The copper era and Morenci leader., 1920-10-08
WHEELER FILES CON TEST OVER RESULTS 0F
 PRIMARY
Aspirant for Nomination For Secret
 ary of State Alleges Fraud
SAYS ROSS WAS NOT CHOICE OF
 PARTY
Alleges Irregularities in Apache, Gra-
 ham, Yavapai and Yuma.


 Phoenix, Oct 6-Charles De Sales Wheeler, who sought the Democratic nomination for secretary of state in the primary election in this state Sep tember z, today caused contest to be filed in the superior court here against Harry < Ross, who had been official ly certified by the secretary of state as the party's nominee on the basis of the official canvass 0, Jotes by boards of supervisors of all counties in the state.
 Wheeler's complaint alleges errors in the counting of votes and the can wasting of returns in various counties and claims that Charles De Sales Wheeler did receive the highest mum Der of votes for such party nomina- tion"
 The court issued a summons to , Ross. allowing him ten days in which to file answer after the service of the summons.
 The official canvass was said to | have shown Ross received S,7O4 votes; Wheeler, S,347; Nellie A Hayward, ; 7,756; and E. A. Carroll. 3,757, all four having sought the Democratic nomination.
 Makes Five Charges
 The complaint set up five allega- tions as grounds for contest, as fol . lows:
 i That because of the erroneous | count of votes, Wheeler and not Ross received the highest number of votes.
 That in many precincts of every ! county all votes cast for Wheeler were not counted and that he receiv- ed in many precincts more votes than counted for him or certified as having been received by him. II 3-That in many precincts in every Il county, votes cast for Wheeler were counted as though cast for Ross.
 4That in those precincts cleo [ tion officers counted votes as cast for Ross, which were not cast for him and certified that Ross received moro votes than actually were cast for him.
 5-That in Navajo. Apache, Graham. Yuma and Yayapai counties, mauy errors were committed by boards of supervisors in canvassing returns, namely, in accrediting to Ross more votes than were returned by election N officers of the various election pre- cincts.
 T ke co lplaint petitioned the court that Wheeler be declared the party. : nominee and, further, that he be per ,, mitted an inspection of ballots for the purpose of preparing for the trial. Issues Statement In connection with the filling of the contest Wheeler issued the fol lowing signed statement: !, 'To the voters of Arizona: } "On September Il, 1920. four days : after our Democratic primary, the
 figures from official sources in my , possession justifying such action, 1 issued statement through the Ari- ! zona Republican acknowledging my 3 nomination for secretary of state on - the Democratic ticket and thanking
 my friends and supporters for their 3 splendid endorsement. 2 The sentiment I expressed there ,- in and upon that data I still retain. d The majority of my opponents. con- fl ceced my Termination and the le i'd ing newspapers of the state publish ed my name as the Democratic nom- inee for secretary of state.
 Alleges Magic Change" r At the late date of September 20, [, 1920, 13 days after the primary elee- tion, the figures in. certain counties seemed to undergo a magic changs j. and the final count sent in to the It secretary or states on1ce showed that
 F had been counted out.
 After careful investigation, which |. is being continued at the present time ' have in my possession reliable in.
 formation that warrants charges ol IL gross irregularities and fraud in cer
 tain counties in the state and justifies = immediate court action.
 'T, therefore, at great personal l. sacrifice, as citizen or this great
 state and as an exponent of clean n government and the inherent rights
 and privileges of the individual fee o- it incumbent upon me to do all that
 is within my powei bring to lighi
 the perpetrators of his alleged fraut
 so that the sanctity of the ballot boz