Norwich bulletin., 1909-10-05
SELECTMAN LATHROP DEFEATED
Much Surprise in Both Partes-Otherwise Republicans
Carried the Town Election by Comfortable Majority
License Voted by Increased Majority Lillibridge,
Beckwith and Wilcox Compose Board of Selectmen
School Consolidation Defeated.

Norwich has not had as much in
terest displayed at a town election in
a long time as there was on Monday
when the big noise was over the Ii
cense question, but when the votes
had been counted it was found, to the
surprise of all, that there had been
killing on the quiet, and as the result
Arthur d. Lathrop, who, for number
of years past has been the first Sc
lectman, was defeated by A. w. Lilli-
bridge by 4S3 votes. The license ques-
ton was decided in favor of license,
the vote being license by 445 majority.
Everyone Working.
Throughout the entire day there had
been strenuous work both by the Ii
cense and no-license men. The work
started at six and continued through
the day, there being an unusually
large rush at the noon hour. At that
time there were so many that it is
said some had to go away without vot-
ing, for lack Of time. 1t took about
half-hour for a person to vote, so
great was the crush. In the envelope
booths the attendants hustled as never
before. During the noon hour there
were 80 who voted in the First dis
trict, and so fast did they apply for
envelopes the attendants were hardly
able to supply the demand. This was
the same in the Second district and
the envelope booth tenders found no
time to look about being kept hust-
ling signing the envelopes. which they
have to do before giving them out.
In the Central district, James Con-
way was the first to cast vote and in
the first hour there were 200 who cast
their ballots and everyone voted on
the license question. In the second
hour 140 voted, in the third 100, fourth
230, fifth 100, and sixth $50. During
the afternoon there was a steady vot-
ing line. and the last ballot was cast
by r. C. Plaut just before three
o'clock was struck, making the total
in the Central district 1908. There
in the morning and one in the after
noon. In the Third district 90 wo-
men voted and they all cast democrat
ic ballots.
A close vote on the license question
had been looked for, but the result
showed that where the vote last year
was 292 for license, it had increased
this year and all districts except Taft
vile went for license, making a total
of 445. There was a much larger vote
this year, with more voting on the Ii
cense question. In some districts the
no-license vote was about the same as
last year, while the license workers
had gotten out more of their support
ers. although the noes had 175 more on
their side than last year. 1t is said
that there was little money to be seen
in the hands of the workers although
there was the usual number of autos
and teams at work at each polling
place. In the First district DR.. J. II.
Allen provided lunch for some of the
workers. The no-license advocates ex-
pected victory by small majority,
while the license men expected a thou
sand and some claimed twice that
number.
The use Of the pastors, for the last
time, was generous. At the next year
there will be the Australian ballot.
There were also many scratches, but
both the pastors and scratches were
mostly at the top of the ticket. In
the outside district the polls closed
at two, and very soon it was seen that
there had been a general cutting of
Selectman Lathrop, something which
had gone on without show. and as the
returns from the several districts came
In showing him beaten, it gradually
became recognized that Mr.. Lillibridge
was the successful candidate, he hav-
in a majority in every district. For
second, however, F. f. Beckwith had
140 more votes than w. B. Wilcox, but
the last named also beat out Mr.. La
for the next two years will be Lilli-
bridge, Beckwith and Wilcox.
AS he did last year, George II. Stan
ton again this year secured the largest
vote on the republican ticket, getting
2,456, showing his popularity. Henry
Gebrath made a big run on the dem
ocratic ticket, being but eight votes
behind J. F. SEWN and he becomes
the third man on the board of relief.
James Blackburn, also OF the Sixth
district. secured handsome vote.
Although Mr.. Lathrop was defeated
for selectman, on the tree warden vote
he defeated Mr.. Lillibridge by 80 votes.
School Consolidation.
By sixty majority the opponents of
school consolidation won out. some
districts taking more interest than
others in the matter. 1t was favored
in the First, Second and Sixth dis
tricts, while in the Third. Fourth and
Fifth 1t was opposed, especially in the
Third and Fifth.
Vote Decided by Six.
The counting in the outside districts
started at two o'clock and in three
quarters of an hour the Sixth district
had completed the count. The other