Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-03-12
Tuesday, March IL, 1907.
The City Election.

INC Nity 6ieCtion.
We imagine that not few political
prophets, who appeared to think that
Democracy had a permanent mortgage
on the city Of Augusta will be surprised
when they read the Journal this morn
ing. to learn that the Republicans will
have four wards in the city council
that body being a tie. 1t is true that
Mayor Plaisted has won out by ma
jority about half as large as that of last
year, and that upon him will devolve
the casting vote in the case Of any
deadlock in the board of aldermen and
common council. In Ward 5 the Dem
ocratic warden through lack of judg-
ment, or an excess Of partisan zeal,
was lead to throw out two perfectly
good Republican ballots producing tie
on the Office of alderman to settle
which he adjourned" the election I'M
til this forenoon al 9 o'clock. Inasmuch
as able lawyers say that the very point
involved In these ballots has been
passed upon by the court. there is no
question but what both Of them were
legal ballots, and that the candidates
whom they favored will be accorded the
positions to which they were honestly
elected. AS each of them had a per-
fcctly good cross in the Republican
square. and no cross in the Democratic
square there was not, and cannot be,
any possible question about the intent
Of the voter in each instance. All this
was revealed at the aldermen'S rooms
last evening in an inspection of the
ballots cast in Ward s. This inspection
was made at the request Of Frank l..
button. the Republican candidate for
mayor Inasmuch as the Republicans
claim that they have legally elected
their ticket and that any further elcc-
ton 10 be held will be null and void,
they will not participate in the SOCIAL
ed election to be held in Ward s today
in case the Democratic managers de-
a. Ia a
at all it will be n strictly Democratic
family affair at which Republicans will
DO conspicuous by their absence. So
much for the new city government.
The splendid showing made by Mr..
button in the face Of many discourage
mcnts came as a surprise to the local
Democrats One of them had boastcd
the day before election that this year
they would carry ALL the wards, but
he revised his estimates after the votes
were counted. Mr.. Dutton gained rs
votes over the total vote of last spring.
and while he did not win the mayors
chair. he had the satisfaction of leading
a fight under mary h3ndicaps and diff
ftulties that resulted in putting his
party upon an even footing with the
Democrats in both the board Of alder
men and the common council 1t was
certainly most crcditablc showing
This splendid Republican gain in the
face of great odds is something to be
proud Of and is an omen of victory
when another election shall be held in
this city. Mr. Dutton proved a strong
candidate and il was no fault OF his
that the ticket did not win.
Against Mayor Plaisted's administra-
ton there was no adverse criticism 10
be made and the Journal takes this op-
portunity to extend to him hearty con-
CALCULATIONS for yesterdays victory
with the sincere hope that his second
years administration may be as sue
cessful as his first has been.
Those For and Those Against.