The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1911-01-26
GROSS EARNINGS TAX
Continued From Page L.

PuU uPOu ouom ny tuo JUICES was
broken and evidence was presented to
the judges that it was not in the same
condition as it was left by the judges
after they had finished their count.
In another the ballot box was inse-
curely fastened with a nail. Other
ballot boxes we're fastened with a
common paddock which could easily
have been opened. In one case the
ballot box was left in an empty store
building to which several persons had
keys, in another it was left in the
hall in the town in which entertain
ments and dances we're held, in a
place easy of access, and so on. The
evidence on these points is volumi-
nous and, it is alleged, raises the pre-
sumption that the ballot boxes were
so carelessly preserved that they
might have been tempered with by in
terested persons.
Take the case of the one man who
had the boxes in charge who gave evil
dence before the elections committee.
He kept the ballot box in his room,
and he kept the keys in an envelope
in drawer in case which he used
for blanks. He is deputy town clerk
and evidently quite local character,
one of Ortonville's old settlers and
interested in it's early history, and es-
pecially in the genea]ogy of it's
pioneers. One evening he had a long
distance call. On going to the phone
he was told that a party interested in
the publication of history of the
county would like to consult him
about it in neighboring town.
Would he come down by rail and go
to the hotel and ask for Mr.. Randall.
He agreed. He went to the place
designated, asked for Mr.. Randall,
but there was no Mr.. Randall there.
He waited all day but no Mr.. Randall
turned up. He then went home in
the belief that the boys had played a
joke on him. When he got there he
found his roommate, who, in his abb
sence, had charge of the ballot box,
asleep, and that apparently he had
been drinking. Later he made in
quiries at the telephone Office and
found that the call had come from the
st. Paul hotel, but central was unable
to furnish the name of the party who
put in the call. Froshaug's attorneys
have apparently reached the con-
clusion that be was called away that
an opportunity might be afforded in
terested parties to get at the ballot
box.
It is contended on the part of Mr..
Froshaug that the evidence presented
raises the presumption of fraud. His
attorneys further contend, and cite in
support thereof number of cases,
that, as a matter of law, such a pre-
sumption having been raised, the bur-
den of proof rests upon the contestant
to show affirmatively that no fraud
had been committed and that the bal
lot boxes had not and could not have
been tempered with. They contend
further that the first count verified by
the judges of the election is the best
count, and that it would have been
impossible for them to have over.
looked the number of defective ballots
subsequently found. On behalf OF
Harrington it is commended, on the
other hand, that the burden of proof
rests on those who allege fraud, that
there is no evidence in support of it,
and that in the absence of such evi.
dence the presumption is that the bal.
lots were in the condition in which the
judges left them when they we're turned
over to the referees.
! + -.
What view the elections committee
will take of the matter is not known.
The contest here is regarded as the
more interesting and the outcome the
more uncertain of the three. In the
Stephens case, which has not yet beer
taken up, the issue is as to the use Of
stickers. In many of these Saug.
stad's name was improperly spelled
In others the stickers we're improperly
placed. If all ballots on which
stickers appear are counted for Saug.
stad he was elected by a substantial
majority. If all in which Saugstad's
name is not properly spelled and in
which the stickers are improperly
placed are thrown out, as they were
by the referees, he is defeated. The
general opinion seems to>be that, if il
appears that majority of the voters
clearly intended to vote for Mr..
Saugstad, he will be seated, and thai
the election will not be vitiated by
any mere irregularity or technical
fault of the voter. - 3. - =, z,>el