The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1916-11-18
On the Face of the Remarkably Close Contest
Woodrow Wilson Has Been Reelected by
Small Majority in the National
Electoral College.
VOTE OF CALIFORNIA GOES TO PRESIDENT
Majority for Democratic National Ticket State Conceded
Chester ROweII Local Chairman-Boh Sides Engage
Legal Advice and Will Demand Recount of
Ballots in Several Close States

returns would show Mr.. Hughes had
been elected.
A short time before he was inform
ed by the Associated Press that vir-
tually complete unofficial returns
showed that Mr.. Wilson had carried
California, Mr.. Wilcox made the fol-
lowing statement:
I'VE are still without complete re-
turns from close states, but up to the
present moment, insofar as results are
concerned, there is no change from
last night"
Claim 300, 200 Wilson Votes.
The Democratic national committee
gave out the following statement
when the result in California became
known:
''The President has carried the coun-
try by a popular plurality of from two
hundred thousand to three hundred
thousand. With an electoral vote of
% absolutely sure, and with Mime
sofa, New Hampshire and West Vir-
ginia still to be decided, to say there
will be any contest is an insult to
the intelligence of the American peo-
ple."
Still No Complete Vote.
1t probably will still be another day
before the full results are known from
any of the four states left in the doubt
full column, and certainly not until
there has been an official count in
New Hampshire and possibly in
Minnesota. AS Mr. Hughes is lead
ing in Minnesota and West Virginia
and change in these states could in
no wise affect the result there may be
no demand for extraordinary haste to
bring about the proposed recount.
Virtually all the states where the re-
suit is close are carried in the Hughes
column and for that reason the Demo
Gratis profess to be not apprehensive
that any OYerturning could come from
a recount.
West Virginia to Hughes.
West Virginia was holding well for
Hughes with the night half gone, the
ex-justice having plurality of 3,5O5,
with only 4S7 precincts missing. That
made the state appear probably safe
for the Republican nominee.
Returns from New Mexico were
very slow, with Wilson having an eye
lash the best Of it.
Oregon showed a big gain for
Hughes late last night, and with a
plurality for him of 1928 votes, his
friends put the state in the Hughes
column
Wilson Holding Washington.
Wilson's lead in Washington was re
duced about a thousand votes, but
probably not enough to take the cleo.
tora1 vote from the President, so his
friends kept that state in his column
And so it went as the night wore on
neither side conceding any losses, but
the more conservative leaders admit
ting that the official count probably
would be necessary to determine the
Nations choice for the presidency.
Confer With Attorneys.
Attorney General Gregory visited
Democratic headquarters today and
was closeted with Chairman Vance
Mccormick for some time, but it was
asserted that his visit was of no spe
cia1 significance. Later in the day
John B. Stanchfield and DeIancey
Nicol, prominent Democratic attor
neys, conferred with Mccormick and
Henry Morgenthau, treasurer of the
Democratic national committee.
It was pointed out that if the Hous.
OF Representatives became the cour
Fof last resort in the election, the pres
ent House and not the. one elected
yesterday would sit in judgment. NJ
formal statements on the subject of ;