The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-03-10
THE COURT and COUNT.
Baldest Case Ever Presented in a
Court Of Justice,
IS JUDGE wALT0N's CHARACTER
IZATI0N OF THE WARD 5 CASE.

10 0OOU0 UAA1Oxt ~ OA1hAS&ASA A@As
IZATI0N OF THE WARD 5 CASE.
The Democracy Get Cold Comfort from
tho Court-Judge Walton Says Kent
and Lefavor Were Elected Beyond .
Doubt--The Alternative Writ Of Man.
damus Issucd-wise Advice Which the
Democrats Decline to Accspt-They
Arc Apparently in Search Of the Last
Ditch. 81
The proceedings against the Demo
cratic count-out began to putsson an air Of
earnestness yesterday, and the faces Of
the oonspirators who have been endeav-
oring to steal the city government Of
Portland and count In their candidate
for Mayor. began to look anxious. 1t Is
beginning to be settled conviction in
the minds Of the Republicans Of Port
land, and we have NO doubt that many
Democrats think the Same thing, that a
deliberate scheme was entered into by
certain Democratic politicians of Port
land to steal the Mayor and city govern
ment.. 1t is believed that the city gov
ment was to be stolen in Ward 8, and
the Mayor in Ward /. The things which
induce this belief are the facts that in
these two wards alone the wardens, as if
by preconceived arrangement, and with
a suspicious promptness took the count
into their own hands. In Ward 8 the
ballots on councilmen were returned in
such way as to keep Messr-. Lefavor
and Kent out Of their rights, and thus
make the city council Democratic.
Meanwhile, up on the hill, the now noto-
rious ~Tom'' Harper was making such a
count as to run Ingraham far ahead Of
Guptill, or any enc else an the Demo
cratic ticket Of that ward. It is believed
that both Harper and Warden Chase of
Ward worked In concert, and in ac-
cordance with scheme laid out befors-
hand.
Yesterday it was developed that the
crowd who have engineered it SO far
meant to fight 1t to the bitter end. In
the forenoon at 10 o'clock the aldermen
met and went through the solemn farce
of canvassing the vote of the third cleo
ton in Ward 8.
Alderman Jossslyn,
as the single Republican member of the
board, took occasion to characterize fifty
the proceedings. He began by saying
that the Board had already canvassed re-
turns from Ward 8, and accepted them.
By those returns it was found that the
three Republican councilmen were elect-
ed by majorities as follows: IS for Cous-
ms, for Kent and 9 for Lefavor. This
appears on the face of the returns, Cous-
ms having received 800 votes, Hicks ST.
and the largest Prohibition candidate IA.
making total Of 5s5. Each of the other
candidates received 594 votes,
thus giving them clean majority of
votes. .
Why is it then that we are again called
together here to canvass another set Of
returns from this same Ward? Because,
forsoeth. this Dictator, this Lord High
sees fit in his new born dig
nifty, to say that candidate to be sue
cessful must have a majority of all Off
cial ballots? How would this have been
under the old methods? What are
blanks?
This position is an absurdity, an insult
to the intelligence Of this board. There
is not particle of reason or common
sense in his position, The laws OF
Maine, through our city charter, make
complete provision for the election of
couneilmen, as will be seen by referring
to Section IL. This is the law under
which we are to act and must act. Are
we now to submit to such dictation as
that from the warden of Ward 8, especi-
ally when such dictation is contrary to
law, custom and good sense?
Why is this man, at his own sweet will,
calling one election after another, when
the candidates were chosen at the first
election? Was it because the result did
not meet his wishes, or was it because
it did mot please the leaders and instiga-
tors in this infamous conspiracy? Shall
we aid and abet 1t? Shall we compound
the felony? Thwart and tread upon the
will of the people? Every member Of
this board knows that Kent and Lefavor
were chosen oounciimen in Ward last
Monday. Let us meet the question as
we should, fairly, squarefy and honor
ably. Up to this time every man OF us
could point with pride to the political
history of Portland. Let it not be said
that today she trails her garments in the