St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1892-09-08
THE ELECTION.
RETURNS FROM DIFFERENT SEC
TIONS OF THE STATE INDICATE A
HANDSOME MAJORITY.
Republican Gains over the Vote of 1890
and a falling off from that of ISSS.

Republican Gains over the Vote of 1890
and a falling off from that of 1858.
Vermont did some excellent repub-
lican work on Tuesday, and in some
sections of the state the vote was es-
pecia1lv heavy The weather was of
the best, and the lively interest in
many towns over the question of
town representative resulted in
bringing out some bigger figures in
the governor column than might
otherwise have been the case
Under the operation of the new law,
quite percentage of the ballots were
doubtless thrown out as imperfect
this being the result of a not very
clear comprehension of the proper
manner of voting on the part of the
voters; and the slightest error in
marking a ballot would make it
wholly useless in the final count. 1t
was the first freemans meeting un-
der the Australian ballot system,
and how favorable an impression
was made, or how extensively the
people kicked against the new
scheme, will develop later.
Never have returns come in so
slowly, and up to yesterday after
noon only trifle over 100 towns
had been heard from on the gov
ernor question. One hundred towns
give Fuller, republican, 17,447;
Smalley, democrat, 1892; Allen,
prohibition, 4S9; scattering 176.
The same towns in 1888 gave Dill
lingham, republican, 21 $50; Shurt-
left, democrat, SO16; scattering 54S
and in 1890 gave Page, republican,
1926; Brigham, democrat, S341 !;
scattering 523 Only an imperfect
estimate can be formed from the
above, but there is no doubt that,
while the majority for Fuller is not
as large as that for Dillingham; in
1888, the standard of republicanism
has been maintained, and and falling
off from the 1888 vote can be at
tributed in large measure to the
complications and errors brought
about by the details of the new law.
The Day in ST. Johusbury.
The day opened bright, but there
was lively shower in the morning,
which, however, did not last long.
This was the first Freeman s meeting
under the Australian ballot and the
new system worked beautifully, as
nearly everybody expected it would.
On the state vote 1865 votes were
cast, which is the largest vote ever
cast in St. Johnsbury. On the repre-
sentative vote 1864 votes were cast
on the first ballot and on the second
ballot 1882 votes were cast. That
the second ballot should be more
than the first was a great surprise,
and is perhaps unprecedented in our
local elections.
The interest all centred in the rep
resentative fight, and when the box
was turned at 3 O'Clock the Town
Hall was filled with an anxious
throng of voters. In less than is
minutes the following announcement
was made:
Whole number of votes cast, 1864
Necessary for a choice, 533
w. P. Stafford, SIG
H. c. Ide, 432
n. P. Bowman, ia
The announcement of the vote was
received with cheers, even though
there was no choice, and then both
sides did the biggest hustling for
absent voters that has ever been seen
in St. Johnsbury. Over 25 teams
were kept busy for an hour and at
$50 the second and final ballot was
declared as follows:
Whole number of votes cast, 1882
Necessary for choice, 542
w. p Stafford, 645
H. c. Ide, 399
n P. Bowman, SO
The announcement of Mr.. Stafford's
election by 2O3 majority was re-
ceived with the widest enthusiasm.
Mr. Stafford was called out and
thanked the people for their support
and invited them up to his house af-
ter supper.
The Reception.
At O'Clock the band formed in
line in front of the Bank block and a
large crowd fell in the line and the
procession started. They went down
Eastern avenue, giving the GALE
DOMAIN "rouser" as they passed by,