Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1916-11-16
WILSON ELECTED;
G, O,P. TO DEMAND
!. RECOUNT OF VOTES
Statement by Wilcox After Con-
ference With Chiefs.
WANTS THE OFFICIAL COUNT
Wilson Now Has 276-Result in Cali.
California Made Sure When Stage
Coaches Bring in Returns
Over Mountains.

New York, Nov. 1.-THE Repub-
lcan national committee, through Its
chairman, William r. Wilcox, issued
formal notice that it will demand
recount of votes before the reelection
Of Woodrow Wilson as president Is
conceded. Chairman Wilcox handed
out the following statement:
WiIlcox's Statement.
1.-THE result still depends upon the
vote in a few close states. 1t must
be borne in mind that the returns thus
far announced, are, in many states, I'M
official, and may be changed by the
official count required by the laws OF
those states. Twice during these I'M
official computations in California
mistakes in addition were announced
from that state substantially changing
figures previously given.
ut is a common experience that the
result of the official count almost al
ways varies from the returns first
announced.
"Where the vote is as close as that
reported in several states it may we'll
be that material changes will result
from the official count. We owe it to
the country to take all necessary steps
to sec that an exact and honest count
Of the vote is made. When the cur
rent seemed to be running against Mr..
Wilson on Wednesday the Democratic
managers announced their intention
to demand "a recount in every close
state.
Cali we desire is to make sure that
the vote is counted as cast"
Leaders in Conference.
The statement was given out follow
ing conference between George w.
Perkins, George w. WickerSham for
mer attorney general; Herbert Par
sons, national committeeman; Sena-
tor Weeks, Travis III. Whitney, Col.
George Harvey and Mr. Wilcox.
President Wilson's total ia, the cleo
toral college is now placed at 276, New
Hampshire, New Mexico and North
Dakota being conceded to him along
with California. With Minnesota still
only Dab electoral votes.
Chairman Wilcox later announced
that he had been Informed that the
official vote in California and New
Hampshire would be announced by
the secretaries of state ia those two
commemorative Monday. He declared
the Republican national committee
would take formal steps im the courts
to obtain q recount in case there was
evidence or suspicion of fraud or bal
lot-box stuffing. He also said the same
procedure would be taken i'm North
Dakota and New Mexico.
California Vote May Be Split.
Woodrow Wilson was elected presi-
dent of the United States, according to
the unofficial returns, when California
swung definitely into the Democratic
column.
The only states in which the result
remains i'm question are Minnesota,
New Hampshire and New Mexivo, with
20 electoral votes. Unless there is q
decided OMerturn in the districts miss
ing Wilson will carry New Mexico.
Hughes is leading in Minnesota. The
result will not be known in New Hamp-
shire until the official count is oOmplet-
ed. West Virginia, which was classed
10y some as doubtful, has gone definite
iy for Hughes. North Dakota is safe
for Wilson.
Unless the vote of California is di-
xxrhio nv,
Mr.. Wilson is assured of 269 votes in
the electoral college, three more than
q majority, and Mr.. Hughes OF 243.
The president could lose three votes
from California and still have enough
Ito elect. Those loss would be offset by
New Mexico, which, it seems probable,
he has carried.
The tension of the most dramatic
Situation in the political history of the
limited States was broken when the
news was flashed that Republican
Estate Chairman ROwell of California
had conceded the state to Wilson.
frantic appeals to expedite returns
had been sent to state leaders hour
after hour from the national headquar-
tiers of both parties in this city. Tele-
Egrams were supplemented with tele-
tphone calls across the continent. It
had been apparent since Wednesday
that California was the pivot upon
which the election would swing.
1t was not until stage coaches had
come through from communities tucked
away in the Sierras or settlements On
the arid eastern slopes of the noun
tains that the result was known. Or
idinarily the few votes cast in these
remote districts are considered of little
moment, but in this history
presidential year they are Of vital i'm
portance. They could not he reached
by telephone or telegraph and the
trails and passes leading to them were
choked with snow In many places.
Similar difficulties were encountered
in collecting the returns from the
wilds Of New Mexico and from the far
cnrnarS of Minnesota New Mayico,S