The sun., 1908-05-13
WALLACE wins IN CLOSE VOTE
M CHESS MAN ELECTED SENA-
TOR BY 24S PLURALITY.

Gratis but orleans saved the Day-he-
suit Surprises Albany, where Thsy Think
Now Antl-BettInE Bills Have = Chance.
BUFFALO May l2.-wlnlAm G. Wallace
oi Niagara Falls, pledged TO support the
Governor in his fight to do away with race
track gambling in this State, was elected
to-day to succeed the late Senator Franchot
by the narrow margin OF 2s votes
To Orleans county belongs all the credit.
Disrupted by the war between the Merritt
and Porter factions the Niagara county
Republicans failed, Mcmahon the Demo-
cratic candidate. carried the county by a
plurality Of 500 votes, but the ten towns Of
Orleans rolled up a plurality Of sH for
Wallace On a good day for farmers TO
catch up with their delayed spring work they
helped give the Republican candidate
plurality greater than they gave Senator
Franchot at a regular election, and the
Niagara Republicans who gave Franchot
plurality Of HI allowed the Democrats to
come out Of the conflict 500 votes to the good,
reversal Of l,Si3.
McMahop's great strength was in the
cities, although in North Tonawanda the
Republicans made a very good showing.
In Niagara Falls Mcmahon got a plurality
q 49, and in Lockport he got, 502. Last
wear Lockport elected q Democratic Mayor
By l3 votes. Wallace this year carried only
one ward Of the city.
In the Second Assembly district outside
Of Niagara Falls Wallace cut his oppo-
nent's lead down from AS TO 20, but in the
first district outside Of Lockport Mcmahon
actually gained 10 votes.
4 very general lack Of interest in the
election cost Wallace many votes in Niagara
county Some Of the farmers could not
get away from their work; others, deceived
ly reports that the special election would
cost $4,000, which the taxpayers would
have to settle, stayed away on purpose,
Democratic workers we're much n evil
dence at the polling places in the two
counties, but there was a dearth Of Re-
yubcans. In the first place there was
little that the supporters Of Wallace could
do to aid their candidate in the way Of
bringing voters to the polls, for there was
not enough money for the most necessary
and legitimate expenses, In the second
place certain influential members Of the old
organization were not oveTanXious to have
Wallace win.
Down in Medina former Senator Irving
IiHommedieu. still weak from his long
illness. got out Of a sick bed to lead the
friends Of the Governor All day long he
was in command The raoetrack repre-
sentatives got rid Of good deal Of money
tight in Medina il is charged, The man
with the Doodle would have a short but
afiable visit with the man he was after and
Ihen would walk down the road a short
distance. Al an interval thereafter the man
with the itching palm strolling slowly down
the road would happen to find a dollar
lying on fence post.
But some Of the handlers Of the coin were
,pmplaining bitterly tonight that some
ul their men didn't stay bought,
The vote by counties is: Niagara, Wallace
Rpp), A.os2; Mcmahon Dem.), 6,5si; Or
cans. Wallace, 2,el9 Mcmahon. i,772,
totals, Wallace. 1901; Mcmahon, 1883
Nallsoe's plurality, PAS,
Incomplete returns Of the vote cast for
! r. Hartman. Prohibitionist nominee, in
cate that the Prohibition vote cut no
.ure in the result. being practically nor
mel
William c. Wallace gave out state
n ent after the election in which he expressed
his appreciation Of the Orleans voters.
Albany, May i2.-The election Of Wal
lace in the Forty-seventh Senatorial dis
rct caused some surprise here, and that the
result will have a most important bearing
on the future Of the extraordinary session
Of the Legislature Is the opinion Of the most
conservative members.
That the fate Of the anti-racetraok betting
bills hangs in the balance now Is admitted
by all, for Senator-elect Wallace was elected
squarely on the issue Of supporting the
Governor in his fight to repeal the Percy
GRAY betting Law. Even II Senator Foelker
does not return TO attend the session there
are some who believe that the result OF the
betting bills may be against the track in
terests.
For the frat time In many years a cam
psiRn was waged on purely a moral issue.
Politicians looked for light vote In a rural
community, for II was known that the
farmers would not turn out In the number
that they usually do on election day to
vote ct q special election.
Members who have been opposing the
Governor in all his reform legislation had
looked forward to seeing McMahon elected
by a substantial majority. Had this been
the cass they would have taken Y as mean
ing that the Governor was not being sup
ported by the people and they would be safe
IN throttlIng any Of his measures. But
Senator-eleot Wallace was not only elected
on the question Of supporting Gov Hughes
in his fiRht against raoetraok gambling but
10 support the Governor In all his reform
measures.
OF the eight Republican Senators who
voted against the raoetrack betting bills
the only one who does not represent rural
community 10 Senator Gilchrist. Senator
Cassidy has but one city ofiAny consequence
in his district, while Senators Burr. Emer-
son and Knapp como from purely rural
districts. In Senator Wemple's new die
triot the farmer vote counts for consider
able.
Every one Of these Senators wants TO re-
turn 10 Albany next year and the result