OCR Text |
Show The Election Contest While the recent election indicated in the majority of cases whom the people wanted in office, it apparently failed to decide definitely who is to be the commissioner of Utah county for the four-vear term. In that respect the election is as uncertain now as it was on the morning after the polls had been closed. The unofficial returns gave James W. Gillman, the Democratic Dem-ocratic candidate, 21 votes maiority. The countv "ommis-Bion, "ommis-Bion, sitting as a board of election canvassers, decided that Martin S. Christiansen, the Republican candiuate. hau beer, elected by a majority of 22 votes. The county clerk has been instructed by the commission to furnish Mr. Christiansen with the certificate of election. In the final analysis, the decision of the county commission commis-sion means nothing at all so far as who will be the new county commissioner. It has been evident since the returns wert first announced that neither candidate for the four-year term county commissioner would accept as final the vote certified to by the election judges. If the unofficial vote had been declared official, the Republicans undoubtedly would have contested the election. As it stands at present, the Democrats Demo-crats will contest the seating of the Republican candidate. The only thing that the official canvass of the county commission commis-sion did therefore was to select the party which had to take steps to contest the election. Regardless of the decision of the commission, it is only fair to have a recount of the ballots in an election as close as 22 votes. In the hurry and excitement of an election it is easy for the judges to make mistakes in the counting and the recording re-cording of the ballots, especially when the judges are unacquainted un-acquainted with clerical work as is generally the case with our election judges. There is no reason for any animosity or ill feeling between be-tween the factions interested in the outcome. The best of feelings should exist not only between the two candidates but also'betveen the two parties as well. The people have spoken. They have cast their vote for one man or another. The question now is to find out which one is the favored and who is the next county commissioner for the four-year term. Without a recount, the sore spots of the campaign may not be healed for a long time. That would not be for the best interests of the development and progress of Utah county. Let us have the recount and then abide by the decision of the court. The sooner it is over, the ouicker the official fami'" of the entintv "'ill .get down to real business. May the people's choice occupy the commissioner's office ! |