The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1910-12-30
D|DNOTCHANCE RESULTS
The Recount on Vote for As
SCISSOR Leaves Egbert
Sill In the Lead.
COULD NOT ERASE THAT ONE
On the Narrow Margin as Shown
by the Official Count K1oppen-
burg Loses the Office.

Assessor Kloppenburg, and he is still
entitled to prefix the office to his
name for few days more at least, was
visitor in town during the past week
on his way to Nelson to spend Christ
mas. He states that the report of the
contest and recount that he instituted
against his competitor, Mr.. Egbert, as
published in the Conconully Record
was not wholly correct, Mr.. Egbert's
lead was not increased over the single
vote by which he won.
1t is well remembered at the general
election that on the vote for assessor
Mr.. .Egbert was elected by one VOTE
Believing that a recount would show
that sufficient errors were made as to
eliminate that lead of one, and show
that he was really elected to the Office,
Mr.. Kloppenburg precipitated con-
test. The case was heard before W.
E. Grant of Loomis, acting under ap-
pointment as judge. There was the
usual tiddling and sparring between
the lawyers in the case, in an effort to
prevent recount, and while Mr..
Kloppenburg got the wrong decision
in the first round, his attorney again
came to the scratch, and recount Or
dered. After all the ballots but some
p had been scrutinized that lead of
one still stood out as prominent as
telegraph pole, and Mr.. Kloppenburg
lawyer threw up the sponge. The
Record stated that Mr.. Egbert's lead
had increased to three or five. Mr.,
kloppenburg insists this is mistake.
He furthermore states that on three
ballots his name had been written in
under the socialist list of officers, but
as those who wrote in the name failed to
place the necessary X at the end, the
Judge refused to permit the votes to
be counted. Mr.. Kloppenburg's ad-
visors believe that this is good grounds
for an appeal, as the voters undoubted-
ly showed a desire to vote for that
candidate. However, the matter may
be dropped altogether, and Mr.. Egg
bert be permitted without further
trouble or expense to enter upon the
duties of his Office.
Election contrsts are hardly ever
looked upon by the general public
with favor. The idea prevails that
when man runs for office he knows
the chances for and against success,
and is willing to take those chances
and cheerfully abide by the result. No
doubt, in this instance Mr.. Kloppen-
burg acted more upon the instigation
and insstence of friends than through
personal motives. Those friends may
be even more disappointed than Mr..
kloppenburg in the final result, but it
settles any doubt that might have ex-
listed, and all hands should accept the
will of the majority, extending to the
assessor-elect every assistance in their
power to lessen the irksomeness of
the duties, SO that the assessment for
the coming year may be as near per-
feet as sucn a thing as property as
sessment can be. No one can deny
that Mr.. Kloppenburg has placed the
office in such business-like shape as
it never has been before, making the
work to be done much easier for his
successor. If Mr.. Egbert leaves be-
hind as good record when he steps
down and out, the people will have oc
casion to say ''well done, good and
! faithful servant"