The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1889-12-12
BATTLE OF BALLOTS.
AN ExCITINGMU CONTEST.

the throes of hot municipal con-
test.
been fracSs u" f0 the candidates, but
it was we'll known that T. w. GLOW
er, Mayor for the past two years,
and W. R. Power, a prominent law
yer, would be the opposing candi-
dates for mayor. The Aldermen on
each ticket were not fully known
until the morning of the election.
Those on 7. w. Glover's ticket
for Aldermen were B. R. Legg, A.
B. Gilbert, E. P. Dobbs, merchants
R. N. Holland, lawyer; w. R.
Turner, Conductor on Marietta
Accommodation train; and J. nj.
Austin, lumber dealer and contrac-
tor.
On W. R. Powers ticket for AL
dermen were S. A. Anderson, pro-
prietor of Marietta Paper Mills; T.
NJ. Brumby, President of Brumby
Chair Co. (; Enoch Faw, lawyer; w.
H. Covington, mechanic; W. l..
Sessions, merchant and J. Y. Al
exander, ex-member of Legislature.
1t can be readily seen that the
composition Of the respective tickets
was not lacking in good material,
all are highly respected citizens
identified with the business interests
of the town.
These gentlemen all had their
friends, and with. two popular lead
ers very naturally rallied the en-
thusiasm of the followers OF each
and made the contest one of the
hottest we have ever had in the city.
Meetings and speeches had char
acterized the campaign previous to
the decisive day and the interest
was worked up to white heat. On
the day of the election carriages and
buggies were kept going and voters
were hauled up, whether they were
sick, well or booty, with a vigilance
and industry that showed that each
side was bent on gaining the victo-
ry.
During the battle of ballots,
skirmish or two was precipitated by
a too free use Of epithets, but the
muscular exercise resulted in no
painful or serious damage.
A cannon fire cracker was thrown
into an excited crowd of whites and
blacks who were contending for a
voter, the explosion stampeded the
crowd, but extracted others who
thought that a pistol had been
brought into play. But the officers
guieted the turmult.
The "colored citizen was in his
glory, and he made profitable his
"fuence" and franchise" In fact
some of them openly demanded a
money consideration for their votes.
While, of course, the people Sc
lect their rulers by ballot, it is to
be regretted that some voters de-
grade their ballet. This is recog-
nized evil and comes with the en-
dowment of a class of voters with
the elective franchise who do not
esteem the great boon conferred
upon them with that Jealousy and
sacredness that should characterize
true manhood. The colored voter
is either decided for or against a
candidate and cannot be ignored,
and this is why this uncertain polit-
ical quantity is sought and court
ed by those who do not wish to
suffer defeat. This is sad COM
mentary upon universal suffrage.
When there is a prrchasable COM
modify in the political market, it
brings about clash, confusion
and corruption that is unfortu-
nate.
Tits hoped in the future that the
good citizens of the town will hold
a mass meeting or primary and,
like the citizens of Atlanta, select a
ticket, upon which all can unite,
that will obviate such a scene as we
we had here on Tuesday.
When darkness closed in aud the
electric lights were turned on, the
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