The Detroit times., 1912-11-30
SUFFRACISTS ASK
RECOUNT OF VOTE
INWAYNECOUNTY
Petition Alleges Fraud and Ir-
Irregularities in Almost
Every District
sCANVASSING BOARD
WILL CONSULT WYKES
will Act in Accordance With
Ruling of Attorney-Gen-
eral as to Law

count OF the vote ON the suffrage
Amendment In nearly all the districts
,of Wayne county
The petition was signed by Dr..
Eugene X. Shipper, pastor OF the
First Unitarian church; Susan VI.
Sellers, president of the county suf-
frage organization, and Charles Flow
srs, attorney and member of the state
legislature who introduced In the
house the resolution for vote on
the suffrage question.
Ths canvassing board held meet
ing and discussed the petition. BY
Judge Durfee's advice, the board
postponed action until Monday,
Meanwhile Judge Durfee will call A.
torney-General Wykes by telephone.
and ask him for decision on the
power OF the board TO hold a recount.
II is understood that Wykes has al
ready rendered decision in Saginaw
county, holding a recount legal He
will be asked TO mail copy OF this
decision to the Wayne county board.
II Ii is received by Monday morning
at 10 o'clock. the board will meet at
that time and consider the matter OF
4 recount.
The recount petition asks that the
votes be counted again in the first
district of the First ward, the first
district of the Fourteenth ward, all
II the Third ward. and all the wards
from the, Fifth to the Eighteenth,
inclusive; the townships Of Browns
town c~Dearborn, Ecorse. Gratiat.
Greenfield, Crosse Pointe, Ham
tramck, Huron, Livonia. BEDFORD,
Springwells. Sumpter. Taylor and the
city of wyandotte.
No recount was demanded in the
upper end OF the First ward. the
Second ward and the upper end Of
the Fourth ward, because most of
these districts were carried by the
suffragists
The petition says:
your petitioners know or believe
that there were errors. mistakes and
fraud In voting and counting and
canvassing. OF the votes on said
amendment, contrary 10 the statutes
governing such election
THAT the ballots delivered TO the
electors and used by them for the
purpose OF voting on said amendment
were not legal
THAT in many of said districts,
electors were not allowed to vote
without interference and illegal in
structions.
4 THAT in all OF said districts all
of the ballots OH said amendment
cwere not properly deposited in a
separate box.
"That in all said districts illegal
ballots were counted.
= THAT the returns OF many of said
districts did not correctly state the
number of votes illegally cast for and
against such amendment.
THAT in many of said districts the
qaid returns were fraudulently and Ii
legally altered and tempered with.
THAT in many of said districts fhe
unused ballots on which said amend
ment was printed were nor properly
accounted for and returned
THAT in some OF said districts some
ELECTORS were fraudulently allowed 10
cast two or more ballots on said
amendment
Therefore your petitioners con-
of the said fraud and mistakes and
and a recount OF tho vote OF said
amendment in the said districts"
! Attorney Weadock, asked In wat
respect the ballots were illegal, said:
That Is merely general claim TO
cover all CONTINGENCIES
According to Judge Durfee the coun.
~ canvassing board can do nothing
more than count the ballots which it
finds In the boxes II has no power !
TO throw out defective ballots, should |
any such be found.
No recount Is asked in the third
distric; OF the Fourth ward. from
which no returns have been received.
but where the vote is known to have
been against the amendment A 70.
count has been asked. however. in
The second district or the Thirteenth
ward, from which no returns haze
been received. According TO such
figures az are cbtaiuable, the vote
there was For 1870: against. 2O4. 4
recount there might add "a votes TO
the anti-suffrage plurality.
The first district OF the Fifteenth
ward will also ~ reconnted In chat
district. IL said. he heavy vote against
the amendment was recorded in It's
favor. while the votes for II were pd:
In the mo" column There also re.
count will increase the antisuffrage
vote.
Attorney Weadock fled check TO-
800. as required by Law. The county
canyassing board estimates that "a.
count will cost considerably more
than $500. Two officials from each
township district mus. bring the bal.
Hot boxes "a the city The, Will re.
icelve 81 day each, and mileage OF
Ito cents a mile. In some cases. TIE
mileage alone will amyunt 10 Sc. The
CITY boxes are IN the police depar.
ment's possession, and their delivery
Twill cost the county nothing.
The statement OF the petition that
terrors we're made In canyassing the
vote refers TO the canvas In the
booths not to that OF the county can
wasting board.
Mrs. Arthur ais Meeting.
Immediately on her return Friday
afternoon. from the convention OF the
National American Woman Suffrage
association, Mrs. Clara b. Arthur
president OF the Michigan State Sui.
fraee association, called a meeting OF
its executive board TO be held In Lam
sina Monday.