Norwich bulletin., 1914-04-09
Mayor Cheney
 is Ruled Out
VOTING MACHINE DEFECTIVE AT
 HARTFORD.
MISSED 12o VOTES
Decision of Moderator Gives Joseph H. La~Ier Plurality of s5-Will be Sworn in Today.

on the face of the returns of yester- days biennial mayoralty election, Mayor Louis R. Cheney, republican, was returned to office by 64 votes, the moderator at tonight's adjourned city meeting declared Attorney Joseph H. LaWler, democrat, elected by an ar bitrary plurality of 35 votes.
 This action was taken by the mod orator, F. J. Mahon, because of the democratic contention that one of the voting machines in the fourth ward had failed to register 120 votes The machine was opened during the day. by order of Judge Bennett of the su- perior court, and it was found that the cog connecting with the Lawler count CT was out of order. preventing 1t from recording the vote.
 Mayor Cheney Sends In Resianation.
 After the meeting. which was a pro- tracted one-having recessed four tfmes-City Clerk Smith, while accept ing the decision of the moderator for filing, issued a certificate of election to Mayor Cheney MT. Cheney refused to accept the certificate and sent in ms resignation, to take effect at once He says that while it is apparent he was elected on the face of the re- turns, Tit will be intolerable for me to serve es mayor with the conscious ness that my election may have result ed from 8. failure of the voting ma
 
 pie"
 In the meantime. M. J. Hogan. act ing president of the board of alder men, is mayor of the city until tomor- row at Il o'clock, when MT. Lawler will be inducted into office.
 Tonight's meeting came as the cul- mlnat1on of a day of exciting develop ments, following one of the closest municipal elections this city has had Tn recent years. MT. Mahon. moderator or the nth ward, was moderator of the meeting by virtue of charter pro- vision. He recited, in detail, the trou- ble with the mechanism in the voting machine and Sa idthere was no doubt in his mind, or in the minds of ex- perts, that the machine had become clogged during the voting yesterday.
 His figures for the total vote in the city are: Lawler, 7,585; Cheney, 7,550.
 MT. Cheney's. letter. written to the court ef common council, is as fol-
 Reasons for Mayors Action.
 From the returns of the city elec- ton held April 7, 1914. it appears that have been elected mayor of the city of Hartford. and -t the city clerk has issued to me a proper certificate of election Nevertheless, it is my per- sonal belief, in spite of the returns, that plurality of votes was cast for MT. Joseph H. Lawler. I am advised by my counsel that neither your hon orable body, acting as a board of can Vassers. nor a court, could legally dis regard the returns and declare any other person than myself elected may or.
 Tt would be unfortunate for the city If any cloud should be cast upon the mayors title to his office, and it will be intolerable for me to serve as may or with the consciousness that my election may have resulted from a fail of the voting m Chir1 10 the will of the people.
 T am impelled, therefore, by a sense or fairness and by sense of civic duty to tender my resignation. and I do hereby resign the office of mayor of the city of Hartford, to take effect forthwith.
 Respectfully,
 LOUIS R. CHENEY"
 Counsel for MT. Lawler made an nouncement that he would take the oath of office tomorrow morning at II o'clock before a justice of the peace. of common council. which is over whelmingly democratic, will meet to- morrow night at eight o'clock to off cially canvass the returns. -
 Joseph H. Lewler nayor-elect of Hartford, will be one of the youngest mayors in the country when he tskes the oath of office tomorrow He is not yet 30 years old. He is a grad uate of Georgetown university and the Harvard Law school. He is a sue cessful lawyer. Last year he repre- sented Hartford in the general assem- ply.
 Primaries at Tacoma, Wash.
 Tacoma, Wash, April S.-CompIete returns from yesterdays municipal primary show that A. V. Fawcetr polI- ed a plurality of 2.45S votes over c. F. w. Stoever, a clergyman, in the mayoralty race. Homer T. Bone, so- cialist, was third. Fawcett and Stoever will be the opposing candidates in the regular election April 21