The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1921-01-28
WHAT'S THE
MATTER
Mr.. LYONS
Indiana Electors Messenger
Takes UnCertified Return to
Washington. Vote UnrepOrted

wAsH1NGroN. Jan e7.-Indiana 5
electoral vote for President and Vice
president IS stu unreported. although
the time in which the returns might
% received by law expired Monday
night. The House Of Representatives
i expected to concur in a resolution
offered in the Senate today extending
me time in which the returns may be
received until Jan. 81. in order to give
indiana an opportunity to vote for the
ne21t President.
The Senate passed a resolution re
ieving messengers delegated TO deliv-
cr the vote Who did not arrive from
paying the existing $1,000 dne.
John Bennett Lyons OF Brook. the
messenger selected BY the Indiana
electors to bring the vote 70 washing
ton. reached here late last night and
vas taken this morning by Represent
alive VIII II, Wood OF tho Tenth Indi-
ana district to the office of Vice Presi-
dent Marshall. with what purported to
oe the Indiana vote. But what he
brought was unsea!ed, uncerttfed aad
unaddressed. A penciled memorandum
messenger was the only writing on
the unsealed envelope, and even that
word was misspelled.
MAILED VOTE OPENED.
Being uncertiffed and unsealed, and
in every way unofficial. the Vice Presi-
dent refused to receive the vote. This
Nd of
it's vote al the offsce OF the Vice Presi-
dent, for tho copy of the vote sent by
mail was not certified BY any one and
while it was scaled it arrived IN an
unmarked envelope and was opened
like ordinary mall, so it can not be
opened in the Joint session Of tho two
houses as required by law
In anticipation of the time being ex-
tended by a joint resolution of Con-
gress Representative VIII R, Wood
today for Indianapolis, accompanied
BY Mr.. Lyons, to get the matter
straightened out. He proposes to have
the secretary of state properly certify
the returns have them signed by each
Of the electors or by some one author
izsd to sign for them, and to get the
vote back hero within the new time
limit
A civil war veteran, proud OF the
honor Of being selected to bring the
,ote of his state for the President of
his choice, Mr.. Lyons was almost brok
On hearted when he found the tangle
things were in when he reached Wash
ingtou.
SHOWS FEBRUARY ORDER.
lie produced an order directing him
20 deliver the vote here not later than
teh first Wednesday in February, and
thought he was IN every essential way
complying with the law, To find that
through his action, even though he
we're not personally at fault. tho state
as about to be deprived of its vote
for the presidency, brought tears to
the old mans eyes and sorrow to his
soul. And it was this, more than any
hing else, which induced the Vice
President to join In an effort to have
the time limit extended, 50 his own
state and that OF Mr.. Lyons might be
allowed to cast its vote for his sue
cessor.
Il IS not believed that Indiana will
bo deprived Of its vote for the presl-
dency. or course. the result would not
be affected by IndIanas failure to
vote, but Congress is expected to pro-
vide the time extension to allow the
state an opportunity TO cast its cleo
toral vote for the candidates who were
shown to be the choice OF tho people.