The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1910-12-23
From Saturdays Daily.
MoplyatO Mimi

From Saturdays Daily
Mankato, Mimi, December H.,
1910 To The Voters of Blue Earth
County: l have decided to dismiss
the pending senatorial contest and
for the benefit of those Interested,
l make the following explanation.
In the first place and for obvious
reasons, | wanted u recount This
could only be secured by institut-
ing a contest. | expected the re-
count would show sufficient varia-
ton, one way or the other, from the
original count to be decisive of the
matter. In this we were mistaken.
The recount placed the contestees
majority at twenty, a gain of two,
with several ballots in dispute OF
the disputed ballots, | think that one
which was not counted should clearly
have been counted for me and one
which was counted for the contestee
probably should be thrown out. This
would leave the result exactly the
same as the official count or at most
difference of one.
This is indeed remarkable show
ing and speaks very well not only
for the honesty and integrity of the
election officials, but also for their
great care and accuracy under to-
diOus and trying conditions. 1t might
also be added that it speaks well for
the intelligence of the voters of this
county as, in several Instances, whole
precincts were counted and passed
by the inspectors with no grounds
for objections, technical or otherwise,
on the part of either party. The bal
lots, as a whole, were cleaner and
more accurately marked by the vot-
ers than those examined in any
former contest in this state, so far
as my observation has gone.
With the recount out of the way,
we come to a consideration of the
contest proper. In two of the pre-
cincts there were twelve or fifteen
votes cast for the contestee which
were clearly illegal because of the
failure to abide by legal restrictions
which, in other precincts, were care
fully observed, and the observance
of which lost me number of votes
This was clearly prejudicial. But
as the number of such votes was
not sufficient to change the result,
it would be necessary to go further
There were a number of votes cast
in various parts of the county by
voters receiving assistance and which
were illegal because the voters fail
ed to take the oath required by law.
The supreme court of this state held
that such votes cannot be counted
However this condition operated
throughout the county. Similar
votes were cast on both sides
The result of the contest would
depend on which side received the
greater number. All of these votes
were cast in good faith and would
have been legal had the proper for
malities been observed The result
of an investigation into these would
be uncertain and / would not care
to take office secured by disfran-
chising such voters.
The irregularities in registering
the Mankato voters were due to mis-
takes of state officials. If our con-
tentions were sustained on these
points, it would throw out the en-
tire vote of the city. AS | expect
to remain here indefinitely, | would
not care to gain office by disfran.
chising my fellow townsmen.
It is unnecessary to go into other
matters. The recount was fair and
accurate. My opponent received the
larger number of votes and am
content to let it go at that, even
though by carrying the contest into
the senate the burden of expense
which now falls upon me might be
thrown upon the state.
In short, | prefer to be defeated
by votes than elected by TECHNICAL
ties. | greatly appreciate the loyal sup
port given Inc during the campaign
and ] prize highly the many friend.
ships it developed. Yours very truly,
Benjamin Taylor.