The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-11-12
On Face of Reported Official
Returns He Leads.
Topeka Mans Majority Over
Hodges 53.
CHEROKEE AND CRAWFORD IN
Cherokee Gave Capper Gain OF
As in Official Count.
All the 1O5 Counties Have Re-
ported Official.
CLOSEST IN STATE HISTORY
Candidates Seesawed Back and
Forth One Week.
Democrats Do Not Yet Admit
Hodges Defeat.
All the 1O5 Counties Have Re
ported Official.
CLOSEST IN STATE HISTORY
Candidates SeeSaWed Back and
Forth One Week.
Democrats Do Not Yet Admit
Hodges Defeat.

Arthur Capper. Republican, is elected
governor of Kansas over Senator George
H. Hodges. Democrat. by a majority OF
53. according to complete official re-
turns reported TO the State Journal
from all of the los counties of the state
With a lead of seven votes at noon to-
day, Cherokee county completed its
count and at o'clock reported to the
State Journal that Hodges majority IN
that county had been reduced from S9o
unofficial. to $50, official
The closing day of the fight was
one of ups and downs for both candl-
dates Hodges started the morning
with an apparently substantial lead
only to have it gradually reduced un-
til he was left second man in the race
Dickinson county was the first to give
the Olathe man bump. II chanseo
suddenly on a re-check of the Offlclai
returns from 1913 to 144 for Hodges,
giving Capper a slight lead. Then
Doniphan county cut two off Capper
majority and Crawford, which was the
1O4th county to report, made a gam
of three for Hodges
With a lead of seven votes in the
gubernatoriaI contest, friends OF ooth
sides waited impatiently for the news
from Cherokee. 1t was o'clock
that Capper had made a slight gain IN
the county. The returns from Chero-
kee were being carried at $50 1or
Hodges, the unofficial figures. Hodges
needed majority OF SO4 IN Cherokee
TO win and eos to tie his opponent
But Cherokee did nothing with un-
certainty 1t reported an even 500 1or
Hodges. or a loss of 46 votes, giving
Capper the election on the present
official count by So majority
Several slight changes OF one or Two
votes have been made in some OF the
counties reported to the secretary OF
state. 1t is even possible that the nm
al checking of the returns in the sec
re+arv of states office might affect the
results. But with a lead of So votes
Capper's election seems assured
There is little question but that
Hodges will contest the election his
workers in various counties nave re-
r,orted that ballots have been rejected
nv the election boards which should
have been counted for the Democratlc
e11bernatorial nominee. On the other
hand Capper declares he is confident
that a recount will increase his major
The election of Capper by 53 major
i+v marks the closest state election
ever held in Kansas. 1t reduces the
6s11res in the Hoch- Harris fight by
nearly 1880. In 1904, F. w. Hoch was
reelected governor over former Uni
ted states S6ndIOT W. A. 4Ae1AAi - -
about / 400 majority. At that time
the Hoch race was a new mark in
close elections for state Office. Now the
Capper-Hod race establishes a new
record.
II is quite probable that attorneys for
Hodges will appear before the state can
vassfne board TINS month and urge the
counting of the rejected ballots If they
are denied this, their case will be taken
before the state senate and an effort made
70 secure a recount of the ballots in the
counties where Hodges ballots were re-
iected AS the new state senate II Demo
cratic Hodges friends believe that he viii
be given a ready hearing IN application
for a recount of the votes
Henderson Martin. Democratic chair
man. this afternoon was still claiming
Hodges election. Martin, however.
only figured Hodges majority at loo
and he had not heard of the certain
Camper gains in Dickinson of some 80
votes
MaioritieS by Counties