The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1893-11-11
A CLOSE CONTEST.

The Return Judges Meet at Elkton-Eiec-
tion Day Incidents at the County Seat
As will be seen by the official vote
pu bl ished elsewhere in full, the returned
majorities of the Democratic candidates
have been wonderfully cut down in Cecil
comfy, at least two OF them oeing
returned by majorities SO small. as TO
require ia view of reported official IRE
gularities judicial canvass, to ascertain
the actual result of the election. While
the returned majority of Mr.. Crothers is
only 81, and that of Mr.. Boyd only :,
| yet the drift of the vote of the county
has been against the Democratic candi-
dates generally. For instance the retur-
ned majority of MIR. Hindman for County
Commissioner is only 1856, while the
average majority for the Democratic
Commissioners two years ago was 432.
The case is the same with the Delegate
ticket. Two years ago the average
majority of the Democratic candidates
was sill votes. This year the majority
on the Delegate ticket is only 1876. On
the State ticket also the majority OF the
Democratic candidate has been greatly
reduced, MIR. Smith for Comptroller hav-
ing received in 1891 a majority of CPS,
while this year he receives only BOB,
although the increase in the aggregate
vote in the county over that of 1891, is
nearly 100 votes.
The total vote cast in Cecil county
this year was 5273, being 567 votes less
than the registered vote of the county
which is 6S40.
The election passed off quietly gener-
ally throughout the county, no serious
beaches of the peace having occurred
anywhere, the usual number of drunken
men of course being on hand. In this
district the "f1oaters" were early on the
ground, the office of the Cecil County
News, which is located Immediately
opposite Odd Fellows hall in which the
election booths were located, having
been selected apparently by design
as the rendezvous of this interesting
class of American freemen. Into this
Office poured a constant stream OF the
great unwashed, whence the bibulous
| brother was escorted to the polls armed
with the necessary passport straight
Democratic ticket. Although the day
| was without unusual incidents. the night
| was prolific of events, the Office of Ii. NJ.
Mccullough, Esq, being the improvised
headquarters of the Republicans. while
| Mr.. Crothers' office accommodated his
friends. As the counting of the vote
progressed, the returns were given out
hourly, the Democrats confidently pre-
dieting a majority in the district of $50
for their county ticket. The number of
straight Republican ballots however
caused dismay in the Democratic ranks
395 of these, and only 444 straight Dem
ocratlc ballots, giving the latter ticket
a lead OF only 49 votes, with 253 split
tickets still to count. When the final
result was announced of so majority for
Crothers and "a majority for White,
Democratic stock rapidly went down,
and the Democratic anxiety began. This
anxiety was increased perceptibly when
the Ninth district was heard from with
90 majority for Haines and 70 for White.
When the First district came in with
only As for Crothers while in 1889 it had
given 81 for Writ, disappointment was
written on every Democratic face, and
the Republican smile grew broader.
Bat the Second district revived the spirits
of the Crothers men with 1877 majority,
the Fourth following with I21 for
Crothers. The returns of the Eighth
district, Mr.. CIothers' Gibralter was a
blow, and sent down Crothers stock to
zero W th majority reported for Haines
Crothers at this point had 274 majority
with the Fifth, Sixth and Seventh dis.
trcts to hear from. The Seventh soon
responded with So for Crothers, increas
ing his majority to 1896, the small ma
iority of Is for Haines from t1e Sixth
giving Crothers friends increased coufi.
dence. This left but one district to hear
from, the Fifth. 1t was anxlously waited
for, the light reported vote of the dis
} trict, causing anxiety among Mr.. Haines
friends, wrO inspired confidence by re.
calling the fact th at two years ago Mr.
r. c. Thackery carried the dstric
by $50 votes. The general anxiet,
began to be oppressive, but soon th,
news of 2S4 majority for Haines came t.
a tt Fepublican headquarters, and biz
vent up, and the oiphering begal
q ut the echo of shouts came dow
rect, when the total vote o
owed at last a reported me-
or Crothers.
monium reigned. Crother
wed of his anxiety, fo
down North street, an
ing was improvised a
steps. Mounting tn
n tones he harar
Iwd, with bittte
~ Democrat VIII
W. against hin
not only til
s. half
.SShom b
80 SSSEaitors
w., >o,ent u
jS1Ses ~ tina
W ~ 80 "A