Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-01-05
CONTESTANTS INCREASE THEIR
WITHDRAWALS FILED 70 TIL
TOTAL OF 4os BY PRESENTING
II ADDITIONAL REQUESTS.
PROPONENTS MAY
DISMISS STATEMENT
SALOON ADVOCATES GET BUSY
IN CONFERENCE AFTER FILING
TAKES PLACE AND DISCUSS THr
DROPPING OF PETITION.

With the filing Of an additfona
seventeen Withdrawals this mornin,
by Chester w. Whitmore for the con
testants to the statement OF general
consent, the outlook for the liuuu
men Is gloomy. Some talk and perhap
not without foundation. is being Cir
culated to the effect that the state
ment may be withdrawn. This couh
not be verified by the proponents't at
torneys up to late hour although th,
impression is pretty general amona
many who are interested In the peti
tion's sufficiency. !,
AT later hour this afternoon ther.
were forty-three names questioned b,
the board among the withdrawals
These will probably be thrown out. al
though the board will not make an,
statement as to their disposition be
yond noting them on paper while
the canvass is progressing.
Filed at 1o:45 O'Clock.
The fling took place with Auf,.C
James F. Stevens about 1O:4o thi
morning at which time Mr.. Whitmor,
turned over to the auditor for til,
board of supervisors the written with
drawals of seventeen names as wei
as typewriter list Of the same. Ac
companying these was q summary
showing the Withdrawals to date
which were given as follows:
Originally filed j. .26S
supplemental filing .12s
Supplemental filing ............. Is
Total ............... 41G
The written list included nineteen
names, but two Of these had been
shown twice, although not 30 recorded
on the typewriter list making the to,
tai including the last fling, 4OS.
Book Of Challenges.
While filing the additional with
drawals. Attorney Whitmore also gave
to each of the board. the county at
torney, and the counser for the pro
ponents, printed pamphlet In which
all OF the names, the sheet numbers
poll number, etc. for their guidance IL
the canvass
Claims Forgery.
Capt. w. H. C. Jaques filed the
affidavit Of Charles Smith, one OF ths
alleged withdrawn signers this after
noon in which Smith states that he
did not sign such paper and states
that he Is the only person OF that
name living at the address given on
the withdrawal. Capt. Jaques filed
the affidavit as charge Of forgery In
the Withdrawals filed this morning.
Thought Case Rested.
Apparently somewhat chargined at
the additional filing of Withdrawals,
Senator Smith stated to the board that
he thought 1t was the understanding Of
all parties yesterday before the public
was excluded from the board room,
that all of the withdrawals had been
filed and that the matter rested with
regard to the statement and withdraw.
ais entirely in the hands of the board
without any further action by either
side. In the absence of County At.
torney Dan Steck who was engaged iu
a trial in the district court, the mat.
ter was not fully threshed out at that
time and the board continued in the
canvass Of the withdrawals previously
filed without making ruling in the
matter OF additional Withdrawals filed.
May Withdraw.
Things Immediately took on busy
air about the auditors office, and con.
ference after conference between the
proponents and their counsel was had.
Nothing definite would he vouched by
anyone as to the mode of procedure
that the proponents will follow as the
matter Of the rights of each party un.
der the law in such a procedure seems
to be an open estion. 1t is apparent
that If the board sustains the con.
testants in the matter of fling with.
drawals during the canvass the pro.
ponenes may seek he same right with
regard to withdrawing the statement Of
general consent.
Show Odd Features.
The statement and its contest is not
without a few odd instances that
makes the average layman scratch his
head and wonder just what the out
come will be. For instance the con-
testants offer objections to certain
features of the statement and the
proponents make canvass Of the
Withdrawals and claim they too havo
the same objection to offer. One says
the repeaters or duplicates are frauds,
yet the other side takes up the work