Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1910-12-07
CONTEST ON SHERIFF
p. j. CarOlan, Democratic Candidate
Serves Notice of Contest on
T. j. Qualley.
ASKS RECOUNT OF THE VOTES.
Contestant Claims Errors and lrreg.
ularities in Counting the Vote
if Corrected Will Show Him
to be Elected.

to be Elected.
Many of the people of Decorah
were surprised on Saturday night
to learn that Philip ]. Carolan,
democratic candidate for SheriHt.
the recent election, who was defese
ed by Thomas ]. Qualley by mar
gin of 49 votes, had served notice
Of a contest and asked for a re-
count of the votes. Among the
politicians it was generally known
that the matter was being consider
ed, but few believed that Mr.. Caro-
Ian would consent to the importuni-
ties of his political associates nand
permit this action to be taken.
Since election there has been
considerable speculation over the
possibilities of contesting on the
ground that men acted as judges
Of election who were not residents
of the precincts in which they acted
in this capacity, but the weakness
of this ground was evident, and it
was soon cast aside.
From the notice served upon
Sheriff Qualley, the basis of the con-
test is solely the matter of recount
ing the ballots, the claim being that
a correct count will give the elec-
tion to Mr.. Carolan.
We understand that Atty. D. J.
Murphy of Waukon will look after
the interests of the contestant, Mr..
Carolan.
The procedure will be for the
contestant and the incumbent each
to appoint man to act with B. E.
Jewell, chairman of the Board of
Supervisors, to recount the ballots.
Then after the count is announced
1t may go before the district court
for a final decision.
In order that the people may be
thoroughly informed about this mat
vter, in which every-@citizen of the
county is interested, we reprint the
notice served upon Mr.. Qualley:
State of Iowa,
Winneshiek County.
P. j. Car0lan, Contestant, vs..
Thos. j. Qualley, Incumbent.
In the Matter of the Contest of
Election of Sheriff of Winneshiek
County, Iowa, at the General Elec-
tion Of 1910.
Statement Of contest of P. ].
Carolan.
Comes now P. ]. Carolan and
states that he is citizen Of Win
neshiek county. Iowa. and eligible
to the Office of Sheriff of said Win
neshiek County, Iowa. That he re-
ceived votes for said Office at the
general election of 1910 sufficient to
elect him thereto, and he f1les this,
his statement of intention, to con-
test the election of Thos. ]. Quail
ley, the present incumbent Of said
Office thereto, at the said general
election of 1910.
For cause of said contest, contes-
tant states:
1st. That the name of this con-
testant is p. j. Carolan, and he is
qualified to hold the Office of Sheriff
of Winneshiek county. Iowa.
End. That the name of the in
cumbent or the person whom the can
vassers declared elected to the Of
fee of Sheriff of Winneshiek county,
Iowa. Is Thomas ]. Qualley.
- Tho ON7co fow uhioh thio
election contest is instituted Is that
of Sheriff of Winneshiek county,
Iowa, for the term commencing
Jan. l, 1911. and expiring Dec. 81,
1912.
4th. The time Of the election
which is proposed to be contested
herein was the regular general elec-
tion Of Winneshiek county. Iowa,
held Nov. 8. 1910.
5th. That this contestant was
the regular democratic nominee for
the office of Sheriff of Winneshiek
county, Iowa, for said general elec-
ton.
9Th. That the incumbent was
the regular republican nominee for
the office of Sheriff of Winneshiek
county, Iowa, at said general elec'
tion.
7th. That said Thomas ]. Qnalley
did not receive the highest number
of legal votes cast for any one per-
son for said Office at said election,
but that this contestant did.
Sth. That In each voting precinct
in said county at said election, the
Judges of the election in the can
vass and count of the votes Tor said
once, made errors and mistakes In
said county, and failed to count
votes which should have been count
ed for the contestant, and by error
and mistake rejected ballots which
should have been counted for him.
5th. That said judges as such
canvassers of the vote of each OF
SAID precincts In said county. by er-
ror and mistake. counted ballots for
the incumbent which should have
been rejected, and also ballots which