Greene County herald., 1906-07-27

Fifteen ballots were called off, and
The vote on the tallysheet stood:
Dudley Collier. $3.50. ......S
James Kelsey .......7
Three more ballots remained to be
counted.
For justice of the peace of Long
Valley Township-Dudley Collier"
A cheer went up for Collier.
"Ain't you fellers got any more
idea of the solemnity of this pro-
ceedin' n to cheer?" asked Lafe
Thomas, one of the inspectors OF
election.
For justice of the peace of Long
Valley Township-James Kelsey"
For justice of the peace of Long
Valley Township-James Kelsey"
A cheer went up for Kelsey, led by
Lafe Thomas.
The final vote stood:
Dudley Collier ........9
James Kelsey ...........9
"Wall I'll be blamed" was the ex.
pressed emotion of the township al
the result.
A special election was called for
the election of justice of the peace
The vote was the same as at the pre-
vious election. Not one of those
stubborn farmers could be induced
to change his vote. Feeling ran high.
Another special election was
called. And now came the surprise.
John Clark announced himself an in
dependent candidate for the contest
ed Office. He had three votes to be-
gin with-his own and those of his
two sons. These three votes repre-
sented the balance of power. Both
warning factions recognized this.
Cast for Clark and the old result
would come about, Collier eight and
Kelsey seven; cast for Kelsey, the
vote would be Kelsey ten and Collier
eight; cast for Collier it would be
Collier eleven, Kelsey seven. Excite
ment reached high-water mark in
that township. 1t seemed as though
the deadlock would be broken at last.
Each voter apparently retained his
ingrained stubborness.
james Kelsey recognized that if
each voter remained true to his con-
victions he was a defeated man. A
brilliant idea occurred to him. If
he could not be elected, he could at
least keep Collier from being re-
elected. Giving up his cherished am
bit;on did not appeal particularly to
Kelsey, but politics was politics
''I'll retire that man to private
life," threatened Kelsey.
He held q conference of his adher-
ants At this conference Kelsey
said:
81 can't be elected, and so I'm
willing to help beat the other fellow.
OF course, I'd rather win than lose,
but seeing as I can't win I'd rather
see dark horse win than to see Col
lier win"
After stormy time it was decid-
ed to transfer the Kelsey support to
Clark. Would Collier be surprised?
Well, rather.
Dudley Collier was deeply trou-
bled. There were signs of disaffec-
tion in his ranks. Two of his stancn-
est supporters were suspected of be-
ing Clark sympathizers. Not that
there was any reasonable ground of
suspicion. Trifes light as air make
politicians change their plans Con-
firmation of political suspicious is
never required. From mere trouble,
Collier passed to worry. and from
worry to terror Defeat stared him
in the face. Whatever might hap
pen, Jim Kelsey should not have the
Office. He had an Inspiration If he
couldn't be elected, neither could
Kelsey. He decided on a conference.
His faithfuls, with two exception, at
tended the meeting. The exceptions
were the ones he suspected of treach-
cry. After long discussion. it was
decided to throw the Collier strength
to Clark. The decision was to be
kept secret. 1t was allowed that
Jim Kelsey would die of sheer sur
prise.
Election day came, and when the
votes were counted the result stood
thus:
Dudley Collier. r......... 2
James Kelsey. ............ o
John Clark
Il always said Dud Collier'd catch
IT, said Kelsey to Clark. but I
didn't think his defeat'd be SO near
unanimous. .''--Argouaut.