The Portland daily press., 1886-03-02
THE ELECTION.

The election of Mr.. Charles J. Chapman
was foregone conclusion before the polls
opened yesterday, but the size of his major
ity was not anticipated. No such majority
has been given any candidate since the
spring after the count-out, when the Democ-
racy staid at home and allowed Mr. Senter
to be elected by 1900 votes. 1t was the stay
at-home Democratic vote which accounts
largely for the phenomenal majority Of Mr.
Chapman yesterday. The total vote this
year was 5,426 against 6,515 last year, fall
ing off Of over 1000 votes. But Mr.. Chap
mans vote was only 27o larger than Mr.
Fogg's last year, while Judge Knights was
400 smaller than Mayor behring's, showing
that very large number of Democrats did
not vote. This is still further demonstrated
by an examination of the returns by wards.
Thus in Ward 4, one of the Democratic
strongholds, while Mr.. Chapman only gained
forty-two votes over Mr.. Fogg, Judge
Knights vote fell 800 below Mr.. behring's.
In Ward while Mr.. Chapman only gains 20
votes, Judge Knight runs over 26o below
Mayor Deering. In Ward Mr.. Chapman's
vote is one less than Mr.. Fogg's, while Judge
Knights is 260 less than Mayor behring's.
Mr.. Chapman proved very strong candi-
date, calling out remarkably large Repub-
ican vote, considering how little excitement
there was and how feeble fight was made
against him, and there can be no doubt had
the contest been more earnest and more
votes been needed he would have received
enough to give him good majority, but he
could not have received anything like the
majority he gotexcept for the generaLapathy
that prevailed among the Democracy
This apathy is attributable to various
causes. Disgust at the methods of the pre-
sent municipal administration accounts for
considerable of IT, Failure of the hungry
and thirsty to get what they expected from
the national administration accounts for
some. Then in two of the wards there are
probably.a good many Democrats whom Judge
Knight while sitting in the Municipal Court
fined or sentenced to Jail. They very natur-
ally did not feel like voting for him, and SO
did not vote at all. 1t is whispered too that
Marshal Andrews and Mayor Deering were
not ayerse to seeing Judge Knight routed,
the former because he had rather be retired
by Republican Mayor and the latter be-
cause his party did not nominate him. Both
these gentlemen control a considerable num-
Der of votes and it is safe to say that none of
them were thrown for Judge Knight 1t is
undoubtedly fact also that good many OF
the better class of Democrats neglected to
vote simply because they believed that Mr..
Chapman was better qualified to administer
the affairs of the city than his opponent, and
therefore preferred that he should be elected
though their political affiliations would not
permit them to actively aid in bringing about
that result,
The fact that Mr.. Chapman carried Ward
and fell behind but few votes in Ward
will be cited by the Argus of course as
proof that he was elected by the rumsellers.
which is that unveracious sheets explana-
ton Of all Republican municipal victories
Well, it is undoubtedly true that Mr.. Chan
man received the votes of some men who
deal In liquor. A certain class of rumsellare
always strive to be on the winning side, and
as it was clear before the polls opened yes
terday that Mr.. Chapman would be elected
this class no doubt voted for him But
very Insignificant portion of his support
came from that quarter however. The great
majority of it was made up Of intelligent,
law-abiding citizens, who have no fellowship
with rumsellers or rumselling They
voted for Mr.. Chapman because they be-
lieved he was honest and capable and would
enforce ali the laws strictly and impartially.
The future win show that their confidence
was not misplaced.