The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-11-09
BOTH SIDES PREPARE TO DEMAND ACCOUNTS
 IN DOUBTFUL STATES
Coseness of Votes In Some States May Result In Recount -McCormick Has Conference With Attorney General
 and Steps Are Taken to Begin Investigations

New York, Nov 9-With the result of the Presidential election in doubt contest in states where the vote Is close, seemed certain last night re- gard1ess of which side wins. The campaign managers of both the lead- Ing parties were then preparing to take their fight into the courts in case of an adverse decision on the face or the returns.
 Chairman Vance C. Mccormick af- ter conference with United states Attorney General Gregory and Secre- tary of the Treasury McAdoo actually retained John B. Stanchfield and De "Lancey Nicoll to represent the Ma tional Committee in any legal pro- ceedihgs that may be found needful for the protection of the party in- terests-
 Chairman William R. Wilcox Of the Republican National Committee, after consulting with George w. Perkins and Republican leaders actively iden- tified with the Hughes campaign, sent word to the National Committeeman In all states to retain the best lawyers available to represent their organiza- tions and look out for the party inter- ests in any recount proceedings that may be commenced in close states.
 From both the national headquar- ters in this city orders were sent to party managers and candidates in all states where the count of the vote has not been completed to adopt every possible safeguard to prevent fraud in the interest of rival candidates. The Democratic campaign manag- CTS actually have ordered quo war ranto proceedings looking to re- count started in New Hampshire Late returns last night indicated that the result in five other states would be so close as to call for recount pro- ceedings by, the party, losing on the face of the returns. These states were West Virginia, North Dakota, New Mexico. Minnesota and Califor- nia- In all it appeared to be a neck and-neck race between the two candi- dates.
 There was tense excitement at both headquarters all day yesterday Great crowds surged in and out of the as- sembly rooms where the returns were being cha1ked up on big black boards.
 - sB5sss.sI; <. eA
 MCCORMICK ACTS PROMPTLY.
 National Democratic leaders took prompt measures yesterday because of the closeness of the election to have the ballot boxes in the uncertain states amply guarded and the count protected. Chairman Vance c. Mc- Cormick of the Democratic National Comn1ittee. admitted last night that there was likelihood of a recount of the votes in one or two of the ex- tremely close states and that attor- neys had already been engaged to reresent the committee.
 This action was taken in the after noon after a conference of Chairman Mccormick, Henry Morgenthau, Will jam G. McAdoo, Thomas w.. Gregory, United States Attorney-Genera John B. Stanchf1eld and DeLancey Nicoll. Mr. Stanchfield and MT. Nicoll were called in as special counsel to repre- sent the National Committee in any legal steps it may be found desirable to take. Chairman Mccormick would not discuss what the first move would be, but he had already sent tele- gram to every Democratic state and county chairman apd every Demo- cratic candidate for Congress in the close states to be on the alert This is the message:
 President Wilson has been re-elect- ed Our opponents are desperate. You must personally see that the ballot boxes are guarded and the count pro- tected and nothing left undone to safe guard this victory :.
 Chairman Mccormick did not charge that his opponents might at tempt corruption or the stufhng of ballot boxes, but he said he was not taking any chances. As a result of Attorney-General Gregory's visit to headquarters, it was reported that no matter whether President Wilson or MT. Hughes was elected, it was con- sidered certain that when Congress meets in December it's first action will be to consider the enactment of the Corrupt Practices bill which failed of passage at the last session, as we'll as the authorization of Congressional Investigation into the political expen- ditures of the recent campaign, re- gardless of party lines or interests. Chairman Mccormick, who was at national headquarters for A hours with only an hours sleep, said last night that there had never been a doubt in his mind that President Will son would win. He said he did not think it would be necessary for him even to change his original estimate of the electoral vote given on Tuesday night. The President was sure of 2SS electoral votes, he said, and he thought it might go as high as BOA
 T haven't changed the claim of 288 T made Tuesday night and all day yesterday" said Chairman McCor- mick, land the returns are still com ing in.''
 But Chairman Wilcox of the Re- publican National Committee claims 2z8 votes for MT. Hughes,'' Mir Me- Cormick was told.
 That's rot" said the Democratic chairman. "Ca1ifornia is safe and President Wilson will get New Hamp- shire and West Virginia. Both state chairmen in those states confirm this We Ahave got New Mexico and also North Dakota"
 How about Oregon%
 That state is very close, but Will