Court Opinion

ID: 8184447
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-09-09 23:06:43.855381+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:40:21.834578
License: Public Domain

Winslow, J.
It clearly appears by the statements of the-relation and the expressed or implied admissions in the return that the relator was declared elected to the office of clerk of the circuit court of La Fayette county by the county board of canvassers of that county; that he received the proper certificate of election to that office; and that he qualified therefor as required by law; also that the defendant was the former incumbent of the office, and has retained possession of the same after the expiration of his term without certificate, commission, or other semblance of authority or right, but he claims that he can show that he in fact received the greater number of votes for the office.
The question first presented is, What effect is to be given to the canvass and certificate of election? Is the canvass a mere exercise in addition, to ascertain which column of figures is the greater? Is the ■ certificate only a trophy given to the victor in the electoral battle, which is good for nothing except to exhibit to admiring friends or hang upon the wall as an evidence of political prowess? If these.questions are to be answered in the affirmative, then the canvass and the issuance of the certificate are evidently as *637useless as they are harmless. ¥e think, however, that there is a substantial right conferred by the canvass on the person declared to be elected, of which right the certificate is the legal evidence. The canvass is for a purpose. It is to determine who was elected to the office. It is conducted by a tribunal created by the law to ascertain and decide that very question, and its determination must have some effect. How, the effect which it has plainly must-be to determine who is elected to the office. Hot necessarily to determine the fact permanently or beyond the possibility of revision or reversal, but to determine the fact for the time being and until a different result be reached in a proper proceeding to contest the title of the certificate holder to the office. As against any intruder in the office, and in fact as against all the world except a de facto officer in possession of the office under color of authority, the fact is settled by the determination of the canvassers until, in a proper proceeding, that determination is reversed. This doctrine is in accordance with the uniform current of authority. McCrary, Elect. §§ 204-221, and cases cited; Merrill, Mand. § 142.
A moment’s reflection will convince any mind that this is not only a reasonable doctrine, but the only doctrine which can be tolerated. There will arise many disputed elections. It may sometimes consume much time to determine finally and conclusively who was elected. In the mean time the public welfare imperatively demands that the office be occupied by some one empowered to discharge its duties. Who shall it be? Shall it be the man who bears the certificate and has in his favor the adjudication of the tribunal created by law to primarily decide that question, or shall it be by an intruder, with no color of authority, with neither certificate or commission of any kind, who, by accident being in possession of the office, says that he was in fact elect'ed thereto ? There can be but one reasonable answer to this question. Plainly, the man with the certifi*638cate and tbe canvass in bis favor must be admitted to tbe office, until a competent tribunal reverses tbe decision of tbe canvassers. Any other doctrine would be subversive of all law and order. Tbe prior incumbent could as well turn over tbe possession of tbe office to another defeated candidate, on the pretense that be knew this other candidate Avas really elected, as to bold possession himself. Thus, tbe prior incumbent would become the judge of the prima facia title to tbe office, instead of tbe canvassing board. The opportunities’thus afforded to defeated candidates to temporarily thwart tbe will of tbe people need only be suggested; they need not be dwelt upon.
It seems very clear to us that tbe power tó decide tbe prima:facie right to an office lies with tbe canvassing board.
This prima facie right, if it means anything, must mean that tbe person having it has tbe right to the possession of tbe office and its books, papers, and other property, when bis term of office begins, if be has duly qualified. To this, we think, there is but one exception, and that is when the office is already filled by a defacto officer. There has been much discussion as to what will constitute a de facto officer. It is not material here to consider who may be a de facto officer as to third persons and the public in general. The question is, Who is a de facto officer, as against the person holding a certificate of election, who has duly qualified as required by laAv ? On this question the laAv is Avell settled. A de facto officer is one who is in possession of an office and discharging its duties under color of authority. McCrary, Elect. (3d ed.), § 218; 2 Dill. Mun. Corp. § 892. By color of authority is meant authority derived from an election or appointment, however irregular or informal, so that the incumbent be not a mere volunteer. McCrary, Elect. § 218. Tested by this rule, it is apparent that the defendant is in no proper sense a defacto officer as against the relator. There has been no canvass or deter*639mination by any one in his favor, nor has he any certificate, commission, or authority from any person, officer, or board purporting to authorize him to discharge the duties of the office.
The defendant not being a defacto officer, it was his duty to surrender to the relator the property of the office at the commencement of the relator’s term. Such a surrender would have been simply a recognition of the relator’s prima facie title to the office under the canvass and certificate. It would not have affected any right the defendant might have to contest the election of relator in a proper proceeding. If it was the right of relator to be admitted to the office under his prima facie title, and hold it pending a contest, it is evident that the right may be enforced by mandamus. Blackstone says the writ issues in “ all cases where a party hath a right to have a thing done, and hath no other specific means of compelling its performance.” 3 Bl. Comm. 110. The authorities are numerous that mandamus is the appropriate remedy in such a case. Merrill, Mand. §§ 142, 143; People ex rel. Cummings v. Head, 25 Ill. 325; Crowell v. Lambert, 10 Minn. 369; State ex rel. Atherton v. Sherwood, 15 Minn. 221; State ex. rel. Biggs v. Churchill, 15 Minn. 455; State ex rel. Meckling v. Jaynes, 19 Neb. 161.
. It is said that the relator has an adequate remedy, under the statute, by proceedings to compel the delivery of boohs and papers. R. S. secs. 911, 983. It is quite evident that these statutory provisions afford no adequate remedy to the relator. They provide only for the delivery of books and papers. In the present case the seal of office and the moneys appertaining thereto are also desired, and neither could be obtained by a proceeding under the statute. "We think the statutory proceeding inadequate.
Having held that the relator had a clear right to the possession of the office and its property under his prima facie title, and that mandamus is the appropriate remedy to en*640force that right, the case is practically disposed of. The relator’s right to possession under his prima facie title is not affected by the fact that defendant may be able in quo warranto proceedings to successfully contest veldAov's prima facie title. Pending such contest, as we have seen, the relator’s right to possession is perfect as against every one except a defacto officer holding under color of authority; and defendant is not such an officer. This makes it very plain that the defendant’s allegations tending to show that he received the greater number of legal votes at the election were not pleadable as a defense to this mcmdamus proceeding ; hence we express no opinion on the question whether the four votes which lacked, the signature of one ballot clerk were in fact legal votes or not. It is a most interesting question, and by no means free from doubt, but it cannot properly be decided here.
Judgment for the relator in these mandamus proceedings does not determine the final rights of the parties; it simply determines that relator had a right to immediate possession under his grima faeie title. It might perhaps determine the final right had both parties chosen to litigate it in this proceeding, but. the relator has not chosen to litigate it, but has, by demurrer, challenged the sufficiency of the return. Mandamus is not the proper proceeding in which to contest an election. State ex rel. Mercer v. Sullivan, 83 Wis. 416.
It appears that the alternative writ in this case was defective in that it was signed by the circuit judge instead of the clerk of court, and it did not bear the seal of the court. The objection was duly taken by motion, but overruled. The alternative writ is, however, little more, in legal effect, than an order to show cause. People v. New York Common Pleas, 13 Wend. 649-655, note. Strictly, probably the objection should have been sustained, but we do not re*641gard, tbe error as affecting any substantial right, and shall not reverse the judgment on that account. R. S. sec. 2829.
The questions involved in this case were very fully discussed .by the late Mr. Justice Taylor in the case of Supervisors v. O'Malley, 46 Wis. 35, and the conclusions there stated are identical with the conclusions reached in this opinion, and stated, perhaps, with greater force and perspicuity. Inasmuch, however, as that case was not a contest between the parties claiming the office, and these questions were only collaterally involved, we have deemed it proper to review the question as an original one.
By the Court.— J udgment affirmed.