Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-03-11
1853 BALLOTS
FAIL To END
TANGLE
Fain Leads in Every Ballot, but
PAGES Followers Stand SOL
idly, Preventing Election.

~ o
The Woodward and Fain factions OF
the Police Commission Wednesday
began q fight to break the 165-ballot
deadlock over the election of a chair
man.
Fains friends freely insisted that
he was elected on the seventy third
ballot, when Commissioner Pace, who
had been voting for himself, voted for
Fain, and Commissioner Johnson
changed his vote from King to Fain,
giving Fain the necessary seven
Mayor Woodward, acting chairman
however ruled that the result of the
ballot was being announced at the
time. and that this made the Johnson
change void
The results of the long list of bal
lots give Fain strong advantage,
and his friends are confident that he
will break the deadlock. Fain led in
every ballot most Of the time lacking
but one vote. Mayor Woodward s
candidate, Commissioner Pace. show
ed a strength of four votes. while
Commissioner Vernoy maintained two
votes.
Line up of Candidates.
The lineup was as follows:
For Fain-Baskin Smith King,
Dickson, Fain and Johnson-s.
For Mayor Woodward, Coll
cord, Clark and Pace-4.
For Nenoy-Garner and Vernoy-2.
Johnson threw his vote to differ
ent members of the board, but mostly
for F'ain
The deadlock has completely clog
ged the business of the Police Com
mission. None of the regular bust
ness scheduled for Tuesday night
could be acted on. and can not be
until a new chairman is chosen. I'm
der the law, the Mayor will act as
temporary chairman until a chairman
is elected, but no business can be
transacted
The commission adjourned until the
next regular meeting in April, but
meeting can be called before that
time, in the event seven of the mem
bers get together on the chairman
and ask that a special session be
held. There is little likelihood of a
called meeting being necessary, how-
ever.
Johnson's Coup" Thrilling.
The coup-or attempted coup-by
Commissioner johnson furnished a
real thrill in an otherwise monotonous
end apparently interminable ballot
ing. Mr.. johnson supplied the hu-
NOR for the session, making frequent
witty remarks and sallies at the ex-
pense of the candidates, and his man
ner of voting for first one member of
the commission and another, regard
less of whether they were candidates
or even wanted the place, was at first
considered merely boyish kind Of
desire TO have some fun out of the
election.
But on the exciting seventy third
ballot the weary voters found that
there was method in his madness
and some shrewdness.
AS this ballot began. one or two
of the Commissioners yawned, and
Messrs. Vernoy and Garner, who were
assiduously keeping tab on t.~- prog
ress of voting, bent over the table to
record the votes. Mr. Johnson leaned
back in his chair, meditatively puffed
cigar smoke into the air but didn't
seemed concerned in the ballot at all,
He voted for King. and continued to
watch the broadening rings OF his
cigar smoke
For - ballots Pace had voted for
Pace, but this time, when his name
was called, he glanced toward BIZ
Fain smiled-as much as TO say, "oh,
Just anything for little change
and called out briskly, "Fain." John
son had caught someone mapping.
Almost "Puts II Over"
PAGES vote gave Fain six. The
names Of Colcord and Mayor Wood
ward were called, and they voted for
Pace Then Johnson announced:
81 wish to change my vote from
King to Faln.'
Someone cried. That elects Fain,