The Newport plain talk. (Newport, Tenn.) 1909-1939, 1912-12-12
GEO. ST0KELY ELECTED
MAYOR; Smith TICKET
CAPTURES ALDERMEN

Smith ticket, acted as a boomerang
and Fancher's supporl came strong
from his fellow citizens on the hill.
The names OF MesSrs McMAhan and
Taylor had been picked up by the
S.okely crowd with the idea that they
were certain 10 win, anyway, and
that the only way TO get Board that
would b. in sympathy with Mr.. Stok-
ely, il he was elected or out of sym
pathv with Mr.. Saith If he was elect
led, was TO "knife' one or two of those
on the Stokely ticket. Especial de-
light was taken in The knitting of Fred
Fisher by the Stokely supporters, be.
cause Mr.. Fisher had repudiated the
placing of his name on the Stokely
ballot without the acceptance of his
platform. Such kick was made by
the friends of Mr.. Fancher over the
"double crossing he was getting from
some one in his camp, that Prof.
Driskill was dropped and practically Y
every one got in behind Mr.. Fancher.
MraPenlandinsisted that the booths
be sealed up in the rear and separated
from eacn ether. The were sealed but
the election commissioners did not
think it necessary 10 separate them.
The Smith people knew that whole
sale buying was contempled and
sought TO prevent this. That their
contention was based on the fact that
it was possible for one man TO see into
the booth adjoining was shown
when Messrs. George 5. Stokely,
Elmer Jones and Forest Stok-
ely, the first two named being candi-
dates, and the last one an election
commissioner, had to be warned by
the election officers and called down
for placing themselves i'm position
where it was thought they were
watching the marking of ballot i'm
an auJOlnlny DOOtn.
Forest Stokely used his office as elec-
tion commissioner to.good advantage.
He escorted several voters vino had
been to see the gold distributors to the
door and as he was commissioner lie
had authority to go through the door
at any Time. and while his actions on
the inside merely consisted of watch
ing the man go into his booth and
mark his ticket, his presence just a
few feet in the rear, was an intimida-
tion and he was able 10 do much for
the Stokely ticket in this way, but
his actions finally became so offensive
to those in favor Of fair play that his
repeated trips within the court mouse
was objected to and he was refused
further entrance. A friendly door
keeper, also aided the money users as
he enabled the herds that had been
purchased to go in with keeper, who
was sent along more for intimidation
rather than for the active watching he
could do.
The buying began almost us soon as
the doors were opened. There never
has been such rush to, vote here. The
first piece OF money offered for votes
was five dollar gold piece, and there
was more gold in circulation Saturday
than has been seen here in many 9
day. The price remained at 500 but Q
short while and then it went to 81. 81
and did not stop there, but scared on
until it reached $40 and still the limit
was not reached for there are reports
that as high as Sl7.00 was finally paid
for u vote. A man could practically
fix his own price If he would evince
willlngnesst to cast aside his personal
feelings and cast vote for Stokely.
While the majority of the good
citizens of the town were disgusted
with the spectacle, there were many
amusing features, Money was paid
for votes which could not be delivered
as the voter could neither read nor
write; money was paid for votes which
were thrown out because the voter
had not registered. There never has
been time in corporation election
where so many were anxious to vote
for the price. Practically four hun.
dred tried TO vote breaking al other
records.