Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-01-05
From the Boston Advertiser.
Gov. MOrtOn's ElectiOn-A Massa-
chusetts Precedent.

The Massachusetts, legislature Of 1910 had
a small whig majority in both branches.
Daniel F. King. president. James Savage.
George Morey, Josiah Quincy. Thomas Kin
nicutt. Increase Sumner, Bradford l.. Wales.
and other worthless no longer living. were
members Of the senate. OF the house of rep
reseutatives. Robert c. Winthrop, speaker,
George +. Bigelow, George r. Curtis. Isaac
p. Davis. Amos Binnev, John c. GRAY. John
2. Healy, Franklin Dexter, Theophilus Par
sons. J. Thomas Stevenson, r. rockingham.
jr.. Charles Allen. Stephen Salisbury were
among its most eminent members The
heuse then contained upwards of five hun
dred members, and Mr.. Winthrop was chosen
speaker by two votes more than the required
number.
The committee to count and report upon
the votes for governor and lieutenant-gover-
nor was, of course. made up from both par
ties. the wings having a majority Mr.. Saw
age of Boston was chairman. Their return.
it will be remembered, gave Marcus Morton.
democrat, one majority. The circumstances
afford very striking and interesting con-
trast to the atrocious enterprise in which the
governor and council of Maine are now en-
gagged tn defeat the manifest will of the pco-
pie. The committc in making this report
added that there were many informalitics
Several towns reported greater number of
votes than the footings for the several capdi-
dates showed. The committee counted the
votes set down for each candidate disregard
ing the statement of the whole number 9th
or returns were inconsistent in the opposite
direction. Some did not mention the whole
I n r,b At al
Governor rs II it were for Licutenant-Gover-
nor. The committee counted the vote AS was
obviously intended Two towns returned tho
votes for Governor and Lieutenant Governor
IN the same paper. while the constitution re-
quired that they should be separate There was
much misspeiling. which the committee
sgreedunsnimouslv to correct. and to count
every vote where it was apparent what nor
son was intended. One exception only was
made. where vote in Nantucke, for Marcus
HwffoR was rejected
But there was one more important infor
malitv, which would even then have defeated
Mr. Morton. il the majority. who had the
power absolutely in their hands. had been
disposed to insist upon it. The return for the
town OF Wes'field was for Morton. The con-
stsasion required that fair e,py of the rec
ord should ''be attes.ed hv the selec,men
81" WV w a, ana SlSii De sealed M and |
directed to the secretary of the Common
wealth. The wessfeld return was a,teste,, |
by the selectmen and then sealed IN. without |
the s'testa;ion .f the town clerk.
There Is another provision that the return. |
stteste'i and sealed as above. .shall receive
"a snperscriptiou expressing the purport ofi
the contents thereof The return bore ,h;.
ssrerscripticn. attested by the town clerk
which it was claimed did not satisfy the con- /
ss'tusioaai requirement.. But il was held in |
both branches. after much debate, that the
town should not be disftanchised on account
OF technical defects in the return. The vote
OF Westteld vas admitted in the senate bv =
majority of 50 to Z, and in the house bv t5I
against Is.
J, Charles Alien of Worcester. then one Of
the recognized leaders Of the Wing partv.
and afterward distinguished a . ststesmsn