The Laclede blade., 1916-11-17


"Twice during these unofficial COM
putations yesterday In California mis-
takes In additions were announced
from that state, substantially changing
figures previously given.
at is a common experience that the
result of the official count almost al
ways varies from Athe returns first an
nounced.
"Where the vote is as close as that
reported in several states, 1t may we'll
be that material changes win result
from the official count.
1--WE owe it to the country to take
all necessary steps to see that an ex-
act and honest count of the vote is
made. When the current seemed to be
running against Mr.. Wilson on Wednes-
day. the Democratic managers an
nounced their intention to demand
recount in every close state.
"All we desire is to make sure that
the vote Is counted as cast"
Both sides conceded that no matter
to a recount there was little likelihood
of a contest being carried to the house
of representatives as it was after the
Hayes-Tilden campaign in 1876. Legis-
latiOn enacted In 1887, 1t was said.
made the state sovereign in pronOune-
ing judgment in a recount of the pres
idential vote.
a+- p
How Congress Stands.
Congressional election returns, near
ly completed, assure President Wilson
in the forthcoming administration q
Democratic senate, but with five dis
tricts still undecided, the best that the
Democrats. could claim was plurality
of four votes in the house.
Upon the basis of revised returns
the Democrats have elected 215 mem
bers of the house and the Republicans
211. In addition there have been elect
ed one Independent, one Socialist, one
Progressive and one Progressive Pro-
tectiOniSt.
Four districts in West Virginia, two
of them nominalIy Democratic, and two
Republican, and one district in New
Mexico, are still undecided. If these
districts do not change, the Democrats
will have 217 and the Republicans PA,
a plurality of only three.
AS there will be four members of
other minority parties, working ma
jority for the Democrats is improbable
unless some of the minority members
should choose to cast their lot with
the administration forces.
The senate, according to latest fig
ures, will consist of "a Democrats and
AZ Republicans, a majority of II. The
Democratic majority in the present
senate is 16.
An unusual feature of the result is
the election of the first woman to con-
gress, Miss Jeanette Rankin, Repub-
lican, apparently having been elected
in Montana.
Women Vote as Do Men.
From the general result it is clear
that as the men voted In the suffrage
states, so did the women.
In Illinois men and women seemed
about equally divided as to prefer
ence. The state went for Hughes by
big plurality.
In Kansas, Colorado, Montana,
washington, Oregon and California,
where women also vote, Wilson was
successful, but his pluralities were not
sufficiently large to indicate that the
woman voters supported him as unit.
Six States Go Dry.
PrOhibitionists are jubilant over the
results of the election where prohibit
zion was an issue. From Washington
the legislative committee Of the Anti
Saloon league issued statement say
ing:
prohibition has taken another
great leap forward. Michigan has
voted for statewide prohibition by
Is 900 majority. Nebraska by $1,000,
Montana by 10000 and South Dakota
by 25OOO. Idaho has adopted pro
hibition constitutional amendment by
majority Of to L Utah has prob
ably elected legislature pledged TO
enact statewide prohibition Wash
ington, Iowa, Colorado. Arizona and
Arkansas have defeated atteTpts oi