Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1910-01-14
The Election in Boston.

After the most strenuous and exciting
campaign which the city Of Boston has
ever known it's municipal election on
Tuesday resulted in the choice of ex-
Mayor John f. Fitzgerald to fill the
mayors chair again, this time for
four-years' term Fitzgerald received
46,96s votes and a plurality of 1928
over James j. Storrow, his nearest op-
ponent. The total vote was 95,125 the
largest ever cast in the city, and repre-
senting 81 per cent. Of the total regstra-
ton. 1t Is a remarkable fact that the
present mayor, Geo. a. Hibbard, received
only 1888 votes, though he put forth
confident claims Of reelection, while a
fourth candidate, Nathaniel II. Taylor
found only 629 supporters.
The situation was unusual and the
campaign attracted widespread attention
from the fact that this was the first
election under the new city charter which
provides four-year term for the mayor,
for a city council of only nine members
and for the nomination of all elective
officers by pettion-the purpose being to
take the city elections out of politics and
secure the election of the best men. re-
gardless Of party affiliations. Fitzgerald
based his campaign on plea for vindica-
ton, his previous term in Office having
been conspicuous for the exposure by the
finance commission Of graft among a
number of his subordnates in city hall
His victory was won in spite of the fact
that not one of the daily papers of the
city advocated his election.
Mr.. Storrows candidacy unquestionably
represented the wishes Of the best ele-
ments of Boston citizenship. He has long
been one of the most useful and sub
stantial men Of Boston. He is an over
seer Of Harvard and a member of the
influential banking firm of Lee, Higginson
& Co. As chairman Of the Boston school
board he conclusively proved that he con-
sidered public Office a public trust He
resigned the presidency of the chamber
of commerce to become candidate for
the mayoralty, and he doubtless did this
from patriotic motives, believing that, if
elected, he could give the city a strong,
clean, business-like administration. 1t is
believed that he was covertly opposed by
men and corporate interests who feared
that his election would work against
their selfish interests. 1t is also believed
that the real purpose of Mayor Hibbard S
appearance in the canvass as a straight
Republican candidate was to draw
strength away from Mr. Storrow. Ir
national politics and ordinary party afi.
liations Mr.. Storrow and Mayor elect
Fitzgerald are both Democrats
The campaign was probably the cost
/ liest one ever waged in Boston. Page
after page in the newspapers was bought
| for signed advertisements, and the city
was covered with posters. Scores of halls
were hired for monster rallies, and ex
! pensive headquarters were maintained by
| the leading candidates In each of thu
twenty-five wards OF the city. The clos
ing days OF the campaign were marked
by 'whirlwind" rallies by the two chic
mayoralty candidates. who ended thei
efforts by making forty or more speeches
each in single evening. The mos
strenuous efforts were made on the da!
| of the election to get out a full vote
automobiles and carriages by the hun
dreds going about the city all day I,
carry voters to the polls.