Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-08
Pennsylvania Elected Wilson
by Majority of Legal Votes,
Says Petition.
CALLS FOR IMPOUNDING
OF ALL BALLOT BOXES
Announces Committee Will Be
Named to Seize and Preserve
Evidence in Case.

The first formal step toward con-
test over the election of Represent
ative Ware to succeed Senator Pepper
of Pennsylvania was taken today
when Minority Leader Robinson of
Arkansas filed in the Senate II peti-
ton for William B. Wilson, former
Secretary of Labor, who was Ware 5
Democratic opponent i'm the race for
the Senate.
Senator Robinson said that his pres
ent request is that the petition lie
upon the table and that at later
date Il resolution would be presented
authorizing a committee of the Sen
ate to seize and preserve evidence
bearing on the Pennsylvania sena.
torial election.
Wilson's Election Claimed.
The petition on behalf of Mr.. vii
son charges that Ware Was not legally
elected and contends that Mr.. Wilson
was chosen Senator by "a ma ajority
of the votes legally cast" \ sum
mary of the petition by Senator Rob
inson reads in part as follows;
THAT Mr.. Ware admitted before the
Senate investigating committee ex-
and that this constitutes a violation
OF the Federal corrupt practices act of
1925, which limits the expenditures Of
a candidate for Senator in every case
not to exceed $25 900.
I'm addition, it is charged that
widespread registration frauds We're
perpetrated in Philadelphia, Pitts
burgh and other cities; that the regis
tration lists were padded with the
b,
the names of voters sick and in hos
pitfalls, with the names of minors and
former residents in voting districts.
"a witnesses having testified in a mag
istrates court that they had not been
near the polls on election day. yet
they were recorded as having voted.
Would impound Ballot Boxes.
Senator Robinson said that the pc
tition further states that notwith-
standing the alleged practices, Mr..
Wilson carried 55 of the 81 counties
and received a heavy vote in 10 of
the other IL counties, going to Pitts
burgh with a majority of 9S,240 votes
and TO Philadelphia with a Statewide
ma ajority including Pittsburgh and ex-
elusive of Philadelphia. of SO, ,392 votes.
Senator Robinson's statement on be-
half of Mr.. Wilson declared it is
necessary in the interests of justice
that the Senate take steps TO impound
the ballot boxes. the return sheets.
the registration lists and other docu
nents used in the last election.
The statement further contends
that while the laws of PennsylVani
provide that ballots shall be preserved
for one year, except in cases where
special elections are held. it has de
veloped that two special State sena-
tOrial elections are soon to be held, and
the statement declares that unless
some action is taken by the Senate
the ballots in the district where these
special elections are to be held will
De destroyed Immediately upon the
swearing in of the election officers
for the special election.
Cooperation Promised
Senator Reed, Republican, OF Penn
Sylvania. took the floor when Senator.
Robinson had concluded. and declared
the people of Pennsylvania would
welcome a judicial determination of
this question. which. he said, has
been 'beclouded by rash and un-
warranted statements"
Senator Reed, Democrat. of Mis-
souri,, who headed the special com
mittee Of inquiry into senatorial pr1-
marieS last year, said:
II take it. then. that the Senator
will cooperate in the impounding of
these ballots?"
Senator Reed of Pennsylvania re-
piled that he would be glad to do so.
He pointed out that the laws require
ballots to be kept for two years in
some parts Of the State and for one
year in other parts, but that if it is
felt further precautions are neceS-
sary. he would cooperate in taking
them.