The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-04-08
SPEAKER ALIENS FIGHT,
H. D!dnS Have a Walkover, but II. Won
After Hot Contest.

Samuel Ward King Allen, speaker of tho
present house of representatives, did not
win i'm walk yesterday, but he had
to hustle and he kept his opponents hust-
ling up TO the last moment Some
thought he was beaten when the poles
closed, but one or two OF the supporters OF
former Senator Knowles figured it out
THAT Allen would not have more than 10
OF lead. The latter estimate was n
close one for the speaker and hard fighter
had Just eight plurality over Knowles and
there were Ia detective ballots. Sam
Allen Is a hard mum to beat was the
refrain OH the street and in every place
where n crowd gathered, after the modcra-
tor announced the vote Men picked up the
refrain and carried il to this city. Still
more than one of the substantial mer-
chants Cf the town were heard To say,
We'll, we were beaten iy "a small major
ity."
lt had been a warm election and just
before the pools closed there was a lull
In the voting. A motion was carried late
in the afternoon "a keep the polls open
until D. 10 O'Clock. The fighters had dis
charged their weapons though fully half
hour before that time. The counting OF
the votes was watched with keen interest,
at least that part of il affecting the
representative contest. There was n bit
visors and a Knowles supporter. The
latter Of, course, was outside the railing
but the amenities of the occasion were re-
stored wnen some one threw tho clerk
good sized piece of tobacco.
This incident occurred before General
'h'fe. known not only in his own town,
but througho the state as the Chest r.
field Of politics ,ok OFF the glasses he had
Muin a.. "a! and put on new pair that
must n'N" ad sotnc sort OF mascot quail
tics for =hi=friend Atfcfi=,nd- -betnft
sopal alnting the parts OF the ballots SO as To
mako the counting easier Then everyone
was quiet until friend and hard worker
for tile speaker who must have been the
seventh son of seventh SON, began
prophecying the election ot his friend. He
was noisy but the speaker came in about
that time and quiet reigned again.
Twenty minutes before the end of the
battle, Mr. Allen stood on the main street
of the old town and looked wistfuliy down
tine road as II lac thought a couple of his
friends had forgotten To come and do
their duty. IL was the same intense idea
Of lighting that the speaker had kept up
so persistently since the war began weeks
ago. Nnilo Mr. Alien was breathing the
air and watching FOR recruits that were
not to come Colonel Charles .I Arms,
who nd been one OF the foremost spirits
In the light against the speaker, walked
around tue polling room with smile
that seemed TO mean, "Who says more
men arc nccdedy'
Before the ballots were all counted
some of tho Knowles leaders said that If
they had lost tho day they would win in
the town election. Then some alleged
sharp TICKS OF leaving mon of the voting
lists were discussed. fellow who
thought Alien was beaten said he know
gang OF eight that had taken the speakers
money an voted against him. The fellow
was probably brastor who wanted To
n his inside Information Of things that
.s,ro not 80. AT the same time people
w % know East Greenwich pretty well
say n kinotoscoTc II used on some Of the
lanes and secret places of the town yes
tcrday, would be more Immoral than the
pictures OF tho Carson fight are alleged
90 be ly certain parties.
Some sharp tongues say that " Is as
important TO know where the goods are
az b. is 20 have plenty of money Go pur-
chase thon, and they apply this idea to
election In tHo speaker town
md iet their bearers reason uIe thing ont
{ lit Themselves.
1Ee announcement of the vote by Mod
orator Chase for senator received slight
applause, hut the Allen crowd chCered
the statement that Allen had g1l ana
knowles 26B while there were 10 detective
and six had been cast for the Prohibition
candidate. Over lf5 persons who deposit ii
ballots failed to vote for senator.
Incidents innumcrablc there were dur
ing the day that made the town appear