The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-12-16
VALUE OF A SINGLE VOTE.
A Notable Case of Hustling by Which .
Tammany Man Had Plurality Of One.

Iammany Man Had a PLURALITY otone.
From the New York sun.
II is said that there are two or three
assembly districts in this state that
nave been carried by the apparent VIC
tors by the narrow margin, majority
or plurality. of two or three votes. and
that the soldiers vote. when
ed on Dec. 20. may upset the status of
every one of them.
In discussing yesterday at the Fifth
Avenue hotel the value OF a single vote.
as illustrated in these districts. a well
known politician OF this state told this
story:
The folly OF a man going to the trou-
ble of registering and then not voting
because he mas an III n ia ~ ;hs camel
date he favors will have plenty OF
votes without his has been proved
once or twice by men being elected
to Office by a majority OF plurality
of two or three votes. Probably the
most remarkable instance of the value
of one single vote occurred right here
in this city. II was in November, 1872.
There were four candidates for assem-
bly, in the Seventeenth assembly, dis
trict-that is to say. in the Seven
teenth district in those days, which
district took in thai part Of West Thlr-
tieth street where the Hudson River
railroad had a big rendezvous for To-
comotives and a passenger station.
Andrew Blessing was the Tamma1y
Hall candidate and William L. Gran
was the republican candidate.
Andy" as Blessing was called. was a
hustler, and ON election day he wore
off the tires of a half dozen cabs-so
| the cabmen said, who made out their
own bills. 1t was within 10 min
utes of the legal hour fixed for the
| closing OF the polls when Andy was
| skirmishing about near the station 10
Sc that none of his friends were ;ag-
CARDS. He spotted the fireman OF an
engine that had just come in with a
train. The fireman was polishing OF
motive.
Hello, Mike. old man." cried Andy;
have you voted?'
Il have not" answered the fireman,
as he continued the brass-nose polish
ing process. What's the use OF me
voting, Andy; you've got a clean sweep
i hear, so it'll make no odds"
Blessing whipped out his watch. The
polling place was just across the street.
| 1t lacked exactly five minutes before
the polls closed. The oiled rag h a
was doing the polishing business was
snatched out of Mikes hand and. pc.
fore he could say Jack Robinson,
Andy had him, ballots in hand, before
the ballot box. As the chairman OF
the board of inspectors dropped them
into the different boxes (there was no
blanket ballot in those days. remem-
ber,) and exclaimed, Votes the whole,
he quickly added, Polls are closed
Now, then. let 1t be understood that
Andrew Blessing valued one vote SC
highly that he took care early in the
morning to vote for himself. on the
other hand, be IL equally understood
that Graft, his republican opponent,
was a man of very sensitive nature,
Who had some old-fashioned notions as
TO the propriety of not doing certain
things in certain circumstances. This
election was one of those circumstances
he thought. when he shout not do the
improper thing That was to vote fol
himself: so he cast a blank ballot for
assemblyman.
Indeed. some people said that Graf
went even further, and, out of courtesy
actually voted for Blessing, arguing ir
the usual way: What one vote any
how?" In. justice TO Graf, however
who is this very day still a lawyer II
active practice i'm this city. it should b,
said that he denied this. Well, TO. thu
benefit Of all good citizens land tHr
are nearly 10000 of them at every cleo
tion). who take the trouble to register
and Their neglect to vote, "for what's
the-goo OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES reason, her
is the way the official vote was de
clared in sensitive Mr.. a ant
hustling Mr.. Blessings district:
Andrew Blessing (Tam.) ...........3,13
William T. Graft Rep. ....3, IL