The San Francisco call., 1905-04-03
CONTEST BRINGS
A RECORD VOTE
Election of French Society
Directors Results in the
Casting of 1437 Ballots
OLD BOARD VICTORIOUS
No Trouble at Hall, Though
Wire Pulling Is Lively
and Fraud Is Charged
OLD BOARD VICTORIOUS

The French Mutual Benevolent So
c1ety held its annual election yester-
day at Native Sons Hall and it called
forth nearly as strong a vote and as
1ully much electioneering as is pro-
duced in the average district at city
primary. The present members of the
old board were up for reelection and
tnere was an opposition ticket OF
eight, which if elected would have
given its supporters a majority of one
on the board and probably resulted
IN cleaning out of the French
Hospital. The old board was re-
400 votes.
DR.. e. r. Berges was elected one of
the two house visiting physicians.
beating DR.. G. M. Converse, who failed
of reelection.
The election brought forth 1437
votes, the largest number ever cast at
an election of the society. Last year
1140 votes were cast, which was the
record up to yesterday.
Though there was no trouble of any
sort at the hall, there were many
acrimonious statements and also talk
OF contesting the election on the part
of some who aided the opposition
ticket Charges were made that the
bylaws had been violated by allow
three months and minors to vote,
whereas the laws say that the elective
franchise shall be given only to those
who have belonged six months and
who have reached their majority. 1t
was also charged that repeating was
practiced, the allegation being made
that some members had voted as
many as three times through the con-
nivance of some of the election Of
f1cers. 1t was also charged that the
names Of absent members had been
voted.
The regulars. headed by o. Bozio,
president of the society, laughed at
these statements, pronounced them
ridiculous and said that everything
was being conducted with a fairness
that would meet the approval even
of the present fnical Grand Jury, and
the balloting went merrily on. The
opposition party, which was headed
by F. Santallier, knew it was beaten
before the election was half over, but
1t kept up its fight bravely until the
closing of the polls at o'clock.
A. Roncovieri, who headed the list
with 9S1 votes, received the support
of the Bergerots and also the San
talliers.
The result of the election means
that there will probably be no
changes in the officers of the society
nor IN the nOSp1lal Stdn.
Following is the vote for directors,
the first fifteen, constituting the old
board, being elected: o. Bozio, 80;
A. Roncovieri 9S1; T. Lacoste, 93S; E.
A. Lemoine, S99; ]. A. Bergerot, 8S7;
Remond Aguirre, Sa1; Charles Arti-
CUES, 936; j. Bergez. 92S; F. Games,
S02; ]. S. Godeau. sos; A. Gless. S93;
B. p. Lapachet s91; ]. B. Pom, $50;
G. Pouchan. $50; j. Coudeu, s79; 1.
Cuenin, sos; E. Legallet, 521; r.
Lavigne, 526; E. Messenger, sos; A.
Ortion. 499; B. Reiss, 502; F. San
taller, 500; E. E. Thiele, sos.
The eight last named constituted
the opposition ticket.
There were three medical places to
be filled by the election. DR.. ]. E.
Antiques was again chosen visiting
physician for the hospital without op-
position. For the two house visiting
places the vote was as follows: DR..
E. r. Berges. r15; DR.. NJ. H. Etch-
EVERY, S72, and DIR. G. NJ. Converse,
615.