The Mena weekly star., 1913-06-26
BRUNDIDGE STILL HOPEFUL. Special to The Star.
 Little Rock, June ?, 3:50 D. m.- Brundidge refuses to cOncede de- feat and contest is probable. Hays claims election by $500.
 Parke- Harper

Little Rock, June 24.-With about half of the normal vote cast in the state, and scores of precincts hold ing no election at all the race for governor is still unsettled, with both sides claiming it.
 Judge Hays friends are jubilant over the situation, claiming that the Camden jurist has won by a majority of 5000 to 5000, although unofficial figures made by the local newspapers have been cutting down his lead from nearly 2000 to begin with to about 300 Monday after noon, with the prospect of swinging over to the Brundidge column by Tuesday. This condition is due to the fact that the strong Hays coun- ties had all come in early, while several of the strong Brundidge counties were delayed. Izard, with reported Brundidge majority of 800, and Phillips, which was known to have gone for Brundidge by 1,500 or more, could not be secured deti- nitely. Union county, however, which at first gave Hays a majority of about l,500, came in Monday aft ernoon with a reduction of over 300 All the reports during the day have been gradually whiting down the Hays lead.
 T am sure that my friends in the northern and eastern parts of the state have done their duty by me- declared Col. Brundidge, and I ex- pect to win by a large-sized ma jority."
 The people, so far as the returns have been received, have seen fit to elect me, and l bow to their will" said Judge Hays.
 The distinguishing features of the election have been the small vote and the slow returns, considering that the ticket is the shortest ever voted at a state election, in most of the counties there being only the two names on it. In many counties there were numerous townships that held no election, and it is re- ported that in one township in a western county the judges delivered the box at the county seat at noon, reporting that there was no use in keeping the election open all day, for everyone in the township, 2l in all, had voted
 As the result is deferred from day to day the talk of a possible con- test becomes stronger. In the event the majority for either candidate is not more than a thousand, it is generally believed that there will be a contest. And if there should be a contest an interesting condition is liable to arise which some have not taken into consideration.
 Under the law. the county cen tral committees will meet this week. most of them on Saturday to can yass the returns, which will be made to the State Central Commit tee. That body must canvass the returns and certify the nominee to the governor not later than 20 days before the election, which would be July 8, and the nominee must be certified out by the secretary of state to the county election com missioners not later than July 5.
 Should a contest be started. with the necessary taking of testimony and all the macRnery of an elec- ton contest, it would be a physical impOssiblity to complete it in time to certify the nominee within the required time
 The special election, called to fill the vacancy in the office of govern or, is called without respect to par ty and the fact that any one party became involved in a controversy over it's nominee could not operate to postpone the election.
 Unless the State Central Commit tee should be able to settle it, there would be possibility of the Bull Moose nominee. Col. George W. Murphy, or .he Republican nomi- nee, who is 10 be Harry H. Myers, to be nominated July i, being elect ed governor of Arkansas. These contingencies may, of course, be considered remote, but they have been pointed out as the almost cer- tain result of a contest from the Democratic nomination.