Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-09-20
AUGUSTA IN CONSTITUTION
AS CAPITAL or THE STATE.
Direct Primary Bill, Which Radically Changes
Method OF Nomination OF Candidates for
State and County Offices, Has
Plurality OF Over 10000.
CORRECTIONS WILL BE MADE.

The official tabulation by the Cover
nor and Council after canvass Of the
votes east at the bye-election of Sept
II upon the question of the retention
of the prohibitory amendment. which
was completed just before midnight
Monday, and which shows a majority
of 20 for repeal, will stand for the
present, as far as the face of the re-
turns are concerned, but it is mat
ter of common knowledge that errors
were made by the municipal officers of
q number of cities, towns and planta-
tons, in returning their vote, which
will change the Yes" majority to a
NO" victory, which Is variously esti-
mated at from 500 to 700 votes.
Governor Plaisted and his Council
will give ample opportunity for these
corrections to be made. The Council
voted that the 20 days allowed for the
correction of errors in returns, as pro-
yided in Section 50 of Chapter of the
Revised Statutes. shall be considered
as commencing Tuesday, Sept. 10 1t
Was also voted to make, Thursday,
Sept. q. the date of the next Council
meeting, field day for hearing such
complaints in relation TO correction of
errors, The following order was pass
ed in relation to the matter of public
hearing before the Governor and
Council
Ordered. That the Governor and
Council will be in session, Sept. IS, for
the purpose of permitting such c9frec-
tons in the returns of the recent
election as may legally and properly
be made, and all parties interested in
making such corrections are requested
to be present at that time to present
to the Governor and Council compe-
tent evidence upon which to base such
corrections
The corrections will be considered at
this meeting of the Governor and
Council, but will not be reported up
on finally, until a subsequent meet
ing, as the law provides for notice
to those affected by such correction,
before the correction is finally made.
The Governor and Council then have
until Dec l for the final declaration
Of the vote, according to their inter
probation of the law, if SO much time
as that is found necessary.
II do not intend TO vary one iota
from the process set forth by Law for
passing upon the vote in this election. >"
said Governor Plaisted, Tuesday at
ternoon, to Journal reporter. This
administrator viii establish no dan
gerous precedent. and if there are any
legal questions that come up that we
de not feel competent to pass upon in
the matter of this vote they viii go
up to the law court. At the next meet
ing of the Governor and Council
claims of errors will b. presented and
"a notice of hearing ordered Under the
Revised Statutes the Governor and
Council can accept the record made
III open town meeting in lieu of the
Official returns, as showing the cor
rect result We are trying to get the
will of tine people. If there isn't law
enough laid down to find out how the
people voted I'll go to the courts and
get some"
The attention Of the Governor was
called 10 evident errors upon the part
of municipal officers in making out
their returns and in this matter he
spoke strongly: 1T is evident from
the results of this canvass that more
care must be taken by the municipal
officers in making out the returns OF
elections. The glaring and fragrant er-
rors that have been brought 10 lighi
call for serious consideration and ar,
to he strongly condemned .
Word has been received from Aroos
took county that there is possibiiit,
that the law officers of that count.
may take up the matter of the report
ed counting of the ballots before tn
polls were closed which has been ties
tilted to in a signed communication b,
the Ballot clerks of that town, now o.
file in the office of the secretary 0
State Secretary of State Davis, abou
a week before election, sent out no
ties to the selectmen of towns an
plantations and municipal officers o
cities, calling their attention to tn
law passed by the last Legislature
which made swinging doors in poilin
places obligatory. Yet. 1t is reported a
fact. that in quite a number of vot
ing precincts in the State these swing
ing doors were not used. 1t is doubt
full if the voters could be disfran
chised upon those grounds yet, the Sc
lectmen, who failed to comply wit
this regulation could. it is believed b.
good legal authority, be indicted TO
Continued on Page Four.)