Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-06-23
From the Portland Press.
THAT ANSWER.
An Explanation that Needs Ex-
planning.

6rst gun of the campaign in the shape Of a
Isupplement, containing an alleged answer Of
IGov. Garcelon and Council to the report OF
the Hale Committee. The answer is not q
new one, but is the same that was printed in
the Boston Sunday Globe several weeks ago
It is signed by Gov Garcelon and all the
j members of the Council except Edward
tC. Moody.
Since the first appearance of this answer
the evidence taken By the Hale COMMITTEE
has been printed precisely in the language II
was given, and it is now possible to show the
Ihalsity Of this answer and the recklessness
of one man at least who signs it viz: Alonzo
lGarcelon. We are inclined to think that be-
fore the fusionists get through handling this
gun they will find it like those in the cid
couplet, which bore wide and kicked their
owners over.
One paragraph in the answer relates to
Perkins Plantation and is as follows:
The committee seem to have been actua-
| ted by combination Of motives in the inves-
tigation Of the returns from Perkins Planta-
ton. Here the fusion candidate for senator
received fourteen votes and the republican
candidate thirteen The committee claim
| that under the rules established b, the Gov.
| and council, this return could not be counted
| because the whole number of ballots was
| not stated, and to save this feeble majority of
one for the fusionists forgery has been
committed. Every person committing
crime is supposed to have some motive for
doing it. What motive could have possibly
l IL. So -, % in
stance we cannot perceive. The republicans
| claimed only majority of seven tor their
candidate, Mr.. Fernald. which was entirely
| overcome by the rejection Of the towns of
New Sharon and Pennington, either of these
towns more than changing the majority of
seven claimed.
This explanation does not touch at all the
vital question in regard to Perkins Plantation.
1t is the counting of the representative re-
turn from that town that needs explanation.
II will be remembered that Perkins is classed
with Pennington The district was republic
can by heavy majority, but by throwing
out Pennington on the ground that the re-
turn or the record was not made up in open
town meeting, and counting Perkins in spite
of the rules laid down by the Council, a flu
sionist was declared elected On this point
we will cite Garcelon's testimony before the
Hale Committee;
o. find and call your attention to it, that
the Council adopted rule that the whole
number of ballots must be correctly stated.
Was that rule adopted and followed out?
A-COrrectly stated.
Q-That the whole number of ballots on
the return must appear?
A-"Must APPEAR yes. that was the rule.
Q--Was that rule followed?
Ayes sir.
Q-Look at the Representative tabulation
from Franklin county, Pennington district,
and see what was the result in throwing out
Pennington?
A-The result was that Perkins Plantation
elected.
Q-That is, there was one vote in favor of
Voter, and by rejecting Pennington it threw
the election upon Perkins Plantation?
Ayes.
Q-What was the whole number of votes
thrown there?
A-Twenty-seven. That plantation should
have been rejected; there is no whole num-
Der of votes. given.
OFT was not rejected?
A-No, sir.
Q-What was the vote as thrown?
A-Thirteen for Thomas; fourteen for
Voter.
Q-Giving one majority for Voter?
Ayes.
Q-And on that plantation the certificate
was issued to Voter?
Ayes. it 80 appears.
Q-So that the S3S votes Of Pennington
were thrown out?
A-Thev should both of them have been
thrown out?
OFF both of them had been thrown out
nobody would have received the certiti
cate?
A--No. That is matter never saw be-
fore.
1t cannot be claimed by the most stupid
defender Of the count that the Hale commit
tee altered this return. The defect was an
omission. and if anything had been scratched
out it could easily have been discovered
| When Garcelon met with his Council to
make up his answer he had full knowledge
| of the crookedness in the Perkins case. And
yet he puts his name to paper which de-
clares that the count was constitutional, that
the rules laid down were impartially enforced
and that the count was honest and fair, and
vet this answer contains not one word of ex-
PLANTATION of this Perkins case. which but a
short time before he had declared crooked
and in violation Of the rules of the Council,
and from the odium Of which he sought to
relieve himself by saying that he knew moth
ing about it. Gov. Garcelon complained to
the Hale committee that the papers had fire.
quently said that he was a natural born fool
He ought to congratulate himself that they
said nothing worse.
| Let us look at another case, that of Som
erville. Here the return was counted and
by means of.it a fusion Senator was counted
in in Lincoln county. Again we cite from
Garcelon's testimony:
OIL call your attention now to the prin-
ciple laid down by you, in which l believe
there was no exception, rs you understand.
that the name Of the municipal officers sign
ing must be all in their original handwrit-
ing.
| Ayes
| OFF not they were thrown out?
| A-That was the design
| Q-Look at the Senatorial return from