New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-11-11
Two States May Give
President Plurality
of twenty-five
HE SHOWS GAIN
IN MINNESOTA
Campaign Heads Seek
Excuse in Result in
California

More complete returns from Nes
Hampshire and Minnesota strength
ened President Wilson's hold on
majority of electoral votes yester.
day.
Besides the 272 votes that seemed
assured to him on the basis of al
most complete returns from Cali
fornia, New Mexico and North Da
kota, he gained lead of seventy
ballots in New Hampshire, and cut
down Charles E. Hughes's lead in
Minnesota from 700 votes on Thurs
days count to SAB votes on returns
up to early this morning.
The sixteen electoral votes of these
two states are still in the doubtful col
umn. Ii the President finally gets
them he will have 2ss votes in the Elec-
toral College, twenty-five more than
enough to elect.
Refuse TO Concede Election
Charles F.. Hughes and the Republi-
can campaign managers refuse. how
ever, to concede the reelection Of the
President until the official count OF
votes in California, New Mexico, North
Dakota and New Hampshire is record
ed. That may take about q week or ten
days.
II is unlikely, in the face OF returns
at this time, that recounts will be de-
manded. All Mr.. Hughes, William X.
Wilcox, chairman of the Republican
National Committee, and the candi-
dates other political advisers desire,
apparently, is confirmation of the un-
official returns. There is difference
of opinion among the Republican man.
ayers as to recounts, but Mr.. Hughes's
counsel to wait until after the official
canvass will undoubtedly prevail. The
Presidents lead in California, New
Mexico and North Dakota is so great
now that recounts probably will be re-
garded as futile.
The vote on the latest available re-
turns in the five states where the race
was close is as follows:
California, with eighteen districts
out of $3.50 missing, gave wilson
plurality of 1886. New Mexico, with
forty-seven out of 63S districts miss
ing, gave Wilson a plurality OF 2,2sl'
North Dakota, with thirty-three out OF
s59 districts missing, gave Wilson
plurality of 1860. New Hampshire
with five out of 294 districts missing,
gave the President lead Of 20. while
Minnesota, still faithful to Hughes,
with thirty-six out of 3,o46 districts
missing. gave him a plurality Of b43
votes.
5000 Votes Would Change
The record closeness OF the contest
is best indicated by the fact that only
5000 votes properly distributed would
make a difference of 81 electoral votes.
II is upon this fact that the Republican
managers are basing their hope OF re-
versal of present appearances BY the
official canvass.
II the Republican managers insist
upon the official returns before taking
any action toward recount proceedings
or conceding the election OF President
Wilson. il may be ten days or several
weeks before the election is definitely
decided.
II is also exceedingly probable thss
Mr.. Hughes's present total OF 243 sure
electoral votes may be increased not
only by Minnesota's i2 votes and New
Hampshire's 4-the latter depending
entirely upon an official count-but
also by a split in California; Is votes.
II wilson's plurality in California re-
mains about 1900, the electoral vote of
the state almost certainly will be split.
Without North Dakota or New Mexico
as well as New Hampshire, however, he
would have TO get Of CALIFORNIA; ID
TO make the necessary 26e.
And there are other possibilities
which befog the situation and seeming
ly justify the delay Of the Republicans
in conceding the election. Kansas
passed a state law since the 1912 elee-
tion requiring voters TO vote for the
electors in a block instead Of as indi-
vidusls il they so chose. That gives =
remote chance Of contesting the law
as unconstitutional and possibly having
the ten Kansas votes invalidated.
Now Time for Alibis
II is now time to consider the alibis.
The post-mortem is the popular.
though perhaps mournful pastime. At
Republican National Headquarters.
The big and the little are casting