Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-03-05
DR.. D. c. Hawley Reelected May.
or Of Burlington by Mar
row Margin.
MANY DEFECTIVE BALLOTS
Burke's Big Vote Due to tbs Fact That
Many We're Misled in Their Desire
TO Vote for license ajority
OF 1890 for License-The
Vote by Wards.


Charles Il. Allen. city clerk give Mayor
ID. c. iIawley "a reelection by a majority
of three and elect a board of aldermen
largely republican. Mayor Hawlcy receiv-
ed d total of 1,565 votes and }. +. Burke
the democratic and local option candi-
date, received 1.562 votes. Mayor Hawlcy
had a majority in every ward except
ward three.
The preliminary canvass was remark
ably quiet and there was but little ex-
citement about the polls Tuesday. There
was II marked absence OF vote buying
and practically no liquor was sold, there
being but very few men who were even
slightly intoxicated.
After the polls closed n large crowd
gathered IT the city clerks office to hear
the returns. 1t took an unusually long
time to count the ballots, owing to the
large number of split tickets and 10 the
fact that the inspectors of election i'm the
different wards had long discussions as
to whether certain ballots should be
counted or thrown out on account of tho
way in which they were marked. This
soon became known and created great
excitement and within few minutes the
clerks office was crowded to OVERLOOKING.
Mer were porched upon the window stills
and stood upon the rail- which surrounds
the table used by the board of aldermen.
When tho returns from the first ward
We're received and the large majority
for that ward announced. the supporters
of DR.. Hawlcy We're cnthused, but when
the result in ward two was announced
it was tho turn of Mr.. Burkes support
ers to- applaud. From that time on
runorS reached the Office, first bringing
tidings thai ono candidate was in the
lead and then that the other was sure
of election. When all the wards except
ward five had been heard from. rumor
was started that Mr.. Burke had received
votes enough in that ward to elect him
and his supporters chccred loudly. grasp
ing him by the hand and making a great
demonstration. When the final count was
announced and Mayor Hawleys election
announced by a majority of three the
cheers were given by DR.. IIawley'S sup
port ers. which caused Mr.. Burke to re-
mark. in loud voice. Those who laugh
last laugh best. There arc many men who
voted to-day for me and whose ballots
were thrown out. We propose to have
them counted
STATEMENT BY MIR. BURKE.
Mr. Burke made the following state
IN ant Tuesday night.
"In addition to the result of the
election as announced, another error has
been discovered by the ward clerks which
would give me an undsputcd majority
Of II vot >s The day was carried by II
local option votes which have been order
ed counted"
The question Of defective ballots was
the most remarkable occurrence of the
day. In every ward there were Il large
number of ballots which were marked
twice. that is n cross was placed at the
lead of two tickets. In ward -four - such
ballots were found. on j. Of them Il cross
was placed at the head of the straight
democratic ticket and at the head of the
local option ticket. on the other seven "A
cross was placed at the head of the
straight republican ticket and at the head
Of the local option ticket. In this ward
both ballots were held to be defective
and were thrown out. T. T. Conlon. the
democratic inspector OF election. claimed
that the ballots marked for both the DOM
ocratic and loca. option tickets should
be counted for Mr. Burke and Mr.. BEATTY,
as their names appeared on both tickets.
He claimed that the ballots marked Tor
the republican and local option tickets
should he thrown out because there were
different candidates on the two tickets
He was overrued by a majority of the
inspectors and all of the - ballots were
thrown out. When the returns were fled
with the city clerk he entered a
protest. The same condition that con-
fronted the inspectors in ward four oX-
istcd In every other ward in the city. In
all the other wards. however. The inspec-
tors ruled that the ballots marked for tho
TtpuDlIGtH 'lHu local opllOn TICKETS Snould
be called defective ana not counted and
that those marked for the democratic and
local option tickets should he counted.
The difference of opinion existing among
the inspectors of election extended to
many of tho voters and there was hardly
m attorney in the city whose advice was
not sought. If every ballot upon which
two tickets had been voted had been
thrown out. Mayor Hawley would have
boon elected Furthermore. if every bal
lot upon which two tickets had been voted
had been counted. Mayor Hawley would
have been elected.
The decision in the matters of the bal
lots marked twice comes before the in
spectors of election under a section of a
row law which provides that the inspeC-
tor" shall determin" the intent OF the
voter. In the cases where the ballots
We're marked twice the question arose
whether the voter did not misunderstood
:hc ballot Some claimed that the voters
intention was TO vote the straight repub-
lcan ~ democratic ticket and then
thought that in order to vote for local
option he must make cross at tho head
Of the local option ticket, not taking INTO
consideration that separate ballot was
given him which he was to cast for il
oense or prohibition. 1t is understood
that this idea was encouraged before the
election by many Of the democratic
workers
Following is the vote for mayor. alder
men. school commissioners and ward Of
| iicors:
VOTE FOR MAYOR