Mexico Missouri message., 1909-02-04
CANDIDATES TIRE
OF THE CONTEST
STATEMENTS ~ oMELlcH AND
PAINTER INDICATE A DESIRE
FOR SETTLEMENT.
REPUBLICAN CLAIMS OFFICE
Democratic Candidate Also Main
talns Majority on Original Vote
and Ameded Returns From
The Recount.

Jefferson City-That the contest for |
lieutenant governor has become tire |
some TO both Gmelich and Painter is |
evidenced from statements given out |
by them.
In a statement as follows, Gmellch
maintains that his election was as
sured by the recount:
1.-THE time for making claims in ref
erence to who was elected lieutenant
governor is past The facts ought to
be fully understood by this time by
all the people OF the state. as we'll as
the members of the legislature. The
original returns, fled In the office OF
the secretary OF state. and with the
speaker Of the house, gave me thirty
majority. On account of amended re-
turns from various precincts, in cor
rection OF mistakes alleged to have
been made in the original returns,
some fifteen precincts have been re-
counted and all of st. Louis. BY this
recount, my majority has been in
creased to 2l2 votes. unless some $500
votes in the city Of ST. Louis are not
counted on account of technicalities
which do not affect either their legal.
ity of their honesty.
The only objection offered against
these ballots Is that one Of the judges
did not sign his full initials. In view
of these facts I can have no doubts
but that my title to this office, II Il IL
awarded to me by the legislature. will
come free from any doubt or faint of
illegalIty. But this question. as have
said, is not TO be decided by newspa-
per statements Of my opponent or my.
SELF but by the members Of the legis-
lature, and can only await their de-
cision in full confidence that they will
award me the office for which have
received plurality OF the votes,
Painter Reviews Contest
In addressing the Democratic eau.
Gus Painter reviews his case in part
as follows:
Gentlemen Of the Democratic confer
ence:
In the first place ! want TO thank
| you for your kindly courtesy to me
throughout this long-drawn-out fight.
There are friends before me, made
since last August, when l was nomi.
mated. that shall always love. And
! want to say that. however partisan
they may be, | have made many
| friends among the Republicans, and
I believe | have the respect OF every
Republican member OF this assembly.
According to the original returns as
admitted. even by Mr.. Gmelich's at
torney, had a majority of 70 votes.
According 20 the amended returng,
likewise admitted / was elected by 81
votes. The joint assembly. in which
my party had a majority, thought a
recount should be had. Against this !
entered no protest. A Democratic
caucus agreed that a committee com.
posed of Ave Democrats and Ave Re.
publicans should be authorized to do
this recoupting. The Democratic eau.
Gus selected Ave Democrats and q Re
publican caucus chose I'VE Republicans
Rules Were Adopted.
The committee met and unanimously
agreed to certain rules under which
the count began, and under which
rules the recount progressed until the
city of ST. Louis was almost recount.
ed. Under these rules 1901 votes
were thrown out as not complying
with the committees rules. ! am In
formed by members OF the committe
that In these 2201 votes rejected was
the greater sufferer.
The Republican members of the
committee insisted on enforcing all oil
their technicalities, and the Demo
Gratis. living up to the committees
rules. agreed that all of these ballots
which were only technically wrong
should be rejected. Finally a precinct
which gave Mr.. GmelIch a large ma
jority was reached.
Under the rules adopted and acted
upon by the whole committee until
this precinct was reached Mr.. Gmelicf
lost in this precinct enopgh votes e
give me q majority. TehereuDon thS
! Republican members OF the committee
, refused to abide by the rules and in
D sisted upon counting these ballots fol
; Mr.. Gmelich. For the first time tbs
Republicans began to insist on count
Q all honest ballots, whether technical!
I good or not. The Democrats stood OF
the rule and the commite split.
h BliI Strikes at Allen labor