The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-04-26
TO RECOUNT VOTE
IN MADISON WARD
Oscar Lollmann, Beaten by One,
Thinks Errors Might Have
Been Made.
NO 9TH ERs PROTESTING
Question OF Special Primary in
Washington Ward to Be Set
tied by Committee.

Matters relating to the Democratic
party in the new ward of Richmond on
| the south side of the james River Will
be discussed by the City Democratic
Committee, which meets at Murphys
Hotel tonight, at the request of the
newly elected members from Washing
ton Ward The question at issue Is
| whether there shall be primary in
South Richmond prior to the general
election for City Councilmen in June.
To fill the uneNpired term until Sep
tenlber /, the City Council of Rich
mond has already elected five Council
men and three Aldermen 1t has been
suggested that they be declared the
party nominees without further ado,
but If there is any probability of other
independent Democratic candidates
coming into the field the committee
may determine on a special primary.
LOhnan Seeks Recount.
Another matter to be brought to
the attention of tile committee to-
mann, of Madison Ward. for a re-
count. Mr.. Lohmann last night wrote
TO Jesse A. Laid. superintendent of
Madison Ward, inclosing notices he
had sent to James j. Burke and Barney
Bowman notifying them that he would
ask for a recount of the ballots cast In
his ward in the recent councilmanic
primary. in which Mr.. Burke was cred
and Mir Lohmann AS, the first two
being declared party nominees. and tho
last, Mr.. Lohmann, left in sixth place
on the ticket.
he be allowed at the table counting
each of the four precincts represent.
ative capable and competent to check
the recount, in order that an accurate
decision may he arrived at, both In
justice to himself and his competitors
in Madison Ward.
He says: II ask this simply for the
sake of justice and fairness, believing
count, as the vote between all three
candidates differs only one between
Mr. Bowman and myself and three be-
tween Mr.. Burke and myself. With.
out any spirit of complaint or censure.
to any one, l desire this count, and In
sist upon 1t, in justice to my friends,
the voters and Taxpayers of Madison
Ward"
Have Until Mny =.
Chairman Miles NJ. Martin. of the
City Committee. said last night that he
| had not received any requests for re-
| count. but explained that under the
primary plan ell candidates would have
! until May to file notice of contest. and
that it was not likely that the COM
mittee would order a recount in the
proposed Madison Ward contest until
1t developed whether any others would
ask for similar action. The candidate
asking a contest is required under the
plan to make a deposit of $40 to cover
the expenses of the contest hall hire,
stationery etc. In the event that his
contention is sustained and it is shown
that there was error, the amount put
up is refunded to him 1t has been the
history of recent recounts that they
merely served to increase the lead OF
the winning candidates, as ballots al
lowed by the precinct judges have
been thrown out by the counters for the
(rif., Commit afpl
scrutiny. This was the case two years
ago, when Councilman Miner. of Clay
Ward, and Councilman Atkinson, OF
Jefferson, asked recount, and each
lost several votes in the final summing
up. In the famous Smith-Epps con-
test for the City Sergeantcy some years
! ago, &C lerical error of 100 votes was
! found at the Second Precinct in Mar
! shall Ward. In that case the vote OF
the whole city was recounted, and an
error at Second Monroe was found
which more than Offset the one in the
/ East End.
of possible contests by John r, Jeter,
| in Jefferson Ward, and Clifford Smith in
Lee Mr.. Smith said last night that he
had no idea of contesting the original
returns; that the idea of a contest in
Lee originated In somebody's magma
ton. and was the purest BRAIN Storm
! Ever since the original returns
| however, it has been accepted that a
\ recount would be necessary in Madi-
| son on account of the closeness of the
!Vote, three candidats being but as
many ballots apart.
! 1t is explained that the election law
requires voters TO mark entirely
through the names of those for whom
| they do not vote. Some careless voters
| merely check them off, without mark.
| ing out the name, and it becomes 4
problem for strict construction wheth,
er such ballot should be counted o,
no Precinct Judges working in q
hurry and anxious to finish after
long and tedious day, often make err
rors which members of the committee
working more deliberately, and Will
better knowledge of the electo,
laws as to marking ballots, would no
permit to pass.
Under the ruling of Chairman Mar
tin and Secretary Duke, any recoun
t that may be ordered will only be as Il
: the candidates challenged and for
: mally notified, and will not affect til
s standing of others running in tn
t ward The recount in Madison, there
fore, will be only as to the number o
ballots cast for Burke. Bowman an
Lehman. Mr.. Burke Is at present
member of the Council Mr.. Bowma,
: has been for some time the treasure
: Of the City Democratic Committee, an
resigned that position to run for tn
Council