The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1881-11-08 00:00:00

THE MUNICIPAL ELECTION.

Whether there was any principle at stake in the
election of 1881 or not, the "contest" was one of the
tamest we have seen for a long time. No doubt there
was • strong feeling that it would be the best to
return the old candidates, and save all the money
possible in the present state of the borough finances,
and • kind of tacit understanding seems to have
settled down to this effect on the Weymouth Ward,
where the two old councillors, Messrs. Ayles and
Wallis, representatives of each party, were unopposed.
No better man than either of the old servants was
ready to be put up, in fact, the Ward appeared yet to
feel the exhaustion of limit year's great struggle, which
resulted in the election of Mr. Frank Brown. In
Holcombe Regis Ward things drifted into the same
course for a while for, although party men have their
predilections, parties were not ready for • square
fight, and tba word of commend to the outgoing
members was "As you were." They had, on the whole,
done so well that they were to have another eppor.
tunity of doing better, for the gratitude of the majority
took the form of • lively sense of favours to come.
Two Liberals and two Conservatives offered a strong
basis for • continued truce, Mr. Dennis, the leader of
the advanced Liberals. Mr Webb, who does not, we
belleve,hold such an advanced faith,contrs sled with and
balanced well enough Mr. Naugle, agent for the John-
stone Rotate, and • careful and thoughtful man ol
business on the Conservative side, and Mr. Graham,
who has been active in promoting amusements; for the
visitors to our pleasure-loving town. Good service has
no doubt been done by each •, but there wee a chance
of expressing our opinions when Mr. W. T. Aylesbury,
an old omincillor too, challenged the four-equar• settle. '
meet, and proposed • game of "catch corner." There
seemed a good opportunity for Mr. Aylesbury, if we
may a•s&t the rumour that the Good Tvmplars
had resolved to try their strength against Mr.
Graham. Mr. Nepalis was hardly peistusded to
isms an address, though the other candidates quickly
accepted Mr. Aylesbury's challenge, and perhaps Mr.
Naugle was barely to be bluned for feeling he ought to
have • rest, after the exciting contest he endured on
the last occasion. The real question is, however,
whether Mr. Aylesbury was 'in it" at all, or whether
the Conservative out-going members (not to say the
four) did not pull pretty well together. But of this
more when we come to the results.
_

_
Rumour declares that • steady effort was made to
oust Mr. Graham, and that even publicly ; but what
is more certain is that he rallied his friends all the
more to the occasion, and possibly the threatened
danger WM the means of forcing him to gather a larger
number of votes than he would otherwise have received.
On the First the weather was vary tempestuous,wind
and rain combining to drive all outsiders under shelter;
but toms of the candidata, or their friends, took up
the old plan, "drove" vote's to the poll, and all daring
the polling hours the cabs rattled round our office
c .rear—jest the stroke of business needful to keep alive
our poor Johns at the season's tall end. Of course, this
was to the Guildhall, where set Mr. Ward Alderman
Milledge, with Messrs. Gale, see. and jun , and which
all the stir seemed to gather round, though that was
little enough, and badmen less, since they did not po I
so many as at St. John's School. So fiercely blew
the wind at the north of the town that the space
outside there was cleared, yet be 12 o'clock they
polled 104. Mr. 11. Hopkins, J.P., sat there, Mr. C.
J. Freeman in attendance, while the passage outside
was guarded by a policeman or two drinking Mr.
Dennis'. health in hot coffee. Excitement is often the
politician', tonic; but no doctor drew Mr. Walker to
the gusty platform overlooking William-street, so it
may be judged debate was at a discount, and we
returned to Gull ihall for something to see. Here
were a number of men waiting outside, some for •
day's wages, while the four active candidates, Mr.
Wangle being the absentee, wooed the hands of the
voter., Mr. Dennis, we b.•lieve, did not ask for a vote'
but his card, bore • mute appeal, Mr. Graham and
Mr. Aylesbury htptled about, and Mr. Webb kept
well at his poet outside the premise., supported by
many active friends. There was the usual draggling
out of some voters till near the last minute; but when
the ball door was closed, the little crowd soon
dispersed. Inside, the enumerators, we hop., enjoyed
their tea before counting, and when begun, the people
gathered again, hut in a very unexpectant sort of way.
The only excitement WU produced about half.past
six, when a state of the poll appeared from somewhere;
but where, no one knew, its appearance ass put down
to the gale. This was what it raid —Dennis,: 606;
Aylesbury, 503; Webb, 557 ; Wangle, 446; Graham,
310.
This mile-610WD boa x,of course,stirred upa breeze,and
Least was the anger against—" those blessed Good
remtbiern l" betting was all deranged, and embryo
rejoicings were chilled Dat,about seven our courteous
Town Clerk, Mr. Pally Hooper, relieved the anxiety
with the

TRU! 'SATZ or Tag POLL
Dennis
Graham
Nangle
Webb
Aylesbury... ...
i'vrtainly. Mr. Aylesbury was not accepted, for
between Mr. Dennis and Mr. Webb were only 39
vows, while Mr. Aylesbury wee 105 below Mr. Webb.
C. John's polling place apneara to have beaten the
Guildhall. for it polled 419, Guildhall receiving 3:111
C ,mparatiee quiet greeted the announcement of the
; but Mr. Dennis was deservedly congratulated
on being at the top of the Doll.
We have been favoured with the number of plumper'
received by each candidate. Mr. Graham, 45; Mr.
Aylesburr, 25 Kr. Webb, 10; Mr. Naafi* 8 : Dir.
Dennis, 7.

• 509
481.