Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-03-20
DOODLE DOES IT.
Democratic Rum as Free as
Water.
Reuben Foster, WaterVille'S First
Mayor, Elected by
KnaVery.
Heaviest Vote Eyer POlIed Augmented by
Fifty Fictitious Voters.
The Republicans Make Gallant Fight
but are Beaten by Fraud


WArERvILLE, March 10.
( Mondays contest in Waterville was the
most sharply fought and the most exciting in
its particulars ever known in this city At
eight o'clock in the forenoon the streets of
/ Waterville were tbronged with teams
and excited groups of voters dis
cusstng the political issues of the day and
the comparative merits of the two tickets to
/ be presented.
At half past eight the crowd simply
immense. The side walks were blocked and
teams encountered considerable difficulty in
getting through the streets on account of he
dense throng. Both parties recognized the
Importance of the election and the probable
of having all their forces on the ground in
the early part of the fight. In accordance
with the request of Chairman Brown at the
democratic caucus Saturday evening the
French Canadians had assembled in crowds
on the street corners and amid clouds of to-
bacco smoke, aud between expectorations of
the yellow liquid were shouting Foster"
"We'll beat EN-" and similar expressions
the sentiments of which they were as igno-
rant as cattle.
The French tools of the democrats were
all on the scene, giving word of advice
wherever needed, and censurug the republic
cans in round terms. Long before the time
arrived for opening the polls, the excited
popnlace began to pour into City Hall SO that
when City Clerk Heath called the meeting to
order, the hall was filled to its utmost capac-
ity, including the galleries.
Sometime previous to calling the meeting
to order, however, the recently naturalzed
Frenchmen with others of the same nation-
allty, were hustled into the hall, and one of
the obedient French tools of the democracy
mounted the platform to instigate the French
voters to a still greater excrtion against the
republicans He spoke in French and in
excited tones warned them against the mag
ined bullozing and intimidation of the repub
licans. He urged upon them the necessity
of having the name of Foster head their
case with about all of them, he wanted them
to yet some loyal democrat to examine their
ballots for them and see that they were all
right. He closed his little speech by again
exhorting them in exceedingly strong terms
to vote the democratic ticket, straight. After
the meeting was called to order, City Clerk
Heath read the call for the meeting. The
first article for consideration was the selec-
ton of moderator, Reuben Foster was
chosen without opposition. MI Fosters ap-
pearance on the stage was greeted with ap-
plause.
Mr. T. Il. Drummond moved that all the
officers mentioned in the, first sec
ljon of the ticket, namely, the
mayor, alderman, councimen, etc, be chos
ei by one ballot. The motion was carried.
Judge Stewart moved that committee con-
sisting of two members of both the republi-
can aud democratic town committees be Sc
lected by those committees TO assist the mod
orator in identifying the voters and assist in
making the count of ballots cast. The mo-
ton was declared vote. 1t was doubted,
however.
hand vote was called for, which resulted
in the defeat of the motion by vote of 236
to $50 The motion was opposed by the
democratic bosses. who gave the Freuchmen
the sign to vote against the motion and at
the proper time shouted 'up' and the igno-
\nt ui,l
Meader then moved that committee of four
two from each party be appointed to assist in
the counting of the votes only, aud this was
asscpted to. The following committee were
appointed +. Il. Dunn, f. X. Shaw, +. l..
Jones, and l.. F.. Ihayer. At this point 5.
). Brown endcavored to gain the stage to
give Foster some points about identification
of voters His effort was unsuccessful, for
no sooner was this move noticed then shouts
from the rear part of the hall of keep him
of =" keep that chap ont OF the way, com
PEELED Maine's esteemed politician to beat a
hasty retreat 1t was voted to hold the polls
open until 7. VI. The ballotug then be-
gun. \ dense mass of voters passed
about the stage where the ballot box had
been placed. The crowd was orderly but all
seemed to be anxious to cast their first bal
lot. Ballot distributors were on every hand
during the day
At noon various reports were circulated
As to the way the vote stood. 1t was stated
that the democratic ticket was 2j0 ahead
and that Foster had run behind his ticket
abont fifty votes. But little credence was
placed in these reports. we'll known re-
nublican stated that he had no doubt that
there were at least fifty ietious names on tie
check lists, which swelied the democratic
/ votes.
! : : Brown was hard at work all day,
managing his wire pullers. keeping them at
work al all times to the best advantage The
xoting continued during the afternoon with
out cessation Everybody predicted that the
LARGEST vote was being thrown in the town.
history.
In the afternoon Ben Bunker, with several
other gentlemen, was walking down Nam
s,raet holding an animated discussion
aWork." exclaimed Ben, well | guess we
have worked. The whole of us put In the
night. last night, and we put in some good
Hicks too" 1t is in consequence OF this un
derhand jobbery that Waterville's election
resulted as it did.
The republicans fought as best they could
They did but little work, however, afte
three o'clock, although it is thought that