The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1873-07-05 00:00:00

TriE STOITRI3BIIGE 451Witi'4F111

day. Mr. Branford's committee, however,
showed themselves equal to the occasion, for
about twelve o'clock a donkey and cart made
their appearance on the scene, the latter bearing
a gaily decorated barber's pole, and having
pasted. all round it placards containing an in.
junction to " vote for Branford." The donkey
was it white one, in fact, sufficiently so to
have been the veritable " white donkey "
spo!tt it of in Mrs. Wood's' Verner's Pride" which
was to have conveyed Mrs. Peekaby to the New
Jerusalem which had been so temptingly des•
cribed by the Mormon elder, Brother Jamul!.
The simile will hold still further, for Mrs.
Peckaby'a white donkey, instead of taking her
to the wished for haven," New Jerusalem,"
d. ragged her through mire and brambles, bring-
ing her no other results than disappointment
and the derisive jeers of her neighbours. In like
manner, although Branford's white donkey and
cart " circulated " pretty freely through the
town during the great part of the day it did not
do ititich towards placing him in the position
which he aimed to occupy, namely, that of
member of the School Board ; for, notwithstand-
ing the suggestive conjunction of the donkey
with the barber's pole, and the covert hints,
doubtless ; meant to entrap the unwary which
appeared iii Branford's first address relative to
cheap beef and muttomitud teaching the children
of aged widows and widowers free of charge,
only 16 votes were registered in his favour,
placing hint, as 0110 of his committee afterwards
derisively observed, in the position of tint" right
man in the right place." It is asserted that
Branford was totally unaware of this last move
on the part of the committee, and we may
easily conjecture that it was anything but an
agreeable surprise to him when he first caught
sight of the " thistle browsing " quadruped
dragging his (Branford's) "colours ' at his tail.
, And, if he wanted further confirmatiou as to Low
lie had been duped by his punditm friends, the
result of the poll must have given him
.ample
testimony, as, notwithstanding all their hue
promises only 16 votes were given for him.
Shortly after the p,tll wau evened the vehicles
which had been chartered for the occasion by
the " Independent Candidates " Committee
began to arrive rapidly in succession, eaclide-
positing its etmpleelent of voters at the Corn
Exchange, and then rushing off for a fresh
balch." At first, this gave the opposite party
no uneasiness as tiny confidently asserted that
the " stream was too rapid to last, end that by.
anti by their numbers would be exhausted. But,
Me toe day, wore 0,1 and there seemed to be no
Wob in the flow of the tide in favour of " Scutt and
Prescott," the supporters of tile -Six" begun to
Wear very gloomy coiedinauces, and there were
anxious and ince .s nit inquiries for the " con-
veyances front the Talbot," this latter having
been selected as the head-quarters fur the " Six."
At length one or two cars arrived at the scene
of action and deposited each a single voter ; but
had hardly done so before they were compelled
to make way for two or three wagonettes full of
voters that were ready to poll for the two inde-
pendent candidates—Messrs. Scott and Prescutt.
In fact, with reference to the last named gentle.
meu'a supporters it was said by one who was
present that the cry was '• still they come " And
their name was "legion.

Meanwhile the crowds outside of the Ex-
change grew every moment denser, and to
relive the tedium of watching the supporters of
the respective caudieutes arrive, frequent ad-
jouruments were made to the adjacent hostelries,
when, large quantities of ale and spirits were
consumed by the thirsty on-lookers. All of the
exeiteuient, however, Was not confined to the
outside of the Exchauge. luside were a row of
clerks seated at tables which were separated
from each other by partitions, putting one
forcibly in mind of a large pawnbroker's shop.
These were the places; where the voters had to
get their voting papers fillled up, which were
afterwards taken to be registered to some tables
at the back of the hall, at which were seated
other clerks. hut there were others in the hall
who were far more busily engaged than the poll.
lug clerks, and these were the "touters for
the rival parties. 'ibis was carried on to an
extent almost incredible, persons of ad grades
—clergymen, tradeshen, and working men—
alike having tht ir tune actively occupied. As
soon as ever a " free and independent elector
—by this we meat' a voter who had not polled—
put in an appearance at the entrunce of the
Exchange, a rush was wade at him by the oppos-
ing parties and he was dragged to the polling
place and frequently had his voting paper filled
up for Lint at the suggestion of the " tout,"
who had hie' in tow, before he thoroughly com-
prehended what he was doing. There were also
sonic smart things done in the way of getting
voters to come to the polling place. We are
informed that one active canvasser for the
" Six actually got an old woman up out of her
bed, who was ill, and assisted to dress her, so
that she might come anu record her votes in
favour of his part). The other side were equally
vigili:nt, and it is said that they in one or two
instances succeeded in inducing men who were
in bed to get up so that they might give their
support to the " two candidates. As the day
wore on, and the influx of voters somewhat
slackened, there was sorue geod-intruoured
badinage betwet u the rival factions as to the
chances of their respective candidates.

About five o'clock. we believe that the " two "
independent candidatus, feeling their return
secured, gave away votes—that is, asked voters
who were about to poll for them to give their
support to other gentlemen. We can vouch for
the fact that one of the abet s gentlemen not
only asked his supporters to cease voting for
him, but showed them the example by "plump-
ing " himself for Mr. Cochrane. There was
also a good deal of" chaff going on respecting
the vigorous' touting " that was being carried
out by the rival parties, and the way in which
the '. free and independent "were hurried to the
pod, and made to record their votes hi f .vour of
some of the respective candidates before they
appeared cognisant of what they had done, was
freely commented mt. One of the most laugh
able instances of this kind of thing was when a
woman made her appearance at the polling place,
and askel ono of the clerks to make out her
votes in favour of Scott and Prescott. An
objection was instantly raised to this proceed-
ing by some of the by standees who said that
the lady happened to have find " slight impedi-
ment" u husband, and, consequently, was not
qualified to vote herself. On enquire being
ma lc the female reluctantly admitt,,d the " soft
impeachment " ; but said lie was at the public,
and it. did not matter, as he would he sure to
vote the way she told him. It was, however,
explained to her that the presence of her hus-
band was absolutely necessary, and eventu Illy
, she volunteered to fetch him if a ear WiIS
plied her for that purpose. tier request having
been ceniplied with, rim departed, aad in about
half an bout returned in triumph with her" bold
and master." It turned out, however, that her
husband was rather deaf,and to ensnre his voting
the right way she placed her elf between him
and the polling t.lale and said to hint hi an hi:-
pros:dye manner, at the same time holding up
her two forefingera by way of empliasia Now
mind ;no dividing. Four fir Sco t anti three
for Prescott." This she repaated several times
to the amusement of the bystanders, and eventu-
ally, we believe, her husband voted as his wife had
so emphatically ordered him to do. Towards
seven o'clock the influx of v,ters began to slacken
very perceptibly, and, instead of hatchee of six or
seven, or even a (toren at a time, it was only at
long intervals that a solitary voter found his way
into the room, when he was immediately pounced
upon by the whole body of "touts," and every
argument, persuasion, and entreaty used to induce
him to vote for either of the rival candidates. Just
as it wanted one minute to seven a voter polled
for "Scott and Prescott," amid cries of " Time's
tip," from those who were for the "Six." One
, peculiarity of the election was that ladi,ts, who
! were occupiers or ratepayers, were entitled to vote,
and, it will, doubtless please the friends of the
Women's Rights movement to learn that many of
the fair sex availed themselves of their privilege.
When the polling was closed, cheers were given
for" Scott and Prescott," and the persons con.
gregated outside of the Exchangedispersed quietly,
most of them congratulating themselves on the
I vietory achieved. How matters would have stood
if th,, pep 7'.tr candidates— Messrs. Scott and
Prescott had not been successful we cannot
attempt to Ray; but we believe that it is probable
there would have been something approaching a
! riot if that had been the case. The only success-
, ful candidate who addressed his electors after the
! affair was over that we know of was Mr. Scott,
! who met a large number of them at Mr. Kelly's,
! in Enville-street, after the polling was closed,and
heartily thanked Messrs. Packwad, Kelly, Green
and other members of the "Independent Com-
mittee" for their unwearied exertions in his
behalf during the election, and stated that he
should be happy to do all could for the working
men, and to ronsult with tham at any time on
questions affecting their interests.

=".----
attend.

/odd

past ten they nom _
Mr. Newnam did not think they could alter the
hour without going to Quarter Sessions.
The Clerk said the Commissioners could alter
the time, but would have to go to Quarter Sessions
to be confirmed.
After some further discussion, Mr. Allsop with-
drew his motion and the report was adopted.
The Clerk was directed to prepare an estimate
for Improvement rate.
Mr. H. Hughes said that he went to London
with Mr. Stringer, to support the bill brought by
the Great Western Railway Company to make a
new line from Stourbridge to Kidderminster, but
was not called as the company made sure they
should get the bill. However it had been thrown
out for the present which he much ragretted.
Mr. Woolley asked that the company be written
to asking them to make a station nearer the town.
After some discussion the subject was referred to
the General Purposes Committee.