Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1917-11-23
COX WANTS TO KNOW IF
FRAUD WAS PRACT|CED
Calls on Secretary of State to
Get Information From Chiefs
of Wet and Dry Forces.


M. Cox has called on Secretary of
State w. d. Fulton to exercise to the
fullest his authority to establish
whether fraud was practiced in the
Ohio prohibition election, and, if SO,
to see that the guilty are punished.
Ihe governor, in a formal official
communication to the secretary, sug-
gestS that leaders of vets and drys
submit information in their posses
sion. He wants it made certain
whether prevalent suspicious regard
ing changes in the figures in some
counties are based merely upon rumor
or have foundation in fact He prom
tses his aid in the task
This is his letter to Fulton:
''My Dear Mr.. Fulton:
Section 6 of the constitution pro-
vides that the governor may require
information from the officers in the
executive department upon any sub
Ject relating to the duties of their
respective Offices and shall see that
the laws are faithfully executed
This provision obviously recognizes
the Importance to good government
of having the laws of the state en-
forced and it specifically places the
authority upon the executive. The
good name of the state is to be pre-
served. That is the objective
Public confidence in the integrity
and good faith of government, al
ways essential, is more important at
this hour than at any time in our
history, and this thought impels me
in the exercise of constitutional au-
thority to direct your attention to the
recent election on the prohibition
amendment.
Unfortunately, the result was close,
and it is to be regretted that errors
were discovered and changes made in
a number of counties in the summing
up of the final results.
These circumstances have bred
suspicion, and it behooves those in
authority to, exercise their fullest pow
ers in order that if fraud has been
practiced it may be revealed, that any
wrong which has accrued be corrected
and that the guilty be punished.
Il most respectfully suggest that
those leading the opposing forces in
| the late contest be asked to submit
any information now possessed or
which might be procured with refer
ence to violation of the law and that
any election officers who are proved
guilty, after fair investigation, be
dismissed as well as prosecuted
"The deputy supervisors of elections
operate within county boundaries, but
it must not be forgotten that they are
deputies of the state, and under your
control
eff suspicion be grounded in mere
rumor, let that fact be established, but
every dependable source and avenue
should be availed of in order to free
the name of the state from stain and
to determine just what the expressed
wish of the people was. You can be
assured of the fullest cooperation of
the executive branch of the govern
ment in this task"
That variable quantity, the wet
majority, is still another figure, the
margin of prohibitions defeat being
1857 on the books of the secretary of
state with IS counties having report
ed officially and with the official alb
stracts yet to be received from the
other three, but with their unofficial
totals included in the computations.
The vote stands: For prohibition
522,590; against, 524,177. The official
returns are still to come from Jack
son, Lawrence and Pickaway counties
1t will be a week before the drys
will know definitely whether they in
tend to contest the result of the pro
hibition election in the courts.
Woman Picked for State Post.
Miss Belle Sherwin, chairman of the
Cleveland women's committee of the
Council of National Defense, will be
come active chairman of the women!
committee of the State Council of Ma
tional Defense, beginning Dec. 1. Mis-
Sherwin will spend three days il
Cleveland and three days in Columbus
+ every week.
The chairman of the state commit
tee is Mrs. George Zimmerman of Ere
mont, who goes to California for tn
winter.
This arrangement was announced a
a meeting in the city hall of the execu
tive committee of the Cleveland con
plittee.