The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-11-12
Republican Chairman Cites
ChangeM in California
Vote Four Years Ago
SAYS 1T WAS MONTH
BEFORE ROOSEVELT
TOOK LEAD IN STATE
Holds Conference With Hughes, But
No Word Is Given Out as to
the Candidates Plans
for Future

New York, November 11.--A statement
showing the fluctuaton of the lead be-
tween President Wilson and Colonel
Roosevelt in California in 1912, from day
to day for a month after election, and
how the state finally went in favor of
Roosevelt after Wilson was first credited
with winning was issued here today by
Chairman William r. Wilcox of the re-
publican national committee ito show
precisely why the republican national
committee cannot, at this time, concede
the election to Mr.. Wilson and must
await the official count in this and other
states.
THE record shows" Mr.. Willcox's
statement read, that Mr. Wilson was
first in the lead; that subsequently this
lead was taken by Colonel Roosevelt and
that finally the delegation to the electoral
college from California was divided. two
electors being for Mr.. Wilson and eleven
for Colonel Roosevelt.
FILES OF PAPERS CITED
"The files of the San Francisco
Chronicle show the following: On
election, 1912, the Chronicle said the indi-
cations were that Mr. Wilson had a safe
plurality over Colonel Roosevelt. The
democratic state chairman claimed the
state by 10000.
"On November the Chronicle said
that a storm had delayed reports and
that no figures were available from four
counties Returns from 1868 precincts out
of 1872 gave Mr.. Wilson a lead of 6237.
"On November 8, the Associated Press
announced that Colonel Roosevelt was in
the lead by 100 votes. Six changes had
been made in the vote from Los Angeles
in the previous u hours, each change in
! creased the lead Of Colonel Roosevelt.
With three Los Angeles precincts out and
1856 precincts elsewhere in the state out
the Wilson vote stood at 2S0,125 and the
Roosevelt vote 2SO,255.
1.-THE collapse of the Wilson plurality
was due to the way election figures in
Los Angeles had been compiled The
democratic county chairman placed the
Roosevelt majority in that county at
about 13,oOO
STARTLING DISCREPANCIES
1.-THE clerk of the county was appealed
to by political leaders for an accurate ac-
count. He made a semi-official tabula-
ton Of the returns which showed start
ling discrepancies from the results OBJ
tanned unofficially by political headquar-
tiers and newspapers. Much of the dis
crepancy was due to the scratching of
Wallace. who headed the progressive
electors.
ION November 9, returns compiled from
1923 precincts out of 1872 gave Colonel
Roosevelt 2s1,497. and Mr.. Wilson 2S0,s43
"On November 49, returns from all but
five out of 1872 precincts gave Colonel
Roosevelt the state by "a votes
ION November II. it was announced
that Secretary of State Jordan went to
the count.
"On November "a, it was announced
that the district court of appeals in Los
Angeles had thrown out one precinct
which had given Colonel Roosevelt ma
jority of 1914
"On December the Chronicle an
nounced that if there were no more
changes due to court decisions and to
the auditing by the secretaries of state
there would be, according to the official
count two democratic electors and IL
progressives.
"A change of 10 votes would elect an
other democrat, it was said"
CONFERS WITH HUGHES
Mr.. Wilcox had a conference with
Charles E. Hughes today during which
the situation was discussed. No an
nouncement came from Mr.. Hughes in
regard to his own plans Mr.. Wilcox
said afterward that he, and he thought
(Ccntinued ON Page Four