The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1880-03-11
THE LIMERICK ELECTION
Initiating the Tricks Of Garcelon's Coun-
Gil

Mr.. EDrroR:-A report of the town election
held in Limerick published in this mornings
Argus, closes as follows: "All Fusionist. not
withstanding money was freely used by the
Republicans" Now in justice to the people of
Limerick, a majority of whom voted the Re-
publican ticket on Monday last such base
lie as the above should not be allowed to 90
uncontradicted, and in order to show how the
officers alleged to be elected were, in fact,
counted in" we will state the facts of the
case.
All parties agreed that the test vote ION Mod
era3or) would be close. The Greenbackers, at
caucus held on Saturday evening, nominated
Ira S. Libby, whose name for some time past
has been published in another column of your
paper. The Democrats held no caucus. The
Republicans nominated F. M. Higgins.
On Monday morning the checklist was re-
yised and names were added, if proposed by
FuSionists, without the least regard to the
proof of residence Or of age, but if proposed by
Republicans were subjected to close cross-ex-
animation (so-called), and in some cases were
grossly if not outrageously insulted One
young man, Fusonist, and who came to
town since the last September election, was
asked his age, and replied to the. question that
he was of age, and his name was put on the
list. On the other hand young man who was
born and brought up in Limerick, and who re-
quested that his name be added, was told that
they only had his word as to his age. Previous
to the opening of the meeting a proposition
was made by the Republicans that man be
selected from each party to check the list of
voters, and it was refused. Again during the
balloting permission was asked to go into the
desk so as to look over the list to get the names
of those who had not voted, and it was re-
fused. AT the close of the ballOting a prOnosi-
ton was made that the two candidates for
Observation-Disclosures and Libby-go into the
desk and watch the count. This was also re-
fused.
The counting of the ballots resulted in find
ing that Frank M. Higgins had 1853, Ira S.
Libby had l57, Horace P. Green, 1, Peter
Fogg, /. A whispered consultation was held,
and much to the surprise of those who watched
the count, and who vouch for the above fig
ures, Ira S. Libby was declared to have 159,
Frank M. Higgins, 155, and two scattering.
Calls were made for another count but Mr..
Libby was sworn in and enjoys the honor or
dishonor of being counted in moderator as
he did that of being counted in senator.
The attempt of theis Fusionists to divert at
tention from their own vileactions by charging
the Republicans with influencing voters by
the use OF money is an old and stale game, and
in this case, as they will find, won't work
Those of the Democrats who vote from princi-
pie rather than policy, voted with the Repub-
llcans, and others who had no intention of
voting-not being much interested one way or
the other-when they heard of the unfair way
in which men pulled up with little brief au-
thority were acting, also voted with the Re-
pu5licans. Men who have voted for years in
this town and no question ever made about
their right were this election cut off. But
enough has been said to show what means are
used to accomplish Fusion victory.
Limerick, March 10, 1880.