Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-09-18

found that there was some question
about the vote in Limestone he tele-
graphed Secretary of state Davis as
follows:
Cyrus W. Davis, Secretary of State,
Augusta. Me
"Limestone's vote II yes, f75 no.
Any different report is wrong.
(Siened) JOHN f. McMEtNNAMIN.
Town Clerk of Limestone"
On the same day he told represen-
tatite of The Associated Press that
the return that he had sent to The
stone was correct
The people in this region say that it is
absolutely absurd to think that this part
of the state would vote any differently
than appeared upon this question. There
are very few French inhabitants of this
town. the greater number of the people
being prosperous farmers and men of
property and good education. From the
very beginning Limestone has been
strongly in favor of prohibition and the
indignation of its citizens of both parties
when it became known that the secretary
of State had claimed that Limestone had
given a plurality for yes was very great.
Clerk John l.. McMennamin of Lime
stone entered the result of the vote on an
official ballot and has transcribed it on
the town records. lie did not make the
entry on the town records Immediately
because the books were NOT at hand as
the hour when the votes were counted
was late But there is no question about
the result being on the town records now
and il stands with a plurality OF l63 for
no.
II. as it has been claimed in Augusta,
the result OF the election hinged on the
vote in Limestone there is no question
how the State has gone
Directly across the river from Lime
stone is the Canadian town of Grand
Falls and the parish of Andover. In
both of these places there are saloons
and it is quite probable that the in
fiuenee of the saloon keepers was ex-
erted in favor of the no vote. But no
one in Limestone would claim for
minute that this influence was so great
as TO have 4 great bearing upon the
outcome of the vote in this town. If il
is true as il is claimed. that the re-
suit of the vote on the prohibitory
amendment in Maine depends on the
vote of Limestone, there is no ques
ton what the outcome has been.
There are many people in this town
who claim that they have known Mr..
McMennamin for many years and they
do not believe that he made the mis-
take on the official returns to the sec
Rotary of State with which he is charg-
ed. He is said to be a very careful
ond lna \, hos said that he
cannot understand how he made any
such error and some of his friends
have been told by him that he is quite
convinced that he did not make it.
However, If the return from Limestone
shows that this mistake was made ana
the figures were transposed it does not
affect the facts which were aseertained
to be as stated above. that Limestone
was one of the strongest prohibition
towns in Aroostook county.
1t was stated yesterday in dispatches
from Augusta that the result OF the
election on the prohibitory amendment
in this State depended upon the Town
% Limestone. The secretary of state
has contended that Limestone gave
plurality of l63 for the yes side. but
the Press has ascertained from its rep
resentative in Aroostook county who
has talked with Clerk John e. Me
Mennarnin OF that town that the vote
in Limestone was It's no, u yes, giving
a plurality of 1s3 for the noes. If 1t IS
trnue that the result in the State de-
ponds upon the vote in Limestone.
there is no question about the no plu-
rality The information which the Pres
has received from its representative
in Aroostook county substantiates the
figures OF The Associated Press which
are similar to the figures the Press
has aseertained to be correct for Lime
stone. The vote in this town being
absolutely determined through the In
vestigations of the Press. all OF which
have thus far been verified and found
To be accurate. are correct and that the
vote In Maine was against the repeal
of the prohibitory amendment by
plurality Of about $50