Mountain Home maverick. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1906-1911, 1910-12-08
MAY CONTEST
HAWLEY S ELECTION
ALLEGED IRREGULARITY IN BALI
LOTS IN FREMONT COUNTY
MAY CHANGE SITUATION
Governor Brady Still Refuses to Have
Anything TO do With Such Contest
Should Same be Instituted.-Sim-
liar case in Nez Perez County.

There is still a possibility that a
contest may be filed against the cleo
ton of James H. Hawley as COVER
nor
Governor Brady will have no part
in this contest, either directly or in
directly, should it be instituted. He
is a game loser, and he has at no
time favored a contest, or indicated
that he did not believe the people
voted for and should have exactly
what the ballots SAID. But contest
could be filed by any citizen, and
there is a chance for it to be done
as a test case to guide the future.
over in Fremont county, the Of
fetal ballot was printed with the
words. LET the People Rule at the
head of the democratic ticket 1t does
not follow that this motto affected
the result-though Fremont county
went strongly democratic after hay-
ing given republican majorities up
to 1890 in recent years for the peo-
pie have actually been ruling, under
whatever party name. But the law
expressly prohibits any unusual or
special designation appearing on the
ballot tending to favor any party or
was a wanton violation of thespirit
a fair and equal ballot and that there
fore the whole Fremont county cleo
ton is therefore invalid The same
motto was used in the same way in
Custer county. and any contest that
might be made would take up the
Custer county returns also. The fact
that Custer county has been habit
ually democratic. is not a bar to
contest there; in a contest that would
stand at all, it would be as effective
there as IL it had changed the result.
There is a somewhat similar case
from Nez Perez county, concerning
only local instead Of state issues,
that is being appealed to the courts
for decision 1t brings up the same
question Of the right to attempt to
influence a free ballot by giving one
party. faction or candidate special
advantages. 1t might be that county
too, would be thrown out. 1t would
make no change in the results on state
officers. as the vote there was close,
and all the republican candidates had
too large majorities elsewhere to be
overcome. Nez Perez gave Hawley
a majority of 41O5, not enough to
affect his position if it were thrown
out. unless the Custer majority Of
81 and part of the Fremont major
ity of 1908 be added. But if it stands
as principle Of law that any such
ballot IS illegal, then the Fremont
and Custer contests would almost
have to be made AMI Brady would
still be governor with more than
1000 votes to spare. Should he refuse
TO hold the Office. lieutenant govern
or. would become governor at once,
after determining the contest.
There may be an interesting bat
tie at the opening day Of the legis-
lature, on the question Of member
ship. Since a legal election is the
first requisite for membership. it
would be proper for the legislature
to try this case itself, without watt
ing for the action of the courts. 1t
would affect the democrats from
Fremont, one from Custer and -four
new democratic legislators from Ne7
Perez. Should the supreme court
hold in the Nez Perez case that a bal
lot is ellegal if it bears such mark.
ings. it may be expected that the
legislature will refuse to recognize
the members from the disputed dis
tricts, whatever their politics
Should this come to pass. it may
be expected that several hundred
democrats, elective and appointive
office holding prospects, will organic,
an efficient wet-elm-club party an,
the future of the men who double
crossed them will grow thorns an,
dead cats and ancient eggs and epith
cts and rocks and sandbags and 9th
er vile things as Idaho orchard
grow apples and hay. It would reall.
be the most exasperating politica
disaster that ever came to men VIII,
had fairly earned victory-and the,
would be more or less--than hu
man if they should swallow it tamely
But the contests are not yet filed
Maybe they won't be. STILL it is
matter that may break into the new