Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-01-22
eleventh DISTRICT CONGRESS-
MAN FACES FIGHT
FOR SEAT.
RECOUNT GIVES STEELE
SLIGHT LEAD IN VOTE
Contest Over Ballots in Second Pre-,
cnct Of Sioux City Shows Vote Was
incorrectly Reported - Contest Now
Goes to House Of Representatives For
Final Decision.

SloGN City, Jan. 22.-ErrorS in count
ing the vote for congressman in the
second precinct in Sioux City at the
1915 election resulted in the defeat OF
Congressman Tom Steele for re-elec-
ton. the democrats claim.
In case the committee named by
congress to pass on the contest gives
Steele the seat because of the errors
in the Second precinct in Sioux City.
il will mean that the house III the next
congress will he democratic by ma
jor!tyy Of one vote. Thru the one
small precinct may decide who shall
serve As congressman from this dis
trict and also decide the political COM
pleXion Of the house.
These facts We're aSCertained when
ar informal recount Of the second pre-
CinCt ballots by representatives of Mr.
Steele and Mr.. Scott. at the hearing
before Commissioner <. c. Hamilton at
the court house, proved the allegations
of Mr.. Steele that his vote was incor-
rectly reported by the election officials
the night Of the election.
Steele Vote Grows.
When the last ballot was identified Al
noon the figures compiled by the four
men showed that Steele actually car
ried the second precinct ny plurality
Of f1<ty-Six votes. The election board
reported to Auditor Hosner that Scott
carried the precinct by a plurality of
l53 votes. The reported vote was .0i
votes for Scott and PSI votes for Steele.
The recoun, shows zoe votes for Scott
and 362 votes Tor Steele.
Secretary of State W :. Aliens fig
ures show that Scott carried the dis
tr!ct by plurality Of Isl votes. His
total vote was reported by Mr. Allen Us
25.9i1 while Steele's was 1916 Had
the correct vote in Sioux Cfty's second
precinct been used in compiling the
district returns. instead of the incor-
rect vote. Steele would have been re-
elected by plurality Of fifty eight
votes. He would have had total Of
25.e07 votes in the distria. and Scott
would have had 1884 votes in the dis
trict.
Rests On Second"
The second precinct is the meat Of
the contest, persons closely connected
with the proceedings declared today.
They predicted that the official vote for
congressman in all other precincts in
this county and probably in all other
precincts In the district now will be
accepted by the Steele attorneys. mas
much as their contention of the errors
in the second precinct has been proven
and Steele placed IN the lead
II now will be up 10 MI. Scott 10
either show that errors were made in
counting the vote IN other precincts in
the district to the extent that he was
deprived Of legal votes If he hopes 10
prove to the next congress that the
real vote in the district entities him TO
the district seat in the Slxty-fifth con
gress, From now on the contest pro
ceedings will leave the burden Of proof
on Mr.. Scott. inasmucfl as the Steele
forces have proven that Steele was re-
elected with the correct vote in the
second precinct added 20 the Official
vote in all Of the other district pre-
cinCts.