Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-03-06
WATeRViLlE.
Mayor Philbrook Reelected and Republicans
Garry Five OF The Seven Wards.

Watervillc, Ne. March 5.--tSpeciaD
Mayor Warren {. Philbrook was re-
elected by 26 majority. today, with an
increase in salary. This in substance
| tells the whole story Of one Of the hot
test contested elections that the city
has ever had.
The vote was SO heavy that the re-
turns show nearly 80 votes more were
cast. this year, than year ago. and
even then there We're some Of the
voters who did not get out. This was
especially true in the case of the voters
living out of town who could not get in
on account of the fearful travelling.
From the time the polls open
ed until they closed there was not
a moment when there was not hus-
Ting The predictions of those who said
that the Democrats would make the
hustl" Of their lives was borne out, both
in the vote cast and in the signs Of ac-
tivity. All day long teams were busy
getting out the voters and taking car"
of those who could not otherwise get
out on account Of their work.
The ballotins started in sharp and
fast. In some wards the politicians
We're at the polls long before they
opened and in many cases men We're
lined up To vote before the polls We're
opened.
I'm Ward | in the voting was rather
quiet ana there were not the unusual
signs Of activity That We're expected.
In Ward . it was evident from the start
that there would be a fight to carry
the ward. The polls had not been
opened an hour before several votes
had been challenged. Wards 2. 4 ana
) We're quiet. as the greater part of the
work Of the Democrats was centered in
carrying /. =. c and :.
50 close was the voting that the tally
keepers at the different wards could
not tell ''Wherc they We're at" When
the polls closed, at I o'clock it was
announced that Ward had gone Dem
ocratic ana > had followed suit Ward
was considered doubtful but it was
thought the ward had gone Demo-
cratic.
Even the Republican leaders feared.
at 4.30, that Frank l.. Thayer had been
elected. Later. when the official re-
turns began to come in a different
story was lOII ana cacn new return
showed that there was no longer any
question that the people had supported
Mayor Philbrook's policy Of an eco
monte administration in spite of the
fierce fight that the Democrats had
made.
Taken as a whole the election day
passed rather quietly except for the
hustling In Ward : there was fight
that lasted for some time, but that was
stopped before anything of a serious
or even an alarming nature took place.
On the question to raise the salary
Of the mayor from 5000 to $500 the vote
seemed to be devoid Of party lines.
Many Democrats Were known to vote
in favor Of it and on the other hand
many Republicans voted against it,
The final vote showed that the salary
is to be Increased 50 as to be in pro
portion to that received by mayors in
other cities.
So close is the vote that Frank l..
Thayer. the Democratic candidate will
demand a recount of votes. on the re-
count. last year. when the Democrats
made such stiff fight. a slight gain
was made and Mr.. Thayer will see.
this year, if another gain cannot be
Continued on page 81