The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1914-09-09
YE;S EXPLAINS
ELECTION CONTEST
Defeated Candidate for Republican
Nomination Tells Why He Has De-
cided to Concede Preus' Victory.
RECOUNT SHOWS MANY ERRORS
Mora Man to Work for Election Of
Nominee Who Volunteers to Take
Stump for Republican Party.


Stump for Republican Party.
That the continuing of the recount
of the primary vote for the republi-
can nomination for state auditor
could not possibly change the re-
suit to his favor, Henery Rines, of
Mora, has dropped the contest and
comedies the nomination to J. A. o.
Preus, insurance commissioner, as
was announced in the Pioneer bull
letin of Tuesday evening.
Rines said that a recount in TWEEN
ty counties has convinced him that
his gains would not be sufficient to
overcome Mr.. Preus' lead. In his
statement, Mr.. Rines pledges support
to Mr.. Preus and says he will be glad
to cooperate with Mr.. Preus for the
success of the entire republican state
ticket.
Text of Statement.
Mr.. Rines statement is as follows:
"After having recounted awenty
counties, including Ramsey, Henne-
pin and St. Louis, have become con-
WINGED that Mr.. Preus has received a
plurality of the votes in the primary
contest for state auditor, and I con-
cede his nomination.
"The recount was instituted by me
after became convinced, from an ex-
animation of the primary election
returns, that large number Of votes
estimated at from 5000 to 10000,
marked in the second choice column
only by the voters, had been rejected
by election judges in many precints
through ignorance of that provision
Of the law which provides that such
ballots shall be counted as first
choice votes. The returns also
showed gross errors in making re-
turns of second choice votes. Be-
cause of the arrangement of the
tally sheets it was evident that Mr.
Preus received the benefit of these
errors in many precints. y
Tells Of Recount.
under these conditions ]. felt in
justice to myself and my supporters
that it was my duty to ask for re-
count to clear up the complications
which were so apparent in the re-
turns The recount has shown that
my analysis of the primary returns
were correct. In the twenty coun-
ties approximately 1000 votes were
added to the total first choice votes
Of the three candidates for auditor,
and if the recount had been COM
pleted the total increase would have
been from 5000 to 10000. The
second choice returns were found TO
be erroneous in large proportion
of the precincts.
my gains in the twenty counties,
including such disputed ballots as
would undoubtedly be allowed by
the court, were about 800 votes. I
have examined the precinct returns
from practically all of the remaining
counties. From our experience, and
the disclosures of the recount, I
estimate that I would make further
gains of from 200 to 300 votes, due
largely to the complications of the
second-choice returns, but these
gains would still leave me about 500
votes short. While several thousand
unaccounted votes would be added, it
is not likely that they would mater
tally affect the result, as experience
shows that these votes are quite
evenly divided between the two can
didates.
"The contest has been carried on
in a very friendly manner and Mr..
Preus and his attorney has shown me
every courtesy. I shall give Mr..
Preus my loyal support during the
coming campaign and shall be glad
to cooperate with him in securing
the success of the entire republican
state ticket"
Mr.. Preus made the following
stat ement:
To Stump State.
when Mr.. Rines commenced his
contest I felt keenly that it was an
imposition in. view of the fact that