The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1916-07-07
Cats WILL co TO
THE FEDERAL COURTS
Contest Over Result of the Primary
Election May Split the Demo-
cratic Party in this State

Election May Split the Demo-
cratic Party in this State
Jacksonville, July w. V. Knott,
second high man in the gubernatorial
race in the June primary, according
to the official canvass, has overcome
the 260 vote lead of Sidney ]. Cats,
as result of recount of the vote
in Hamilton, Suwannee and Madison
counties yesterday. The change in
the result will be an even greater lead
for Mr.. Knott when the additional
precincts in which recounts have
been authorized have been made.
Cats Charges Fraud
Sidney J. Cats, of DeFuniak, who
was awarded the nomination by the
state canvassing board, charges that
since the count of June many bal
lots have been replaced and that the
votes counted in certain precincts
yesterday were not the same as those
recorded on June 5. Yesterday he re-
Iceived affidavits from the clerk and
inspectors of the Greenville precinct,
Madison county, declaring that the
ballots counted Wednesday were not
the same as those counted on the day
Iof the election. They cite that on
June 6 Mr.. Knott received only five
first choice votes in that precinct and
that Wednesdays count gave him
thirty-five votes.
Cats declares that he will imme-
diately institute proceedings in the
federal courts charging fraud since
the election.
i Recount of the second choice vote
for governor in many precincts in
Madison, Suwannee and Hamilton
counties was taken up yesterday, ac-
cording to T. B. Adams of counsel for
w. v. Knott.
In a previous statement issued by
counsel for Mr.. Knott who is contest
ing the nomination of Sidney j. Cats,
!, of DeFuniak Springs, declared that
in the three counties of Madison,
Hamilton and Taylor enough dis
chepancies and inaccuracies to over
come the 26O majority of Mr.. Cats
were expected to be discovered. Just
how long it will be necessary to count
the vote is not known, but it is prob
able that it will not be before the end
of the week that he recount in all
three counties will be concluded.
4 Mr.. Adams stated yesterday that
lalthough enough votes were expected
to change the result in the three
counties named above and in other
|precincts already counted prepara-
ltions for filing of other proceedings
in other counties are under way. It is
Expected that contests or petitions for
lrecounts will be filed in about twenty
leight counties. Proceedings have been
filled in ten counties or more already.
In some counties the entire vote of
certain precincts is asked to be thrown
Tout. Among these are three pre-
cincts in Dade county. If the charges
set forth in petitions for the throw
ling out of the vote in precincts 8, 10
land 10 were sustained Mr.. Cats lead
iwould be cut down to 116 votes in that
county.
Official Canvass Gave Cats ESQ Ma
i0rity
The vote as canvassed by the off,
cial canvassing board at Tallahassee
last month gave Cats 10000 first
choice votes and 1887 second choice
votes, a total of 33,429, against
Knots PATIO first choice votes and
l8,449 second choice votes, a total of
33,169. The canvass gave Cats ma
jority of 260, and on this canvass
certificate was issued by the canvass
ing board to the secretary of state at
Testing his nomination and directing
that his name should be placed on the
ticket as the democratic nominee.
Knott must continue his fight in court
and secure an order directing that the
canvassing boards certificate be set
aside and his name placed on the bal
lot.
Success in his steps to secure the
democratic nomination will probably
mean the appearance on the ballot of
the names of both Knott and Cats,
as well as the republican nominee,
George w. Allen. Cats has the en-
dorsement and nomination of the
state prohibition party, according to
reports of-the procedure of its con-
vention June 20 in Jacksonville, and
his name is almost certain to be GER
titled to the proper officials in thai
manner if not otherwise. The candi.
date himself, however, is sworn by his
statement as a candidate and demo
crat to support the nominee of the
party.
]. d. Rooney of Ocala was bust
mess visitor in DeLand last week II
l4bo ;p4oroc+ Of b;r {bo ds