The Montgomery tribune., 1910-12-16
ST. LOUIS ELECTION.
St. Louis Election Clear of Fraud
Says Grad jury Gov. HadIey A
Very Busy Man.
Board Of immigration to be Con-
tinued---Gettine Ready For
The General Assembly.
Special Correspondence.


lnent in business circles and not
preiudiced politically, reported to
Circuit Judge Hitchcock that the
election of Nov. s was clean, fair
and honest; that no evidence of
fraud was found in thorough and
patient investigation, though al
most three weeks had been spent
by the Jury in probing into The
manner in which the election was
conducted. Indictments were ie-
turned against several men who
tried to register and vote fraudu-
leutly, but the jury reported that
it was apparent no attempt was
made at systematic padding OF the
registration books" This unbias e''
report of a jury of good citiz'
stands out in bold relief e' -
the hysterical partisan con
of such Democratic lead =
Chairman Joe Shapnnn,-4 was
rash enough TO declare IL /. there
was no election in st. Louis;" and
l., confirms the Republican conten-
lion that the ST. Louia election
was one of the cleanest, far st
and most orderly ever held in that
city. Gov. Hadley and his close po-
litical friends have made inquiI es
deeper and more thorough than
any made by Shannon. and other
Democratic leaders, and are cen
fident that there is nothing tam
gible in the claim that the St.
Louis election was unfair, irregu-
lar and tainted with fraud. III it
had been developed by the .nvcs-
legations made by 2epuoiicans
that the St. Louis e.ecaon was
tainted with fraud. Gov. Hadley
would not only welcome an m
vestigation by the Democrats but
would undertake one on his own
account, because he is determined
that elections in the cities shall
be honestly conducted and that
every citizen entitled to vote shall
be permitted 20 cast his ballot and
have that ballot honestly coul Ell.
! If the defeated Democratic cam
didates undertake a contest they
will find the elected ~Repub. can
candidates and the Repubi- can
state organization ready for it,
| but will not be hindered in any
honest, lawful steps they may
take. They will be required tc go
further than the election pre-
cincts in st. Louis, however, in
quest of election frauds and ir-
regularities.
Judges Brown and Kennisb will
be sworn in and viii enter upon
their duties as justices of the SUI
preme court early in january. II
! their election is contested it will
be by suit in the nuprema court
a proceeding that may require 9
year or more, but which viii not
estop them from holding tAe.l
seats and drawing Their pay IN
the meantime. Prof. Evans VII
take charge OF the Office OF su-
1 per:ntendent of schools after tht
official vote showing his elect o.
has been canvassed by the Speak
er of the House in the presence o.
the general assembly. If his elec,
ton be contested it will be by {
proceeding in the supreme court
r. R. Commissioner Wightman viii
enter upon his second term Jan
/, being his own successor, ans
his title to the office, if contest
ed. will be subsequently deter
mined. In the absence of any pro
vision Of law to the contrary,
contest for that office may be de
termined by the general assem-
bly,, after due investigation.
The general assembly is not Civ
en- the right to have ballot boxe
opened and ballots rceounted, al
though it was done by agreemen
in the Painter-Gmelich contest il
1909. The legislature alone can de
termine "A contest for governo
and lieutenant governor. Con
tests for membership in eithe
house of the general assembly ar
determined by the body in whicl
the membership is sought.
Gov. Hadley returned from tn
convention of governors, he'll
in Kentucky, last Friday night
: having spent Friday in St. Loui
in conference with State Chair
man Morris and osher prominen
Republicans, and with the com
missioners who are preparing
measure to regulate the liabilit,
of employers TO employees. H
has been a very busy man sine
the election, and will have but lit
tie il any leisure till the legisla
. ture adjourns. His bi-ennial mes
sage, with all OF the reports tina
! go with it, must be prepared be
fore january, and he must deter
mine some very important mat
tiers besides.