The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-01-17
FACTS IN THE ELIOT AND KIT
Terry ELECTION CASE.
To The Editor Of the Press:


To the Editor Of the Press:
lhe neighboring town Of Eliot. though
small, has acquired an enviable reputa-
ton throughout the country Mt large by
reason OF Its efforts in behalf Of the
Eliot Library Association and Of the edu =,
cational, social, art and religious confer
enoes held In the summer in that part
known as the Piacata-
qua" Recently, however, 10 has added
to Its reputation by the determined and
diigniiied stand 1t has taken In behalf Of
pure politics. The occasion which made
this necessary was the effort made by MIR.
Thomas +. Staples to secure the noni-
nation for Representative to the Legisla-
ture which Is now IN session at Augusta.
The man who did secure 1t, Mr.. Francis
Keefe, did not seek 1t. an0 only consented
to the use of his name after icing repeat.
eddy urged by the foremost citizens. Once
in the fight he carried himself In manly,
straightforward fashion. No underhand
method was used; no mud was thrown !;
no attempt was made to pull wool" over
any ones eyes From the start the con-
test was one of good politics.
The caucus which nominated him was
straight In every way. The notices were
posted seven days in advance OF the day
appointed, check lists were used and no
complaint made nor voters challenged.
At the end of the day, Mr. Staples him
self admitted that the caucus had been a
fair one. 1t was held on the afternoon Of
August 4th. The time limit for filing
nomination papers with the Secretary
OF State expired on the 9th, This shows
what the evident intent of Mr.. Staples
was when he went into tho caucus since
he was obligd to circulate IA petition 10 Sc :
cure the necessary number Of signatures
in season to have his name put upon the
official ballot as an independent Republi-
can. From that time forth. the readers
of our city papers, as we'll AS of othe rs
in York County, have been familiar with
the exparte statements which have "p-
penred, emanating from one source as is
shown by the similar phraseology used.
Mr. Keefe did not seek the columns of
the press, though they were open TO him.
He sought in no way to appeal to preJu-
dice, but let the justice OF his cause be
his defence
Now that the case has been heard in the
legislative hall at Augusta. and the testi-
mony on both sides Is in, we believe the
time has come, in the interest of good
government, to review the case Impair.
TALLY, and for this privilege We are in
debted to the very full report published
In the Portland Daily PRESS.
IL 10 q fact that the law OF the State
does not permit the Governor and Council
to go behind the official returns but
obliges them to issue certificate OF
election to the party appearing by said
returns 70 be elected. BY virtue of these
conditions. MIR. Staples though not
elected, has taken the oath of office and
holds O seat with all the privileges OF u
rightfully elected member.
The principle at stake has excited the
attention and interest of sections widely
remote from the scene of action; and the
eminent counsel employed as leaders on
the tcase-Hon. Geo. N. Soldiers Of
Portland, for the regular Republican
II. M. Heath of Augusta. for the indie
pendent candidate, MIR. Thomas +.
Staples
1hs plot to secure the seat from the reg
u lar nominee Las been so open and de-
terlnined from the first. that great inter-
est was felt in the line of argument
which the learned counsel employed by
Messrs. Mitchell and Staples would take.
1t was very simple. there was but one
thing to do. At the outset Mr.. Heath
admitted that, judged by the law and the
facts, Mr.. Keete Is entitled to his seat;
but he pleaded the Intent" Of the
voters, and argued that the honorable
body assent led should throw to the
wind all law, all preoedents by which the
other $50 members were elected to their
seats, and in this one case deny to Mr.
Keefe that which is rightfuily his. be-
cause of the Intent" of some men to
elect MIR. Staples. How is this intent
shown II the nomination at an orderly
cauncus and the vote cast In Eliot ts2
for Keefe, against rs for Mr.. Staples.
have any Significance, the choice OF the
town whose turn it was to name the Gao
didaee for Representative was largely In
favor of Mr.. keefe. Had the desire Of
the town been to send Mr.. Staples as its
representative. no W does 1t happen that
reached the capitalg We notice the fact
stated In his biography that he was a
candidate for Representative quarter OF
O century ago.
Another significant fact is, we have
been told. that the Eliot vote was counted
and declared early In the evening, and
the result known ut kittery three hours
before its vote was declared. At one time
the report was sent out that Mr. Staples
was two votes short of an election. Later
1t was found that he was two votes
ahead--a difference Of four votes. Is II
not . singular coincidence that the en-
animation Of the ballots shows that one
honest vote for Mr. Keefe, properly
maj ked IN the party square, but having
the other names erased by two lines
drawn across them from corner to corner
was thrown out and three loose stiokers
found among the ballots counted in,
making difference Of fourf
The vote thrown out was found In q
package Of twenty live ballots sealed and