Norwich bulletin., 1910-09-17

In reply to an article in the Hartford
Courant of Friday, Charles D. Noyes
of this city gave to the press yesterday
a statement which brands as false the
published article. Mr.. Moves is en-
phatic in his denal of the truth of the
published report and explains in detail
his connection with the state republic
can convention and the ballots found
on the floor The Courant said:
Charles D. Noyes of Norwich, one
of the men who urged Goodwin to en-
ter the race for governor and after
that one of the men who worked
hardest against him, taking up the
cause of Lake most energetically, was
made a teller of the convention, He
was not a delegate, and even if the
him in good faith, he, as a veteran
politician, knew that he had no right
in the position. He was in no way
connected with the convention.
'He sat at the table with the other
tellers, but did no counting. One of the
others, who is quick at figures. went
over the footings and exclaimed
Goodwin has it by ten majority At
that Noyes jumped up, and, profess
ing that he had found another ballot,
ran to Chairman Hill with it and de-
clared that there were too many bal
lots, as he had found this one on the
floor. Mr.. Hill told Moves that he
and that he should announce Mr.
Goodwin as nominated by 10 majority
Moreover, Mr.. Hill took the ballot
brought by Moves and put it in his
pocket. That disposed of the found
ballot. But soon afterward Moves
found another and took this one to
Gen. Keeney, ono of the tellers.
THE general held on to it and on
this rests the 'stuffng the ballot box
plea that raised all the trouble.
Whether any more ballots would have
been conveniently found if the Sec
ond one had fallen into Mr.. Hills
hands is not known, but there are
rulnors that a third one was available
in case of emergency"
Mr.. Noyes' Statement.
MIR. Noyes made the following state
ment to the Record for publication on
Friday afternoon.
In view of the misstatements re-
garding my attitude toward Charles
A. Goodwin and my appearance as a
teller in the recent state convention,
and also regarding the ballot which I
picked up ON the stage behind the tell
ers at the convention, I wish to make
the following statement of facts;
I have always held Charles A.
Goodwin in the highest personal es-
TEEN, and in the contest which has
just closed I would gladly have sup
ported him for governor had his can
didacy been i'll accord with the inter-
ests of my political associates. My
Judgment on this point was reached by
my own personal investigation of the
situation.
l have a series of letters which have
passed between me and Mr.. Goodwin
touching the matter of his candidacy,
and in which he solicited me for sup
port. I was also approached by Mr..
ha m hi oh hi Z
dacy was first advanced, which was at
the Mckinley association dinner held
in this city. The final letter received
from Mr.. Goodwin discloses his
friendly spirit and his apparently full
understanding of the actual situation.
Hartford, Conn, March II, 1910.
Hon. Charles d. Moves, Norwich,
Conn:
My Dear Mr.. Noyes-I have your
kind letter of the 4th mist. and beg to
thank you for the frank way in which
you have stated your position.
Very truly yours,
CHARLES A. GOODWIN.
His Appointment as Teller
Regarding my appointment as tell
er in the recent convention, [ will say
it came to me as an absolute surprise.
On the morning of the convention
while walking up Asylum street past
the Hotel Garde a rap on the window
attracted my attention. I saw that it
was Hon. Everett J. Lake with two or
three other gentlemen, who beckoned
me to enter. l went in and Mr.. Lake
asked me who would be a good man
to act as teller in the convention from
New London county. 1 stated that
Lewis r. Church of Norwich was a
man of large experience in counting
votes, having been counter in our
elections for many years. Mr.. Lake
stated that he was satisfied to have
him named and / passed out on my
way to the Allyn house. There I met
Mr.. Church and told him what / h Il
said to Mr.. Lake and said l expected
that he would be appointed as teller.
Entering the convention an hour or
two later | seated myself in the rear
of the delegates in company with two
other Norwich men, w w. Ives and
Edward L. Burnap. When the ap-
pointment of tellers was made, to my
surprise my name was called. l did
not at first respond, thinking that
there must be some mistake. One of
my associates pushed me and said,
Your name has been called as teller,
why don't you go up?" I did so.
| There I met Mr.. Hinman. secretary Of
| the state central committee. l adj
vised him that my name had been
called as a teller and told him I was
not delegate. What shall L ID,
snail serve. L asked w ny, he
says. 81 supposed you were a dele~oo -,
but my opinion is that you can serve
all right. but 1 don't think that /
would handle any ballots"
Didn't Touch a Ballot.
With this understanding I stood in
front of the ballot box when the dele
gates of New London county passed
around After they had passed
stood back while the tellers from
| the other counties took my place
| After the vote had been finally depos-
| tied I went upon the stage and stood
| and watched the count, abiding by the
| suggestion that had been made to me-
regarding handling ballots and not de-
| string to do anything that in any way
would raise q technicality in what
| promised to be a close contest I did
| not touch a ballot that was cast in that
| cow ention.
| will say in this connection that |
| in the contest between the late Gov
ernor Lilley and Mr.. Lake under the
| exact circumstances as this year, ] not
| being delegate, and that it passed
| by unchallenged. How many other
| people have been appointed under thr
| same circumstances in various con
| ventions 1 do not know.
| was not entirely satisfied with
| this, and seeing Michael Kenealy or
| the stage, who, I considered, was the
| highest political authority in the state
on such matters, 1 went to him with
| the same question His answer was
| I don't see why you can't serve