Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-01-12
Saturday, January II, 1907.
Senator HeseIton in His Seat.

at the September election along with
the other Republican senatorial cand-
dates in kenncbec county, but as a re-
suit Of an unhappy combination Of Cir
ances-circumstances which re-
fleet exceedingly little credit upon the
scction-hc was prevented from getting
the certificate of election to which he
was honestly entitled, and it has re-
maiEed for q committee Of the Senate
to examine the ballots, go over the
whole matter carefully, and declare
him entitled to his seat. This committee
on the part of tho Senate was made UP
of both Republicans and Democrats.
but its report IS a unanimous one and
the triumph of Mr.. Hesclton is com
plctc.
There are several interesting chap
tcrs in the story of this case and i'm
the attempt Of the Democratic mana
gers in Kcnncbcc county to Illustrate
tn" viii Of the voters in returning Mr.
HrSclton to the Senate. To begin WITH
Mir. Hcsclton would have been elected
on the face of the original returns had
il not been for "mistakc." to use no
harshrr term. in one Of the Watervillc|
wards We do not refer to the Water
vile instance where l. votes We're left
uncnunted FOR each of the Republican
senatorial candidates. for thcr. arc
reasons to believe that this was an hon
est oversight but to another instance
in that city where half a dozen votes
were counted for the Democratic can
didateS which We're 50 obviously illcS-
al that with the unanimous consent Of
everybody. irrespective Of party. they
were thrown out when an inspection
Was made.
Immediately after the election. and
when the closcncss of the senatorial
vote on the face Of the returns was APP
parent. an inspection Of the ballots
was made throughout the county. an in
spection in which all the Interested
candidates and both political parties
were fully represented. The work of this
joint committee was undertaken at the
suggestion and solicitation of the Dem
Ocratic party managers. This inspection
was thorough. careful and absolutely
fair ard its result showed that Mr.
Hcsciton was elected by safe margin
over Mr.. Ecardon of Oakland. The
Joint committc" accepted this inSpCc-
ton as final. Mr. Rcarlon also accept
ed this inspection as final and prompt
ly offered his congratulations to Mr..
1IcSclton and expressed the hope that
the latter might be seated without any
delay. But a little later after the Dem
Ocratic bosses in Watcrvillc and Au-
gusta bad got hold Of Mr. Rcardon. he
underwent a change of heart and be-
came less willing 20 give w tn" seat to
which he had declared he was con-
WINGED that he had no title. The Dem
ocratic managers then made a second
so-called examination of the ballots.
the Republicans very promptly and
property refusing to Join the second in
vCstigation after tho first. which the
Democrats had themselves suggested.
had been accepted as fair and concli-
sivc by all concerned. ON the strength
Of this second examination. and being
Mcvcntcd by the Democratic DoSscs
from following out his honest inClina :
lions To step aside. MIR. Rcardon clunt,
to his scat. received the certificate to
which he was entitled ON the face of
sworn in as Il member of the Senate of
the al Legislature. He wa, there. how
ever. as il usurpcr and not a. a rrGu-
larry elected member
The Senate. being the judge Of its
own membership. as usua! appointed
Il committee and cduvasSrd the returns,
and during the past week this commit
tee. upon which the Democratic minor
ity WAS well represented has given the
matter thorough going over. Town
by toxin and ward by ward the ballots
have been examined in the presence OF
the Interested parties and their coun-
sci. and the result is that Mr.. Hcseltor
is found entitled to seat. The findings
of the committee substantiate in al
most every detail the results of the eX'
animation made immediately after the
election by the representatives CT the
two partics The report of the commit
tee was unanimous. and as result
MIR. Rcardon could do nothing less thar
relinouish his scat. and Mr. Heseltoi
will take the seat to which the voter:
of the county elected him last Septem
Der.
While the result is wholly satlstac
tory to Mr. Heselton and his friends t'
the Republicans of kennebec count!
and TO all others interested in homes
electiors and fair play. it is to be re