Bisbee daily review. [volume] (Bisbee, Ariz.) 1901-1971, 1908-11-19
CONTEST IDEA
NOT HARBORED
BY LEADERS
Neither Side Likely to Ask Re-
count or Inquiry Into Votes,
and Nobody Thinks Fraud
Was Committed.

There Is plenty OF indefinite talk
about contests in the air these days,
but investigation leads one to believe
that there is not going to be any con.
test of the recent election in Cocaise
county. Both sides have been saying
something along these lines, but Chair
man Gardner, of the Republican coun-
| ty central committee, in a special t.
the Review, is reported TO have said
| that there would be no contest OIL
the Republican side, and he ought to
know The Review several days age
quoted a number of the Leading Demo
Gratis in the camp to the effect that
SO far as they knew there would be
no contest. There never has been the
least intimation on the part of tae
Democratic press or leaders to the eff
sect that charges of fraud would be
made.
A wel[known Democrat who has
been closely in touch with the coun-
ellis of the party, when asked about
J. I. Wilmoth, present constable and
recent Democratic nominee for re-
election in the Bisbee precinct, con-
testing the election, and about the alb
surd story in the afternoon sheet,
said:
Il don't know whether Wilmoth will
contest the election or not, as l have
not talked with ilim, but the matter
has been discussed. In regard to a
recount l will say that if this is done
under a rigid enforcement of the
statute, it will doubtless show Will
moth easily elected. But should
there be a contest, there will be no
allegation of fraud or crookedness on
the part of any election officers, but
merely the correction of a misinter-
probation of the law in counting the
split ticket. l have heard nothing of
any contest charging the counting of
nutilated tickets.
Regarding any contest by Shearer
of Bailey's election on the grounds of
returns from Fairbanks, which it is
alleged were not properly signed, I
think that in case a contest is brought
the box will probably be opened and
the ballots allowed to speak for them
selves. The allegations in regard to
the counting of the votes at Bowie
may be entirely correct, so far as /
know, not having been informed as
to the actions of the election board
but l will say that cross-action by
Bailey, or for that matter, by Viii
moth, Hogan or Rock, would probab
ly result in the election of the three
last, if ! have not been misinformed
as to the way in which the judges in
the precincts of Bisbee, Lowell, Doug
las and Naco ruled on the counting of
scratched ballots.
Il wish to make it clear, however,
that should any of these contests Ee
brought, there will be no allegation OF
fraud, crCokedness. or any implication
of any desire to do something not
right-just a simple misccnstructi0n-
that is all
Mayor George Nealc, who would
probably be among the first to hear
of any contests, stated yesterday af
ternoOn that so far as he knew there
would be no contests on the part OF
the Democrats. However, he added,
if the contest is started, let the Re
publicans beware of squalls. And,
while not speaking for publication in
this particular, he proceeded to show
why this was true, especially in the
cases of the assembly-nen, super
visors, and Bisbee justices of the
peace.