New Britain herald., 1914-04-09
LAWLFR TAXES OATH
 OF MAYORS OFFICE
Judge Edward 1. Smith Swears m
 Hartfor0'S New Executive.

{ H. LaWlef, democrat, was sworn Tn as mayor of Hartford at Ii o'clock
 today. The inaugural was at City hall and the oath was ! administered by Judge Edward l.. i smith, of the court of common pleas, who is an ex-n1ayor of the city. ! usually the retiring mayor performs 1 this service for his successor, but Mir. I4awler's friends say they we're unable to get in touch with Mayor Louis R. ] Cheney at any time during the fore- noon to prefer a request that he ad- minister the oath. ....
 Mayor Lawler's inaugural took place 1 in the common council chamber and the large room was packed with spec 1 tators among them many women and members of Mir. Lawler's family. Marshal Hart Ta1cott, reelected Tuesday, escorted the mayor-elect bearing the staff of office which has been handed down to successive Hart ford mayors since the time of Thomas Seymour in 17S4. At the conclusion
 of the ceremo ony there was $ burst of
 cheers and at the same time William
 F. Burns, custodian of City hall, raised
 {. brand new flag on the staff sur- mounting the hall.
 Mayor Thanks Friends.
 Ir a brief speech Mayor Lawler
 thanked his friends for the interest
 shown in his candidacy and election
 and reaffirmed his prediction
 pledges 'I will do my whole duty as
 God gives me strength and puts it be- fore me in the light that should be done,'' concluded the new mayor. A half hours reception followed drrr iv1r xr1 hi h,iy nf 1A
 grasped the youthful mayor by the hand and offered congratulations. Between the hours of $ o'clock this
 morning and the time when Mayor Lawler was inaugurated Alderman Malachi Hogan was at the head of the city government. At the former hour he was officially informed of
 Mayor Cheney's resignation by the latter's secretary and requested to act accordingly
 First Onicial Act.
 Mayor I4awler's first official act was the issuance of a call to members of the court of common council to meet tonight as a canvassing board, to
 eanvass Tuesdays vote. That body consists of forty-one democrats and nineteen republicans, so there is no doubt of the result.
 Many lawyers of the city in dis
 cussing Mayor Cheney's action in re- signing take the ground that City Clerk Smith was without authority and acted outside his province in giv- ing a certificate of election to Mayor Cheney. It is pointed out that the
 chief moderator of the city declined
 t. asign any election return which
 would include the fourth ward, but that he did sign return with the fourth ward vote omitted, and this re- turn would give the election to Mir.
 Lewler. In addition MT. Mahon filed declaration of MT. Lawler's election with a return from the fourth ward giving MT. LaWler 100 more votes than the faulty machine showed. Other lawyers particularly on the re- publican side say this has no legal standing. However, it is conceded that the signature of MT. Mahon, the chief moderator on the completed
 returns is necessary before the election results complete, and MT. Mahon says that by signing the two sets of re- turns Wednesday night he thus com- rleted the duty assigned him.
 After the vote is canvassed tonight showing Mayor Lawler's election it will be the duty of City Clerk Smith to issue certificate of such election. 1 The fact that he offered such d cer. 1 tiflcate to Mayor Cheney last night furnishes mixed situation
 Governor Praises Cheney. New Haven, April 9.--"Mayor Cheney is a high-minded man." said Governor Baldwin today, commenting on the outcome of Hartford's city election. "His course in resigning
 the mayoralty is a high minded one. The incident will be a serious blow to those favoring the extension of the Use of voting machines"