The L'Anse sentinel., 1916-11-18
California VOTE GOES TO
WILSON; ELECTION CLAIMED

voted for him.
Probe for Minnesota Vote.
Three nights of unofficial canvass
ing failed to take Minnesota from the
doubtful column of the presidential
race. Charles K. Hughes maintained
a slight lead over President Wilson.
| but the standing continued so close
that politicians of both parties de-
clared that only the official count
would settle the presidential contest.
When the returns had been received
| from 1888 precincts out Of 1904 in
the state, Mr.. Hughes had pluraliy
Of 1904. the count standing: Wilson,
1851; Hughes, 176,646.
Federal investigators have begun an
inquiry into charges of alleged fraud
ulent voting in Minnesota. Accompa-
MED by large staff Of special agents,
Hinton G.. Clabaugh of Chicago, chief
of the wester division of the bureau
of investigation of the department of
Justice, arrived in St Paul. following
the receipt of complaints alleging that
fraudulent voting, stuffing Of ballot
were being carried on.
Preparations for Recount.
At republican national committee
headquarters 1t was admitted that af-
ter conference between George w.
Wickersham. former attorney general
OF the United States; Everett Colby
OF New Jersey, Mr.. Hughes, Chairman
Wilcox and George w. Perkins Of Bal
timore, preparations were being made
to begin legal proceedings for recounts
in states where the results were close.
Chairman Wilcox included California.
New Mexico, North Dakota, New
Hampshire and Minnesota in his list
of states where recounts undoubtedly
would be demanded.
Democratic headquarters was not
behind the republicans in preparing
for legal developments. Chairman
Mccormick conferred with Alton B.
Parker, former democratic candidate
for president; Morgan j. OBrien. De-
lancey Nicoll and John B. Stanchfield,
all prominent New York lawyers. 1t
was evident that If the election was to
be taken into the courts the legal gi-
ants of the parties were being marsh
aled for such a battle royal as the
United States never has seen.
Prospects Change Over Night.
Aside from the uncertainty of the
result the most remarkable thing
about the election was the sudden
wiping out of the Hughes majorities
piled uD in the east by the returns
coming in from the west. When the
republican landslide in New York be-
came known and was quickly followed
by the heavy republican victories in
New England, there was a veritable
stampede to announce the election of
Mr.. Hughes and the defeat of Presi-
dent Wilson.
Thousands of persons in the east
went to bed believing Mr.. Hughes
elected and woke up Wednesday morn
ing to find the result apparently
changed while they slept. Hundreds
who made their plans for what they
expected to happen in Wall street
Wednesday found them set all awry.
The first figures of Wilson MAORI
ties through the Nest did not shake
the confidence of those who were pre-
dieting the election of Mr.. Hughes and
not until the steady stream of Wilson
majorities began eating the Hughes
columns piled up in the east did any
of them suspect that the result was
in danger.
Although California still showed
lead for the president, and his cam
paign managers were claiming 1t by
at least 1900. the presidents majority
there had dwindled to little more
than 1,400 Thursday morning, with
about one-fifth of the districts missing.
See-saw In Minnesota.
In Minnesota, too, the Wilson lead,
which was as high as 10000 early in
the day, steadily decreased as the vote
from the rural districts came in.
Wednesday night Hughes took the
lead with small margin, and then
the president shst ahead again, but
with less than 1000 votes. Hughes
regained the lead again Thursday
morning.
Idaho was estimated for the Wilson
column with a majority of 10000.
Kansas, while incomplete, with a lit
tie more than two-thirds of the dis
tricts reported. showed President
Wilson leading with more than $1,000.
Washington, little more than half
reported. was giving the president a
lead of 1000.
West Virginia, two-thirds reported,
was showing Hughes majority of
nearly 1000.
North Dakota was very close, two
thirds complete showing Hughes ma
jority OF less than 1000.
Wilson was leading in New Mexico,
with only a small proportion of the
precincts reported. Delaware and
New Hampshire, counted among the
Hughes states. but incomplete. during
the day, definitely turned into the re-
publican column on Wednesday night.