Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-11-10
California Pivot

IitoI
The tension OF the most dramatic
situation in the political history of the
United States was broken when the
Associated Press flashed the news that
Republican State 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
headquarters of both parties in this
city. kilograms were REINFORCED by
telephone calls across the continent.
1t had been apparent since Wednes-
day that California was the pivot upon
which the election would swing.
1t was not until stage coaches had
come through from communities tuck
ed away in the Sierras or settlements
on the arid eastern slopes of the
mountains that the result was known.
Ordinarily the few votes cast in these
remote districts are considered of lit
tie moment. but in this history-mak-
ing presidential year they were of vital
importance. They could not be reach
trails and passes leading to them were
choked with snow in many places.
There was nothing to do but wait for
the stages and they began coming in
last night
Similar difficulties were encountered
Ill COlloCtlHB Jne returns lTOlH tllS
wilds of New Mexico and from the
far corners of Minnesota. In past
campaigns New MeMcos three cleo
toral votes have been considered
merely as incidental in swelling the
majority of the winner, but yesterday
they might have elected a president.
Minnesota was almost as important as
California in determining whether
Hughes or Wilson had won and the
returns from that State caused nearly
as much jubilation among the Repub-
licans as those from California in the
rival camp.
Demand Official Recount
That President Wilson's election
will not be conceded without a recount
in the close States was the declaration
of Republicans early to-day after con-
ferences lasting far into last night.
Some definite course of action proba-
bly, will be decided upon within few
hours. The States in which it was said
recourse to judicial proceedings was
likely were California New Hamp-
shire. New Mexico and North De-
kota.
II recount proceedings are Instituted
it was believed George w. Wicker
sham, attorney general of the United
States under President Taft, would
marshal the legal forces of the Repub-
licans. He conferred late yesterday
with Mr.. Hughes and Chairman Will
liam r. Wilcox of the National COM
mittee at the nominees hotel here.
No formal statement was Forthcoming
as to what was contemplated, but
Mr.. Wilcox asserted a recount would
be demanded wherever the margin Of
Democratic victory was so small that
comparatively few votes would turn
the scales. He and his advisers took
the position, they said, that there
should be no cloud upon Mr.. Will
sons title to the presidency.
Until President Wilson's victory was
assured the Democrats also were pre-
pairing to demand recount in the
so-called doubtful States. Alton b.
Parker, who resigned as chief judge of
the New York State Court of Appeals
to become the Democratic candidate
for President in 1904, conferred with
National Chairman Vance C. McCor--
mick, as did several other prominent
Democratic lawyers.
Charged in North Dakota
Both parties already have called for
a recount in New Hampshire where
less than 200 votes seem likely to de-
termine the result. Charges of at
tempts to tamper with the ballot boxes
in North Dakota have been made in
several sections of that State and have
been laid before the federal district at
torney by the United States marshal
<A6eutS VI Ino OIL
have been mobilized at points in other
States.
The Republicans contended, it was
said unotticially to-day. that since the
Democrats claimed California by a.,
of only approximately 5000
out of nearly 100000 votes cast, it
was apparent slight errors in a dis
trict here and there might change
the outcome.
The Democrats maintained on the
other hand that no charges of fraud
had been made by State Chairman
Rowell of the Republicans in conced-
Ing the State to Mrfi Wilson and IL
there had been any basis for them,
he undoubtedly would so have inform
ed the national headquarters of the
party in this city. In a statement
made to the Associated Press at San
the only contention Mr..
Rowell made of even partial vic
tory for Mr.. Hughes was that the cleo
toral vote of that State might be split
on the official count as it was in 1912
when two votes went to Wilson and
eleven to Roosevelt.
Both sides concede that no matter
what action might be taken in regard
to q recount there was little likeli- |
hood of contest being carried to the
House of Representatives as it was