The Twin Falls times. [volume] (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1905-1916, 1916-11-16
ELECTION CONTEST
DECLARED POSSIBLE
Evidence of Illegal Voting Not
Shown Here
ONE ERROR FOUND AFFECTING
ALL-DAyIS GAINS VOTE.
Great Excitement Stirred Up In Other
Parts of State Over Alleged Loose
h Swearing In-

y
The canvassing of returns in Twin
Falls county goes on apace and not
withstanding the statements attributed
TO Secretary Gregory of the Republi-
can state committee, nothing serious
has been found. An error in counting
in precinct No. l of Buhl, gave ten
votes too many to every candidate on
both tickets. d. w. Davis has gained
one vote on a faulty counting in one
precinct. Attorney c. M. Booth, who
represents the Republican county CEN
tral committee, said today that there
was no evidence of fraud. He would
not say whether a contest might be
filed or not. Secretary Stuart Taylor
of the Republican county committee
said that he did not believe that there
was any intentional fraud. There
were many bets and some of those
who made them on either side might
have urged men to vote, without care
fully finding whether qualified or not.
He had no evidence that they did.
Chairman Hicks Is watching returns
for the Democrats.
Boise, November 14th, 1916.
TO the Prosecuting Attorneys of the
Several Counties of the State OF
Tdaho
Eentlemen: Evidence of the strong
XA.;kind has reached this office, from
rsarious parts OF the state, that frau-
dulent evasion and violation of the
election laws of the state was prac-
ticed at the election held on the 7th.
From the information at hand it
would seem that widespread abuse Of
the privilege of swearing in qualified
electors, as permitted by the registra-
ton law of 1918, was indulged in.
There is nothing more important un-
der our form of government than that
elections shall be free from fraud and
corruption, and that the true will OF
the people shall be expressed thereat.
\ [ therefore requst you, as county
Nttorney, to institute an investigation
in your county and report to this Of
n&:
Fhrst-The number of voters in your
county that were registered on election
day under the provisions of section a.
chapter 92, session laws of 1913.
Second-Whether these persons Sc
registered on election day were au-
thorized to be registered and to vote
under the laws of the state.
1t is not desired under this second
requirement that all the cases shall
be investigated, but it is thought thai
a sufficient examination could be eX'
peditiously made which would furnish
a safe grounds for such criminal ol
civil action as might be deemed advls'
able.
It is not intended that this requisl
ton shall prevent in any way inyesti
cations by grand jury or otherwise
that you or any of you might feel oD
liged to make in your county or coun
ties. 1t is only intended to ascertain
from these reports the extent OF th'
fraud, if any, whether sporadic or gen
eral as only in this manner 1t seems
can the real seriousness of the situa
tio/be adequately determined.
.xclease give this matter your lmme
Kate attention.
With personal regards, am,
Yours sincerely,
]. II. PETERSON,
Attorney General
Following week of insinuation Il
which fraud was intimated, though no
openly charged by the Boise States
man, and after a difference betwee
the Bonneville county candidates, tn
above notice was yesterday mailed t
the several county attorneys of tn
- state of Idaho by Attorney General .
Nj. Peterson On the previous da,
Ne Statesman contained a statemen
ts\effect that the county commission
ers~of Bonneville county had deter
mined to throw out the votes of tw
precincts and that this action woul
result in the election of the entire Re
publican ticket from that county. Thi
report has proven incorrect, but ther
is trouble over the two precinct
named in that county. The followin
is the statement of the case by tn
Capital News:
The controversy over the governor
ship in this state now reyolves aroun
the count 1t has no reference to an
alleged fraud in the swearing in
votes. 1t is claimed that straight ba
lots, scratched on governor, have M
been properly counted.
At Republican state Headquarters
is stated that a demand will be mad
for recount in all counties where ii
situation related in the foregoing ol
tanned and 1t Is limited that the cas-
IN be carried to the highest court
Necessary on the point OF proper M
/. thod of making the count. Secretal