Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1917-04-08
SNOWF[AKE'S
VOTING FAIR
IN EVERY WAY

1t was only brought out by the in
vestigation of Snowflake precinct that
a fair and square election where every
thing was above board" was held
that there was no interference with the
expression of the viii of any voter ard
that all of the people in that community
think well, or at least speak well, OF
one another.
The proceedings opened with a clash
between the attorneys for the cOntes-
tant and the contestee. Mr.. Ives, chief
counsel for former Governor Hunt. di-
rected the attention of the court to the
circumstance that attorneys for the
contestee were in consultation with the
witnesses for the contestant. Attorney
Crosby of Snowflake who had been
made counsel for the cortestee in this
phase of the goVeTnorship contestant
was at that moment engaged in con-
versation with W. Z. Stratton of Snow
flake, democratic judge OF the election
and who had been subpoenaed by the
contestant. Judge Sloan replied that
Mr. Stratton would he made a witness
for the contestee and would have been
subpoenaed on the part of the contestee
if he had not been brought by the con-
teStant.
After this matter had been aired. Mr..
Stratton was called to the stand He
said that he was judge of the election
at Snowflake on November I. He saw
Joseph w. Smith there. Mr.. Smith was
the republican challenger who it was
charged had taken charge of the cleo
ton. had accompanied voters to their
booths and had told them how to vote
Mr.. Stratton described the arrangement
of the school house where the election
took place. There was one large room
l,e.
We're, and later in the day when the
voters became more numerous, an ad-
joining room was used as a booth. The
witness said that he had noticed no
special activity on the part of Mr..
Smith. He had seen him assisting Vot-
ers who had requested assistance and
had given it with the permission of the
election board. The witness described
the assistance by c. H. Ballard, mem
Der of the board of George Willis. an
aged man. He did not know whether
Willis could read or not or whether he
was prevented by defective vision
from marking his ballot.
On cross examination by Attorney E.
S. Clark. Mr.. Stratton said he did not
mean that Mr. Smith had suggested to
those he assisted how they should vote.
He saw nothin~ about the polls that
looked like concealment or an impro-
priety. The voters were all old settlers
and pioneers and, men and women OF
good standing in the community.
On redirect examination the witness
was asked if Mr.. Smith was not an act
i've republican. Mr.. StrattOn said that
he was not more active politically than
many others in the community. He said
that all the members of the board knew
what Mr.. Smith was doing and that
they had given their consent for him
to do those things. Again, on cross
examination, Mr.. Stratton said that il
was the purpose on the part of all who
were there including Mr.. Smith, to
have a fair and square election.
When Mr.. Clark asked him if there
was any betting on the election or il
there was any drinking about the polls
a smile ran about the room and con-
ditions at Douglas No. / were recalled
In conclusion the witness said that the
character of Mr.. Smith was above re-
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