Evening star., 1916-05-22
Charles Linkins Explains That
Only Two Members Canvass
ed Election Returns.
COUNSEL GUIDED DECISION
FOR MILLER-CHASE TICKET
Charges of Collusion Made by G. c.
Gertman Sent to Frank J. Hogan
in Form Of Letter.

Charges of collusion in the councils
Of republican officials Of the District to
give the certificate of election to serve
as delegates to tho Chicago convention
to the Miller-Chase ticket; denial of
these charges, and an explanation made
by the board Of elections as to the rea-
son for their reversing the certificate
Of the returning board. which body
gave the election to Hogan and Willis
ton, were the developments of the day
in the triangular fight over the recent
ly held primaries.
Breaking the silence which he has
maintained concerning the reasons OF
the board Of elections in reversing the
announced findings Of the returning
board, Charles Linkins, chairman of the
public some Of the evidence by which
the board was guided in making out
the certificate of election. He pointed
out that only two of the three mem
bers appointed to serve on the return. .
ing board we're present at the time OF
canvassing the ballots. and claimed
that in view of this fact the count
meant absolutely nothing" Referring
to the charge of colluSfon made today
by George c. Gertman of the returning
board. who claims that the board re-
ceived definite instructions as to which
ticket to return, irrespective Of the ac-
tual count Of the ballots. he said:
81 know nothing whatever Of the mat
ter. II such a proposition was made to
the returning board Mr.. Gertman was OBJ
viously right in vigorously resenting it."
Statement by Mr.. Linkins.
Referring to the decision of the board
of elections. Mr.. Linkins said:
The canvass of the returns by two
members of the returning board, there
being a vacancy at the time. was held by
the election board to be void. This de-
cision was made on advice of counsel and
was no reflection on the two members
who attempted to act. The advice of
counsel was that the returning board
should have consisted of three members
when it undertook its duties.
The election board. therefore, careful
ly went into the entire matter and de-
termined 1t on the ballots, the registra-
ton. the returns of judges and evidence
before it.
THE proper forum to consider all of
this is the convention at Chicago"
Charges in Form Of Letter.
=
Gertman took the form Of a letter writ
ten yesterday to Frank ]. Hogan of the
Hogan Williston ticket. The letter
which notified Mr.. Hogan that he had
been informed Of the action of the cleo
ton board said in part:
although that action by the election
board must be surprise and grievous
disappointment to you. it evidences
contempt for the certificate of the re-
turning board showing your election
by plurality of more than 400 over the
Miller-Cha ticket, and which certifi-
cate, other than my signature thereto,
is in the handwriting of Mr.. Snyder, as
chairman. 1t is not surprising to me
because 1t is entirely compatible with
what occurred just before the first
meeting Of the returning board on cleo
were brought to my ONCE. when I was
told by one Of the parties concerned.
and responsible for my appointment on
the board. that although he knew the
Hogan ticket had prevailed in all the
precincts, nevertheless the Miller Chase
ticket must have the certificate of the
returning board showing their selection
and that therefore the returns must be
canvassed behind closed doors and the
ballots and all evidence of the election
be Immediately destroyed
You already know that this con-
temptible suggestion was vigorously
resented by me and that the opening Of
the ballot boxes was public, the re-
spective candidates being invited, and
there were present. besides yourself,
representatives Of the Washington Post
yours, GEORGE c. GERTMAN."