Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1910-11-30
WILL CONTEST HAUCEN
Democrats of Fourth District Decide
to Contest COngressman's
Election.
VOTES WILL BE RECOUNTED.
National, District and County Com
mitteemen Hold Meeting and De-
termine to Demand Recount and
Investigation of Election.

gressional district of Iowa have de-
cided to contest the election of Hon.
G. N. Haugen of Northwood as con-
gresham, in the interest of HopAD.
d. Murphy of Elkader, the osEs
cratic candidate, who was defeat>'
upon the face of the returns by be-
tween one and two hundred votes.
The meeting to consider the mat
ter was held at New Hampton on
last Wednesday. There were pres
ent Judge Martin ]. Wade of Iowa
City, former member of congress
from the second district and demo-
cratic national committeeman for
Iowa, Hon. F. A. O'Connor, fourth
district committeeman and manager
of the Murphy campaign, and the
chairmen of the county central COM,
mittees of every county in the fourth
district except Worth county, the
home of Congressman Haugen.
After discussing the matter
thoroughly it was unanimously de-
cided to contest the election of Con-
grssman Haugen and demand a re-
count of the votes, which means that
the whole matter will be up in the
air until finally determined, prob
ably, by vote of the national house
Of representatives.
Inasmuch as this is a matter in
which all our people of both parties
are interested, we reprint an open
letter sent out to the precinct COM
mitteeman by Hon. F. A. O'Connor,
who will have charge of the contest,
which describes the matter in detail
and gives the reasons which he ad-
vances for making the contest:
New Hampton, Ia, Nov. "a, 1910.
Dear Sir:-We have just closed
conference of leading jDemocrats for
every county in the Fourth Congress
sional District. This conference was
called in response to general de-
mand from every precinct in the dis
trict that there should be a contest
instituted in behalf of our candidate,
Mr.. Murphy, for the seat in congress
of the United States to which they
believe that he was fairly elected.
The meeting today was large and
enthusiastic. Reports were made
from every county, and it was the
unanimous expression that there
should be contest instituted. The
demand for a contest comes not only
from the Democrats, but also from
Republicans, who believe in decent
politics and a fair count of the
votes cast at an election. After a
full discussion by all those present
and a unanimous demand expressed
that contest should be instituted,
Mr.. Murphy was called up and he
said after expressing his deep graft
tude for the splendid support given
to him, that while personally he
no contest, yet he realized that he
owed it to the men who had sup
ported him so loyalty to yiel! to
their requests and consent to a con-
test. He said that if it were merely
a question of his election that he
would not consent, that his prefer
ence would be to go back to his
professional duties, but in view of
the demands of the men who had
supported him, he could not allow
his personal preference to guide him
in this matter.
Upon a vote of every man pres
ent, it was unanimously decided to
make the contest and proceedings
will be instituted at once to not only
demand a recount of the ballots, but
also TO make full inquiry into the
emthods employed in behalf of Mr.
Haugen in this campaign.
Therefore: The fight is on, and
in the campaign We had to look to
the rank and file of the people for
support we are again compelled to
call upon the rank and file and es-
pecially upon the committeeman of
the various precincts to aid in this
contest so that the truth may be-
come fully known, and so that JUS
tice may be done.
Mr.. Murphy particularly set forth
that under no circumstances would
he accept the seat in congress, IL
upon investigation ii was found that
Mr.. Haugen was legally elected. This
was also tHe sentiment Ol all lHOoe
present. so that this contest is in
stituted in good faith in the belief
that the will of the majority of the
people of the district has been de-
feated, If upon full investigation it
is found that Mr.. .iaugen is legally
and fairly elected, Mr.. Murphy will
be the first one to announce his ac-
quiesence in the results.
The various reasons which will
form a basis in this contest cannot
now be fully set forth, but it has
been reported that in many of the
precincts of the district votes cast
for Mr.. Murphy have been counted
for Mr.. Haugen, votes for Mr. Muir
ply have been rejected, votes appar-
emily cast for Mr.. Haugen but which
were illegally marked with indenti-
fcation marks contrary to the sta
tutes, have been counted for Mr..
Haugen when they should have been
rejected. Votes were cast in many