The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1911-04-06
DEMOCRAT WINS VICTORY
CARTER HARRISON is ELECTED
MAYOR FOR FIFTH TERM.
"Silk Stockings Failure to Vote
Spells Victory for Practical Poll
tician Against Theorist.

tician Against Theorist.
Chicago, April 4.-Carter H. Har-
rison, mayor of Chicago from 1897
until 1905, and son of Carter H. Har-
rison, Sr., who occupied the mayors
office from 1879 to 1887, and was
assassinated during the Worlds Fair,
was elected mayor for the fifth time
to-day. He defeated Charles E. Mer-
riam, his Republican opponent, by
1902 votes, gaining a total of IT,
35S votes. '
In spite of the opposition of a ma
jority of the local press, the election
was almost complete Democratic
victory. The election of Fred Con-
merry for city clerk and, Henry Stuck
art for city treasurer, was conceded
early, although count OF their total
vote has not been completed.
The Democratic majority of the
city council has been increased by at
least a dozen members.
Prof. Charles E. Merriam, his Re-
publican opponent, conceded the
election to Mr.. Harrison at $50 p.
M, two and a half hours after the
polls closed, but declared that the re-
suits were such as would give hope
for another contest. In giving up the
fight Mr.. Merriam said:
Has Fought it Out.
II am satisfied with the fight we
have made. We have presented the
issues of decent, honest, economical
and progressive government squarely
to the voters in a way that can not
fail to help conditions. The battle
must be fought, not once, but many
times and in the long run it will
prove successful. I congratulate Mr..
Harrison on his victory and wish
him well in his administration
Returns by wards show that Prof.
Merriam was given nearly z per cent.
less votes than Busse Republican,
was accorded four years ago, while
Harrison ran over II per cent. ahead
of the figures attained by Dunno
(Democrat) at that time. The vote
reached above 100000, which is
practically $4,000 more than the
record at the same time in the last
mayoralty contest.
In spite of this, both sides agreed
that Merriam lost through failure of
the "silk stocking wards to show
the strength expected.
Forgot to Vote?
Even in the 25th ward, where
Merriam's candidacy was conceived,
failure of Merriam supporters to
vote caused the professors total to
drop far below what had been ex-
pected.
Harrison announced as soon as
this ward had reported that he
had won and prepared a statement.
After this ward had reported the re-
suit never was in doubt.
While the first ward gave up it's
usual Democratic plurality, it was
not alone from this and the river
wards of similar character that Har-
rison drew his support. His eight
years service in the mayors chair
drew many votes his opponent had
not counted on and his promise of
70-cent gas was said by his man
ayers to have had great influence
with the West Side wards, where he
showed unexpected strength.
One of the features of the cam
paign was the vote polled by the So
cialist party. Five-sixths of the total
precincts in the first indicated that
the vote would reach $4,000, a gain
of 900 over the vote of four years
ago. On the other hand, the prohi-
bition vote, which had been 5,875
four years ago, dropped to 5000 this
year.