New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-03-25
MANHATTAN CLUB VOTES.
MANY PROXIES SIGNED IN THE SAME HAND
WRITING.
THE RESULT OF THE RECENT INJECTION DE
oLARED AFTER LONG AND TEDIOUS COUNT
By THE TEILERs-wHAr PROMINENT

THE RESULT OF THE RECENT INJECTION DE
oLARED AFTER LONG AND TEDIOUS COUNT
By THE TEILERs-wHAr PROMINENT
MEMBERS SAY OF THE AFFAIR
After two days and two nights Of almost continuous
labor the eles appointed 10 count the vote at
the Manhattan Club for new Board Of Manages on
Thursday were able 10 announce tho result yesterday.
The four gentlemen having received the largest ma
jores Of the vote cast and who are therefore elected
Edward Schell, 337; Frederic r. Coudert, 400
Judge Charles A. Truax, os7 j. Edwerd Simmons 22e
The former board consisted Of Frederic 4. Coudert,
Edward schell, John +. Peudleton and Frederick W.
Foote Tho election was tho most bitterly contested
IN the history OF the club, and the excitement was
Intensified when the tellefs announced, shortly aftor
the polls had closed, that many Of the ballots ap-
peared 10 be Irregular This announcement gave rise
to rEmors that forged ballots had been discovered;
that votes ha been cast unauthorized proxies ard
that the ballots wero in general state of confusion
Now that the result is known, there Is q feel
ing Of confidence In the club that all of
the unusual features of the election are
susceptible Of explanation. Matters were compli-
Dated by the withdrawal nom the contest after voting
began Of four Of the candidates. These were judge
Morgan ]. o'Brien. Perry Belmont, Sheriff FTack and
Frederick W. Foote. All Of these were named
candidates without having been consulted. There is
no nominating committee at the Manhattan Club, the
custom being for any fifteen OF the members to meet
for the selection of nominees The candidates always
include the members Of an expiring board, and as
many moro names as may be selected The indorse-
ment Of any een members Qualities any other member
to become q candidate.
me names Of the candidates and their indorse-
ments ere posted at the clubhouse until ten days
prior TO the election when circulars containing the
names OF candidates and appropriate ballots are sent
to each member. Members absent from the city are
allowed to send their votes In by mall and these
opened after tho polls have closed ct tho clubhouse
no ala haIIo AZ
signed by the member voting. In case OF tho with
drawal Of o candidates. member having already voted
for such candidate Is permitted to cast an amended
ballot, plainly marked amended and the former
ballot cast by such membcr IS Of course, thrown out
1t often happens that members, being too far away
10 cast amended ballots, represented by friends,
who are authorized to vote for them in case OF with
drawals. Proxies of this hind generally numer
ous and no difficulty has arisen from the fact OF
ono member signing another's naIpo to ballot, for
such action Is never taken without proper authorEa
ton.
The teIlers appointed TO count the vote at this
election were Or. Bent and Messrs. osuliivsn and
Poet. The clubhouse was throngod all Thursday ana
at IL O'Clock that night, when the polls were closed
it was absolutely crowded with members. The teers
had not been long at work when they discovered two
serious things. One was that the amended ballots
were numerous that It would require day or
two to arrive at definite conclusion aud the other
was that large number of ballots were signed by alb
sent members in the handwriting Of one person.
This astonishing that the teliers were unable
TO decide whether 10 continue or not consultation
held at which 1t finally determined TO go on
with the count throwing out all Of the ballots in the
handwriting referred to- to place the result OF
the election beyond the shadow Of suspicion.
The yellow streaks Of dawn stealing through the
crevices of tho window d-aperics found the weary
tellers stu ct work on Friday morning with their
labcrs not half finished. Then tho tellers rested
until night, when they resumed the tedious counting
II was Sunday morning when their work was DONE
The fight for place the board was earnest DO
tween Messrs. Pandleton, Truax and simmons The
withdrawal of Mr. Io0te, ono of the old board made
II certain that either Mr. Simmons or Mr.. Truax
would be victorious, but for both TO win It was neces
sary that Nit Pendleton should DO defeated The
latter naturally made gallant fight for refentioni
and as he has q considerable following In the club,
there was no certainty az to the outcome until the
declaration OF the result by the teliers. That Mr.
Pendeton received only 100 votes, however rs shown
BIZ the Official count ocoasoned much surprise when
the result made known. 1t could not be learned
last night for whom the suspicious ballots, which
the club that amp OF the names 20 the ballots wors
forged, as was inttmated in q report published on
Frederic r. couders, one of tho successful candI.
dates said 70 Tribune reporter last night nat ne
In connection with the balloting would DO salts
factorly explained, When asked how 80 many ballots
could have been legally signed for absent members
by one person, Mr.. Coudert said that such thing
was possible II any one member should go to the
trouble Of obtaining 80 many proxies II might be,
he thought that some cast the ballots under the
impression that he was playing practical join.
Then, again, II might have been done simply 10
harass the teers TO cast sort Of reflection upon
the successful candidates II certain, at any rate.
that person could cast ballots in that way and
expect to have them counted. Mr.. Coudert was in-
cllned to believe that the confusion the result
Of freak on the part of some jocular member Jokes,
Mr.. Coudert said, were jokes but some tests yere
serious affairs he did not think official inves2 b
ton OF the matter would DO found necessary, as tho
successful candidates. were elected by majohtes 20
large that there would DO no disputing them
Other members spoken 20 secuted the idea OF nten
tonaI wrong, and inclined 20 take Mr. COuderts
view of the affair. One gentleman said HThe
Manhattan Club Is composed Of gentlemen, some Of
whom might be capable Of m-adyisod testing, but Of
Illegal aehOn-neverp
The result as declared gives general satisfaction,
and the peculiar characteristics Of the election VIII
probably be forgotten soon, although the election
ftseh WIN DO memorable as an intensely exciting ono.