The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-11-18
CARELEsSNESs IN
COUNT OF VOTES
REVEALED
Owens Makes Net Gain of Ill in Ia
Precincts. All the Errors, How
ever, Being Due To Incompetence
OF Election Boards
Indications Are That Thompson S
Majority Will BE Cut Below 5000
When Lecoant Is Finished

That gross careiessness attended
the counting OF the ballots IN the re-
cent election VAS one OF the first
things that came to light after the
Owens Thompson mayoral recount.
started i'm the city hall, Thursday
morning. In "A precincts, scattered
through the first six wards. Owens
made net gain of III votes, which is
considered remarkable but II serves
most 10 emphasize the necessity ior
voting machines. The recount VIII
give the advocates OF voting machines
plenty OF ammunition 10 fght any at
tempt that may be made 10 cancel
the bonds already authorized for tie
purchase OF the machines.
Owens made his gains Thursday.
through errors pure and simple.
There was no evidence of crooked
ness. but plenty 70 SHOW that the cleo
tich boards. in numerous instances.
we're incompetent
The biggest discrepancy unearthed
thus far was found i'm the ninth pre-
cinct OF the Sixth ward where Owens
made a net gain OF - votes over
Thompson. due TO the fact that the
tally clerks had simply marked up
the credits and had taken no account
OF the debts. The original returns
from this precinct gave Owens la
and Thompson l54. when, as a matter
OF fact owens should have been cred
tied with $50 and Thompson with IL,
as the recount shows This is a loss
OF II for Thompson and gain OF 30
for Owens, making the latter's net
gain u.
Owens made net gains OF II and -
in the fourth OF the Third and the
second OF the Sixth, respectively.
Thompson gained a few here AMI
there. the total for the morning be
ing about il.
TO overturn Thompson 5 majority OF
5lSG, ON the face OF the returns,
Owens would have to make an aver.
age gain of "a votes per precinct His
gains. Thursday morning. average
only about per precinct. Al this
rate. however, he VIII materially CIT
down the majority. from present in
dications it viii he considerably be.
low 5000 when the recount is fin
ished The bic wards like the Sew
enteenth and Eighteenth may show
some very important changes.
While William b. Thompson did not
appear in person during the morning,
his friends were on hand In force to
look after his interests in the recount
John Nagel chairman OF the Demo
cratic and county committee. was on
the job early and moved from one
table TO another, keeping track OF the
count and the changes
The Democrats We're a bit surprised
when the discrepancy in the ninth or
the Sixth was discovered.
Things like that will work both
WAYS said Napel Were liable 10
where such mistake will work in
favor Of Thompson ! do not look for
any material changes In the total
when the recount is over
However it was noticeable that the
Democrats watched Owens steady
gains with some uneasiness
Proctor * was on the scene early
and was n very busy person
who is your attorney he was
asked
II am. replied Owens, proudly.
\ number Of his friends were on
hand 10 help him keep tab on the
count. however.
The recount is being conducted on
the fourth floor Of the city hall. There
are six long tables and each crew is
taking a different ward Rapid prog
ress ia being made At the present
rate the recount should be finished in
a week.