Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-09-22
SECRETARY BUNKER ANSWERS
the BALLOT INSPECTION STORY

Having his attention called Thurs
day evening to an article in the Lew
iston Journal of Thursday afternoon S
issue under the caption Ballot IN
spectior Causes Excitement and ait
or reading the article Secretary or
State Bunker made the following state
ment;
"On Saturday last I received let
ter from Mr. p. F. Tremblay of Lew
iston asking when it would be con-
venient for this department to grant
I'm inspection of the ballots cast IN
Androscoggin county at the recent
election. This Office closes at noon on
al Saturdays Monday morning
wrote Mr.. Tremblay saying that 1t
would be convenient for an inspection
cf the ballots of Androscoggin county
on Wednesday and that that ONCE
would be open at O'Clock in the
morning Mr.. Tremblay made no state
ment as to the particular ballots ne
desired to inspect or in whose inter-
est and | did not deem it either MY
duty or my business to inquire OF
lin. On Wednesday morning little
after 0 Mr.. Tremblay came into my
private Office and introduced himself
by presenting the letter which l had
written him. I at once called MI
Harold E. Dornell. election clerk in
charge of the ballot work. introduced
Mr. Tremblay and instructed Mr.. Don
nell to assist Mr.. Tremblay in his IN
specton Mr.. Tremblay desired to in
spect the ballots of the city OF Lewis
ton first and they were brought to the
office A few minutes later Mr.. Pottie
came into the office and informed me
that he desired to inspect the ballots
of Ardroscoggin county. He was at
once taken to the room where the bal
lots were. introduced to Mr.. Donneii'
who proceeded to open the packages
in which the ballots were returned ana
who passed them out to the Interested
parties for inspection. They making
such memorandum as they saw MT.
Mr. Pottle and Mr.. Tremhlay came on
the o'clock car. Mr.. Wiseman came IN
few minutes after 10 O'Clock and sald
that he also wished to inspect the balictS
Of Andrcscoggin county and was shown
to the table where the work was gong
or. At practically the same time that
Mr. Tremblay and Mr.. Pottle came in
". f. Lawry of Augusta, secretary OF the
Republican State Senate. came in ana
proceeded at once to the table where the
ballots We're. | had reason to suppose
and Mr. Donnen had reason to suppose.
that Mr.. Lawry was examining ballots
in the interest of the Republican party. l
knew that Mr. Tremblay was Republi-
can candidate and that Mr.. Potue is
Democrat. 1t seems, however. that Mr..
Lawry was specially engaged in examin-
ing the ballots on the 54-hour law, but no
sat at the same table with the other gen.
temen and commented upon all ballots
under discussion with them. MIR. Trem-
blay finished his work at noon. When
IL was brought to my attention early IN
the afternoon that Mr. Lawry was plan
ming to leave the Office l Immediately call
ed up Mr., Ham, the chairman OF the Re-
publican State committee. and Informed
rim that gentlemen from Lewiston wore
examining the Androscoggin county bal
lots and l presumed in the interests of
the Democratic party. l Informed him
that if he desired anyone to represent his
that We would suspend The work suiting
his convenience. He informed me that he
did not deem it necessary to have rep
resentative present and that he had no
objection to the examination proceeding.
A few minutes later Mr.. Ham called
me by phone and told me that he had
been requested by parties in Lewis
ton who were interested to ask that
Hon. Frank l., Dutton of Augusta be
present at the examination. told him
10 send Mr.. Du:ton up by all means
as soon as possible so as not to delay
the other gentlemen. He came imme-
diately and was present during the re-
mainder of the afternoon. During all
the time while the ballots were being
inspected by any of the interested
sQarttes Mr.. DonnelL the election clerk,