The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-04-09

sented III the election boards, claim
of fraud in counting the ballots, would
| involve both sides and it is alomst i'm
possible that this has occurred. doc
tored return from any ward is thing
which nobody suspects, but it is
thought that an unintentional mistake
has been made.
Mistakes are Frequent.
Mistakes in counting ballots are of
frequent occurance and the result is
so close that four ballots counted
wrong would change the ultimate re.
suit.
The peple want correct count and
the masses will not be satisfied until
that is made If Sterne has been elect
ed he should be the next mayor of the
city and if Off is elected, he is en-
titled to it.
] While it may turn out that the re-
count of the votes will show the fig
ures to be the exact ones as given out
of 1895 for Off and 1892 for Sterne,
then again a recount may show a
difference
Never yet has the board of super
visors canvassed the county ballot
without finding a number of differ
ences in the figures from those given
out at first and the city election would
likely turn out the same way.
The Next Step.
The council is due now to get busy
and recount the votes. When they
will do this. has not as yet been de-
, cided.
Il The Petition.
. The petition filed this morning with
the CITY clerk and also served on Mr.
: Off. is as follows:
Before the. Mayor and City Council
of the City of Keokuk, Lee county
, Iowa.
; In the matter of the contest of the
e office of mayor and other offices at d
J. general city election held in and fol
o the city of Keokuk, Lee county, Iowa
? on April s. 1909.
6 Now comes Louis Sterne, contest
, ant. and states that he is qualified tt
: hold the office of mayor of the sale
city of Keokuk. Lee county, Iowa, ane
was so qualified on April 5th 1909
that he was the duly nominated candi
date of the republican party in and fol
it the city of Keokuk, Iowa, for the OF
d fee of mayor at the general election
= held in said city on April 9Th, 1909
that Charles Off. incumbent, was tn,
duly nominated candidate of the dem
e ocratic party in and for the city D
X Keokuk, Iowa. for the office of mayo
i of said city at said general election
The said contestant, Louis Sterne, il
: informed and believes, and so states
that the board of canvassers OF tn
votes cast for said offices, did on tn
9Th day of April, 1909 duly canvas
the returns from all wards in SAT-
n city for votes cast for the office Q
y mayor of said city at said election
ard have declared the said Charlie
!, Off. incumbent. duly elected as mayo
&C and the said Louis Sterne, contestant
:. hereby declares his intention to col
- test the election of the said Charlie
- Off as mayor at said election, and fl
,s grounds thereof assignes the follow
if ing reasons, to-wit:
70 THAT the Judges of election i
,r the third ward in said city of keokup
at said election, were guilty or ms
ct conduct In said election sui1lclent I
~ change the result of said election, TO
~ that the said judges, contrary TO LAY
a. and in violation of the statutes gov
rt erning said election, opened the pa
On lot boxes and commenced the coun
DIV ing of the ballots long prior to seYa
so o'clock D. M, on April 18th, 1909, TIN
ie time for closing the polls in said "ar
n as prescribed by law at said elecuol
a 2.-(Same allegation for firth Warl
o. 3.-(Same allegation for sixth ward
B. 4--That the judges of election
no the second ward, were guilty OF mi
~ conduct sufficient to change the II
ne suit of said election, for that sal
cd Judges contrary to law and IN vloi'
a. ton to the statutes, canvassed IN
)r. votes of said ward in private and G
Ial cluded the public from the room du
&c ing said canvass; that SAID JUG.
GU locked. or caused to be locked, u
1t doors of the room in when tne ere
~ ", ton in said ward was held, al
of caused screens to be placed before a
to windows and doors of the sald room
MI that parties outside OF said TOO
NJ could not see the canvassing OF u
mt counting of the votes cast IN sa
lite ward. nor could they enter the roo
I'LL In which said election was held al
is said ballots canvassed. and the VoI'
&C. cast in said ward at said election WEI
!. canvassed in private and not IN pu
% lie as required by law.
1ar oil