New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-11-09
son lead in Minnesota began to melt
away and uneasiness again set in.
Prepared for Contest


away and uneasiness again set in.
Prepared for Contest
Meanwhile. evefy precaution had
been taken to make a contest possible
under favorable conditions in the
event OF the defeat OF the President.
Attorneys had been consulted and tele-
grams had been sent 70 state and
county chsirmen in all the doubtful
states calling upon them TO safeguard
the ballot boxes and make IL impos-
slble for them to be tempered with
pending possible recount.
II was reported that Delaney
Nicoll and John b. Stanchfeld, who
visited Mr.. Mccormick late in the
afternoon. had been consulted in rela
tion to possible legal proceedings. Mr.
Mccormick refused 70 deny or arirm
that this was the case.
But you may be certain that II there
arc court proceedings we will be rep
resented by the best counsel ayaiia-
ble,' he added.
Attorney General Gregory was an
other caller al the national chsirmsn's
Office who was thought TO have DIS
cussed the legal phases OF the sltua-
tion. Neither party 10 the conference
under discussion by them
A second conference among Chairman
Mccormick. Mr.. Stanchfeld, Mr.. Nicoll,
Mr.. Morgenthau and other Democratic
leaders was held last night at Demo-
cratic headquarters. According TO
rumor. the purpose of the conference
was TO plan election protests IN sew
eral states, particularly New Hamp-
shire and Minnesota. Word came TO
headquarters from Duluth that illegal
voting was freely alleged there. Coun-
ter charges of fraud made by local
party leaders in Minnesota and their
unusual care in the count were blamed
for the delay in getting accurate re-
turns from that state.
Mr.. Mccormick and other officials at
Democratic headquarters attended an
informal dinner given at the Waldorf
Astoria last night in honor Of Robert
w. Wooley, director of publicity of the
national committee.
G.. O. p. Leaders Sleepless
There was a nervous tension at Re
publican national headquarters all day.
Chairman Wilcox, Herbert Parsons and
other members of the national com
mittee had had no sleep for thirty-six
hours. A score of prominent Republl-
can leaders gathered in Mr.. Wilicoxs
Office. where Charles r. Warren, OF
Michigan, read the returns from the
doubtful states TO the group as they
were received over the committees pri-
vate wires. Several prominent Repub-
lican lawyers were among those pres
emit
Frank II. Hitchcock and Charles D.
IIsl1oe oh If the Rpnub-
lican National Committee; George W.
Wickersham, Henry W. Taft, George
W. Perkins, James r. Sheffield, Fred
erick c. Tanner, Republican State
Chairman; Samuel S. Koenig. chairman
of the Republican County Committee;
Controller William A. Prendergast,
Robert II. Fuller, Dock Commissioner
r. A. c. Smith, Borough President Mar
Gus VI. Marks. Lafayette b. Gleason and
several others were with Chairman
Wilcox.
Statements Conflicting
The rival campaign committees CON
tinued to issue bulletins last night
many of them conflicting and all pro-
vocative of enthusiasm to the CROWDS
gathered in and around the headduar-
tiers.
At 10 o'clock last night Chairman
Mccormick claimed President wilson
was undoubtedly reelected. with al
least 2SS electoral votes. According TO
his estimate. Wilson had won IN New
HAMPSHIRE. California. Minnesota and
New Mexico. getting % electoral votes
from those states.
Mr.. Mccormick expressed commence
that Wilson also would win IN oregon
although he was not suihciently sure
TO claim the state as vet ,.,
The Democratic chairman, exnlolteu
two kilograms from local leaders IN
San Diego and San Francisco; Dotn on
which claimed California for Wilson BY
a majority of $4,000. Mr.. McCormick
admitted this was only an estimate
and that the Presidents lead IN that
state. so far as known, was only o.ooo'
with more than 500 precincts still 10
be heard from. All of these precincts
bowever. were Wilson strongholds' MI
Mccormick declared. =,
In Minnesota, Mr.. Mccormick sald'
the Presidents lead at tho time was
over 6.O00. but he did not expect 10
win the state by any great margin
Hughes Gains Cheered
II was an anxious crowd that throngeo
Republican headquarters. waiting for
the last scattering returns which would
mean so much in the close run race.
At 1890. however. came news SO Roou
that cheers drowned the last OF Sc
RIOS of bulletins. Secretary James D.
REYNOLDS had climbed on a table 70
"Caljfornia." he announced. shows
a plurality of 1900 for Hughes on the
complete returns. 49,.
"Governor Hatfield informs Us tnAt
HUGHES has won in West Virginia by
partial returns from New Mexico
give Hughes a slight lead.
am Minnesota the Wilson lead ns'
been cut down so per cent
Claims 280 for Hughes
A.. 1890 a. m, by which time II had
boen admitted the announcement OF
Republican victory in California was
premature. Chairman Wilcox gave OUT
the following statement at nalonai
headquarters: II,
Returns from the states In which
the vote has been close have been com
ING in slowly. The delay appears to
have been caused by the time required
TO get in reports from rural communi-
ties. The latest returns clearly lndl-
cate that Minnesota, North Dakota, New
Mox;co Ore0on and probably Califor-