Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-11-21
PETITION FOR RECOUNT
OF VOTES IS POSTPONED
Independents Will Appeal for
Opening of Ballot-BoXes
Tomorrow

The petition to open ballot-hoxes in every
ward of the city for the purpose of dis
covering alleged Irregularities at the recent
election will he presented to the election
court tomorrow This action was to have
been taken today, but the postponement was
decided upon for reasons not divulged.
At the same time that the petition is
filed in the election court steps will be
taken to contest the entire election in the
Court of Quarter Sessions. In the event
of the contest being ruled out of the cleo
tion court. delay will be prevented by taking
the action stated.
Petitions We're filed this afternoon by
Henry ]. Scott counsel for the Town Meet
ing party, to open the ballot-boXes in ff-
teen divisions of eleven wards. Scme Of
the divisions questioned are in Congressman
Wares Twenty sixth Ward. Dave Lanes
Twentieth. and the Twenty second, the
stronghold of the independents. Mr.. Scott
said today he was confident of showing
Irregularities in these divisions which Will
warrant the opening of the ballot-boXes of
every ward In Philadelphia.
The official count of the first forty-three
wards was completed this afternoon and
shows the Republican candidates for Row
offices still leading. The vote follows:
Eendrick-1OO,6s7
ArmstrOng-02,304
Sheehan-95,205
Smitli-9l,S7
Shoper-97i53
Nicholson-04,357
Kendrick is leading in the first forty-three
wards by $3.50 votes.
In the fifteenth division of the Forty-fi NTH
Ward the returns were in such confused
state that Judge Finletter declared them un-
inteligible. He ordered that the election
officers of that division be sent for to make
corrections and present a respectable re-
turn to the court"
Announcement was made that the contest
would be so thorough and detailed that I,
might take the judges year to decide who
really were elected.
1t was said authoritatively that the
effect Of this would be to continue in
office the present city and county officials
whose terms expire the first OF the year. un.
tit the contest has been decided in a word
that Register of wills Sheehan and City
Treasurer MCCoach would draw salaries for
year beyond their regular terms All this
however, depends upon whether or not the
Court issues certificates of election to tn,
"hfty-fifty" candidates.
The interesting point s that n years
contest would tend to increase the animosit,
between the Penrose and Ware factions and
also might have the effect of preventing q
Statewide factional fight for the Repub
| lican gubernatorial nomination. The argu
! ment in the latter regard Is that IL tn,
| Ware men are TO be kept on the jump II
| court fighting the contest they might decid,
| to stay out Of the State contest, provided
| the Penrose candidate for Governor wa.
| agreeable to them, as it Is said, Senator
Sproul is agreeable. In any event. the con
| test would surely lay the foundation it wa,
| said on all sides. for bitter factional figh
over the mayoralty nomination two year,
| hence
| The indication of the increasing bitterness
between the rival factions was seen in Sen
| ator Wares comment on the contest. HI
| said:
They are dying hard. There will be n
| contest worth talking about"