The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-06-05

The Republican party. as the result or
the town elections yesterday. received a
jolt that was felt in the headquarters OF
the state central committee and on the
top floor OF the Banigan building.
The greatest blow 10 the machine was
received from the town OF Narragansett,
where the Democrats elected four out or
Ave OF their town councilmen. This VIC
tory was predicted by the News-Democrat
last week, and that the prediction came
-tdtie-was no great surprise TO the Demo-
Gratis and the Independents.
The vote was the largest polled In re-
cent years. The redoubtable Harry b.
Kane of New York and Narragansett Pier
society. who aspired TO be reelected as
town councilman. went down TO defeat by
a lack OF Is votes.
The biggest contest was for the office
OF town sergeant, but the Republican
candidate, Lewis A. Champlin, won out,
according 10 the wardens count by six
votes over his opponent. James ID. Cas-
well
The only Republican candidate for the
town council declared elected by the war
denis count was Frank l.. Caswell, who
had three votes more than Charles A.
White
The average majority ranged from TO
%. The Republicans, when the result OF
the election was made known, were
saddened lot OF politicians, their sadness
being more pathetic than their surprise,
for the defeat must be explained to the
boss.
Another blow TO the Republicans was in
the town OF Coventry where that party,
under the lead OF j. Ellery Hudson, fac
tory inspector and member OF the state
central committee. not only lost one dis
trct. but saved the other two by only mar
row margins. The Democrats and the
Independents made hard fight and gave
the Republicans the toughest battle they
ever fought there.
The result does not augur well for a
walkover for the Republicans next fall.
Had the Democrats and the Independents
made as good a showing in the first and
second districts as they did in the third,
the Republicans would have gone down
TO defeat.
In the Third district at Anthony, where
Levi Smith and Jim Pollett handled the
campaign in opposition to the regulars.
the Independent candidates were returned
victors by a majority OF 50, but the ma
Jorities secured by the regulars In Chair
man Hudson's own district at Harris and
the First district at Coventry Centre suf-
feed 10 overcome this lead and elect
President Edward Z. Arnold and his col
leagues on the council ticket.
hepuDllCdn tflckery IN west IreenWlCl
OF the type that has discredited the Re
publicans generally over the state was
factor I'm the election yesterday, and.
though the Republicans won. under the
lead OF udge Elmer ~. Rathbun and his
father. the boss of the town. a subse-
quent trick OF the Rathbun party, assisted
by Hon: s. w. X. Allen OF East Green
wich. who was recently defeated as town
collector, led to a further disruption OF
the party and a meeting TO elect town
officers by the Republican faction that
slax lott Of Ha trfN Of hn "
forces.
AT O'Clock the polls were closed and
the counting OF the votesbegan. This oc-
cupied almost an hour and when the re-
suit was announced Judge Rathbun made
a motion to adjourn. Senator Capwell
suggested that, as IL was town meeting
day, IL would be just as well to proceed
with the election OF the minor officers, as
had been the custom since the town was
incorporated.
Judge Rathbun informed the Capwell
faction that a vote had been passed ear
lier in the day delegating this function
90 the town council. This was a trick TO
iector out of the peoples hands, and thus
defeat Samuel III. Kettelle who has been
a thorn in the side of the Rathbun fac
tion.
Senator Capwell demanded a paper bal
Lot on the motion TO adjourn and the mo-
tion 10 adjourn was defeated.
Then Senator Capwell moved to pro-
and ex-Town Clerk John A. Bates second
ed the motion. The Rathbuns moved 10
adjourn and no audible question was put
by Moderator George w. Fish. There
was whispered conference between him
and Deputy Town Clerk Howard and
Judge Rathbun. and immediately Deputy
Howard began 10 scribble upon the rec
ords Town Solicitor s. w. X. Allen ex-
amined what the clerk had written and
nodded his head. and Moderator Fish an,
nounced that motion to adjourn had
been made and carried.
The Capwell supporters jumped for the
table. which tipped. Then II was dis
covered that Moderator Fish. who is also
Town Sergeant, was missing. Judge Rath-