The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1874-02-10 00:00:00

GREAT LIBERAL VICTORY.
IMMENSE MAJORITY FOR MR.
ID WARDS.

BM P. JOIINSToN6 AETLIINED.

Till POLLING DAT

Was doses the many bututifal days that have favoured
us this midwinter, end wee auspicious for • struggle
more spirited, severe, and prolonged than any which
has yet been fought In Weymouth. From the fitut
minute of opening, the polling commenced with
unwonted briskness, there was indeed a " rush to the
poll" that showed how mush spirit was lobe manifested
la the struggle. The free polling booths were kept as
follows :—The Ottildhall, by the Deputy Mayor, Mr.
James Milled,*: 74. ilt. Thomwstreet, by Mr. T.
rooks ; 12, Oloueseter•row, by Mr. J. Ayllne, who
abendoned the disegnsubler of the Old Town Hall to
Mr. W. Smith; the Old Rooms, by Kr. T. Snook.
The was so brisk that by 10 Odes*, it was
the five booths had received 500 voters—
more than • third of the oonstituentry. From this
time throughout, the utmost speed was maintained, the
up of voters only flogging when there were no
boittgestiaing. Gard/gee were freely used for cam mu nice-
ticubetweele the oommittee rooms and the various polling
Mottoes, and the streets were all brilliant with ooloura,
the blue being decidedly in the majority' but violet
and orange also being sue everywhere. Order was kept
by 24 special mutablee in addition to the pollee, and
there was every assistance rendered in bringing voters
end helping their &demos to the "booths." The crowd
was only anxious to poll every meg, and knew too well
the iffiest of the protection the ballot booth gives, for
them he obstruot any voter, and thereby mike him an
enemy. Perhaps never has there been in Weymouth •
more educatory election, the voters were thoroughly
itutruted in the use of the_ paper, and all taught that
It gives absolute secrecy. We should think that • very
large number of them trusted it, though here
and there were thou who were afraid, and
were obliged to have it re-Impressed upon their
Nandi. The Conservatives tried to adopt the "card
trick," and requested the voters to return to the
*Vote outain Pious bearing • _roc senile of the
ballot paper. Agents were posted on each side outside
the approaches to the polling places, and they served
So mark the wines off the register; but the 'card
trick" was defeated by the word going out among the
Liberals to return all their papers to the Conservative
:a t gents, so ttteat the latter should be mystified. No
poll" were therefore issued, and the
Ignores** of the result wee almost total. The Con-
oarvative colours gradually dissppeared as the "light
blue" crowd thickened In the cross of Bk Mary and
Rt. Edmund-struts, and soon the people fearing for
the roan of their *holes, Mr. Edeards, begun to grow
Intolerant. Men, women end ehildreu, showed the blue,
*very one who had • bit of yellow was challenged to
" tluow down that nasty odour," ladles in carriages
WWI hooted it, and soon found it unpleasant no
drive through Bt. Edmund street, men who were
hot on the Conservative aide had their tour
suatched away. and if they took it unkiTedly,
were hustled, and had to be rescued by the polies.
yin medium was allowed, the "blues" would not
waste air F. Johnston.'. colours any more
am Mr. Hombro's, the sight of yellow seemed to have
. ewe effect as red upon • bull, or at lust to excite
sedan djagust. "Plump for Edwards" was the word
Is wiry south ; but they did not depend upon shouting,
nemenittese worked bard, sod by • quarter peat
three, the pelting slackened actually from the want of
men to being op. One booth polled all ite voters
creeep6 wee, another had only eleven to poll. Still
Own one looked out for another man, and
although the constituency numbers some 1460 odd, it
was said thg 1400 4611111 to the poll. Some said Wey-
imeuth polled to within 50, and lieloombe Regis bad 70
only lisM and with double qualifications this would be
seek redued. The Consetvetive, colours became
fewer by degrees le ibis geighbourbood of the Guild-ha,
sea the owed IMO end -en U.S.M The odours were
filetehda ken the bleat el Uwe wise still wage then,