The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1903-05-09
THE ELECTION IN BALTIMORE.
A Remarkably Sharp and Close Contest
Charges of Fraud That Will
be Investigated.
Baltimore Sun.


The municipal election in Baltimore on Tues
day was the closest that has occurred for
generation In total vote of nearly hun
bred thousand, according to the face of the re-
turns, the change of one vote in each precinct
from the Democratic to the Republican candi-
date for Mayor would have elected the latter.
As it is, the returns elect mixed ticket. The
Democrats by the returns elect the Mayor BY a
plurality of less than 600 and the Republicans
the other two candidates on the general ticket
namely, the President of the Second Branch
of the City Council by a plurality of about
2,05O and the Comptroller by plurality of 743.
The Republicans have four hold-over men,
bers of the Second Branch of the City Coun.
Gil, elected for four years in 1901. At the cleo
ton on Tuesday they elected the President and
one other member, while the Democrats elected
three Therefore for the next two years the
Second Branch, which has to pass upon the
MAYORS nominations. will consist of six Re-
publicans and three Democrats. The Demo-
Gratis carried three of the Councilmanic dis
tricts which correspond with the Legislative
districts into which the city is divided, by plu-
ralities of about 400 100 and $500 respec-
tively The other district the Republicans
carried by about 1880. OF the "a members of
the First Branch, the Democrats, according to
the returns up to the present time, apparently
elected 16 and the Republicans 8. The aggre-
gate plurality for the Democratic candidates in
the First Branch election was about 5000. If
the final result confirms these returns, then
the Democrats will have considerable ma
jority on joint ballot. which will enable them
to elect the City Register, who is member of
the Board of Awards
The Republican party managers it is said,
have preferred charges of fraud in the conduct
of the election, and it is reported that MI.
Wachter, the Republican candidate, will con-
test Mr.. McLane's election. If there is am
reasonable ground for a suspicion of rapd
notwithstanding the safeguards of the eecton
law. then all honorable men, Democrats as
well as Republicans, should unite in ttlrther-
ing to the best of their ability and opportunity
thorough investigation. Mr.. Moline is a
gentleman of unblemished reputation, and he
would not accept an office which has cloud
on the title Nor can the Democratic party
afford to go into Office by the aid of fraudulent
means. The great majority of the men who
compose the rank and file of the party are
honorable men. and they would Re quickly
disguised and offended by the idea that their
party has to win victories by cheating citizens
out of their rights. Fortunately, ills contest,
if it should be made, will be nude in the
courts, and our courts are non bipartisan and
above suspicion. The Democratic candidates
will have, therefore, an abundant opportunity
to make their title clear, and the people will
consider it clear, unless the Republicans can
make good their charges. Charges of fraud by
defeated candidate are not infrequent. they
are made, in fact, at almost every close election;
They are easy to make and sometimes difficult
to sustain. But the Democrats owe it to their
party to offer every facility for full and
searching investigation, and the Republicans
can rest satisfied that the tribunal that will de-
eide the case is fair and impartial and anxious
that justice shall be done.