS THROW OUT
IRREGULAR BALLOTS
Proposes That the Remand
er of the Votes Cast be
Apportioned as the Legal
Number Cast Shows-He
Firmly Believes He Has
Been Elected.

Hon. J. Walter Kehoe has made a
proposition 10 Hon. Dannitte II. Mays
regarding the mode of settlement in
the counties where alleged ir-
reguIarities occurred in the recent
primary in which these two gentle
men We're candidates for congress.
Should the proposition be accepted
by Mr.. Mays il will pave the way for
a quicker and perhaps more satissac-
tory settlement of the contests which
are to be brought before the congress
siOnal committee.
Yesterday when Mr.. Kehoe learned
that the congressional committee had
adjourned without taking UP the
canvas sing of the vote. he addressed
the following letter to Mr.. Mays:
The Letter.
Pensacola, Fla. June 81, 1903.
Hon. Dannette II. Mays, Monticello,
Fla.
Dear Sir:-I am advised through
various apparently authentic sources
that in many precincts in certain
counties in the Bird Congressional dis
trict, large numbers of persons, who
we're not qualified electors, voted for
the candidates for Congress in the
Democratic primary held on the 18th
day of June last, and that in making
up the returns from these precincts.
these Illegal votes were received and
canvassed together with the legal
votes, while in other counties, there
WAS. as i am advised. a rigid sa-
herence to the primary election law.
and that no person was allowed to
vote in these last mentioned counties
who was not a qualified elector under
said law.
l am informed that in several pre-
cincts in a few counties, the prOVi-
sion of the primary election law pro-
hibiting persons from voting who aTs
not by the laws of the state lawful
electors, and who have not paid their
poll taxes, as required by the primary
election law, has been utterly ignored
and that large numbers of persons
in these precincts were permitted to
vote who did not appear on the regis
tration list for these precincts as
qualified electors.
The correctness of this information
has been established as TO a few pre-
cincts giving large majorities against
me. by comparison of a certain
copy of the registration lists of
canvassing boards. For instance. in
one of these precincts it appears from
the certified copy of the registration
list, that there We're but sfxty-one
persons qualified TO vote at said cleo
ton. whereas the returns, as Official
ly canvassed. show that ninety-foHr
persons actually voted. and a like
comparison in a few other precincts
where sufficient data was obtainable
to enable a comparison. show a like
condition.
II has been reported TO me that this
lis the prevailing condition In some
of the counties where there were ma
jorities against me In two Of thess
counties. I. through my representa-
tives, made application TO the custo
dams of the poll lists for a copy OF
same. but my request was refused.
Compare Poll Lists.
InaSmuch as the truth or falsity Of
these charges can readily be deter
mined by a comparison OF the poll list
kept at any particular precinct with
the registrat ton list of such precinct,
I beg to propose to You that We eacn
designate such precincts at which we
may have reason To- think that pr
sons voted who did not appear up8n
tors, and that we join in a request 10
the Democratic Executive Congress
sional Committee for this district 20
make the comparison suggested in
any and all precincts so designated
by either of US. and that whenever
and wherever IL shall be discovered
that such Illegal votes have been cast
in any precinct for the congressional
candidates at said election with tho
connivance and consent of the fnspcc.
tors of such precincts that then and
in that event. said committee do
purge the polls of such precincts by
rejecting therefrom all Illegal votes
and that the votes cast for each can
didate for Congress at such precincts
in said election do be diminished by
rejecting from the votes received b.
each at such precincts such a proper
ton OF the Illegal votes cast in said
precinct for Congressman, as the
number OF votes received in said pre-
cinct by him bears TO the total num-
Der of votes cast in said precinct ar
SAID election, and that whenever aad
wherever it shall appear that Illegal
votes have been cast in any precinct.
so designated with the connivanCe,
(Continued On Pade Ei1ai