The Washington herald., 1907-11-06

enter the race. when he was called on in
the name Of his party. and in the inter
est Of his future political career TO risk
himself now or never 10 expect aid from
the leaders who saw al last an oppor-
tunity 70 grasp the reins Of power in this
city, was exhibited in the great crowds
which gathered in the streets before the
newspaper offices, as early as noon to-
day.
BalIOtinG Il Heavy.
Reports Of heavy balIoting. particularly
in the east side wards. where Burton
was supposed 10 have such strength that
he would come 10 the river with from
1900 to 1900 more votes than his rival
were encouraging. Just as the booths
closed al $50 O'Clock. the rival candidates
announced their predictions-Burton as
serting he would win by COCO. carrying
the entire ticket with him, while Mayor
Johnson declared he would have a plural
ity Of 15,G00.
Early Figures for johnson.
The early returns were from Demo-
cratic precincts. and gave the mayor a
big lead over Burton. But the figures OF
much better than ". H Boyd. who was
defeated by 12,O0O by Mayor Johnson two
years ago. The gain failed to come up
10 the requisite fifty 10 the precinct, how
ever.
Outside the mayOralty and the council
manic fights, raging about the traction
issue. the Democrats have elected other
officers. except three members Of the
school board. who probably will be Re
publicans. and the police clerk, Paul
Schaner CRep). running far ahead Of his
Democratic rival. Anton Beisinger. and
way in the lead of Burton.
Johnson shows Losses.
The comparative figures which brought
the Republican leaders 10 a realization
that their leader was defeated, though
Johnson was the victor BY greatly re-
duced plurality. was the seventy precinct
fluctuations Of the election board. In the
seventy precincts Mayor Johnson poIled
1884 votes and Burton 13,136. as against
a vote in 1905 Of Johnson ices and Boyd
96Ss.
The rate Of gain was a fraction above
thirty TO the precinct, the precincts so
scattered as 10 be representative. The
only hope of the Republicans then was
the swelling Of the Burton gain by IN
heard-of totals through the final reports
from the big East End precincts. where
the heavy ballOting was delaying the
count
Congressman Burton would not give Up
the fight. and insisted there was a hope.
Burton Vote Falls on.
But the returns from other precincts
poured in. repeating the inexorable tale;
the percentage OF gain dropped lower
and lower after Just touching the thirty
five mark. With ninety precincts Bur
tons vote had dropped away from
JOhnsOn's, the vote at that hour stand
ing-JohnsOn, 16,594; Burton, I5,424. This
showed net Republican gain over the
14s24. cast for Johnson. and 1850 cast
for BOYD in 1905. of p II votes TO the
precinct.
Then hope was lost. except by Burton.
publicly. The only boast that was made
by the men leading the campaign was
that the plurality had been cut down.
Give US another chance and we can
lick him." one said. referring to John
son.
Horace andrews, president OF the
Cleveland Electric Railway Comoany.
about whose efforts 10 save his corpora
tion from cOnfiscatiOn at the hands OF
Mayor Johnson. as he characterizes the
warfare Of the mayor, this campaign
has been waged. heard the returns in the
Office of the Leader.
Andrews Loses Hope.
For three hours he watched closely.
figuring the mounting percentage Of Re
publican gain with hopefulness. Then
he seemed to lose hope With no public
word he left for his home. The fight
had been lost For the first time, the
company had actively entered politics.
1t was the last chance, it is conceded.
for Mayor Johnson, with the council be-
hind him, can give the three-cent roads
franchise after franchise. as the old cor
pOration's franchises expire, and in a few
years. that company can have no lines
unless a compromise is reached.
Hints OF a compromise have been heard.
Mr.. Andrews refused 10 talk of this fea-
ture. but rumOr has 1t he and Mayor
Johnson Will agree on a three-cent basis
Wit hin feu r0onrbC