The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1916-11-08
|DUNHAM ELECTED
BY TWO MAJORITY
Exceedingly Narrow Margin
in Brattleboro Repre-
sentative Contest
RESULT NOT KNOWN
UNTIL Z O'CLOCK
Wilson Ran Ahead of Democratic Vote
for Other Officers - Senator Page
and Judge Pier Lead in Republican
Vote.

The prediction yesterday mornine
that the town representative contest
between George l. Dunham. RepubIi
can nominee and DR.. Edward r.
Lynch, the candidate of the Demo-
cratic part, would be close was en-
tlfely borne out by the facts. Mr.. Dun
ham, after all of the seven ballot boxes
had been searched for possible missing
ballots IN the representative contest.
was declared elected by a ma aiority Of
two.
The total vote was Dunham 7s6.
Lynch II9, scattering ).
The contest for this office was a
vigorous one from the opening of the
polls until the last voter had been
there in an automobile Just before the
ballotlng for that office was declared
ended at ) clock
The task of counting was expected
to be ended III less than an hour hut
when the counters had totaled up the
results Of their efforts they found the
result 50 close that it was determined
TO search all of the other ballot boxes
IN order that premature announce
meht might not be superseded bv an
other that might change the entire
complexion of things.
AS the other boxes could not be
touched until ) o clock, the hour for
the closing Of the polls on the other
contests, If was after clock before
the result of the representative vote
became known, Constable Chauncey I
Knapp announcing the vote.
Even while searching the other bal
lots for smaller ones for representa-
tive the contest continued to be lust as
close. First one was found for Dunham.
then one for Lynch. This continued
until four ballots had been found for
each candidate.
Inc interest was 50 great that prob
ably zoo men remained constantly in
the hall during the counting and tbe
search for additional ballots.
Ihere was one defective ballot. the
voter having torn off the two ends Of
the ballot bearing the Progressive and
the republican party names and leav-
ing only the Democratic blank. which
was marked for Lynch. The supporters
OF the physician wanted that ballot
counted, but the majority overruled on
the ground that it was mutilated hal.
lot and could not be counted under thc
law. Even if it had been counted Mr..
Durham still would have had ma
jority of one.
President Wilson ran well ahead of
his ticket in Brattleboro, polling TO-
tai Of 55S votes. His opponent.
Charles L. Hughes, received substanti-
any the party vote of 1,025. but Con
gresham Dale, with 1,036. Senator
Page, with 1,056, Assistant Judge F.
b. Pier, with 1,060, and William K. Da-
ley, candidate for states attorney,
with l,O32, all exceeded the vote
given the Republican presidential can,
didate
Next to President Wilson, Miller.
Democratic candidate for senator, had
the largest vote of Democrat on any
thing else than local or county tick
ct. He had total of 430. Pape,
Congressman Dale S opponent, had 1913.
W. A. Shumway, Democratic candi-
date for probate judge, polled the
handsome vote of AT.
In the fight for state senator Her
mon f. Eddy of Brattleboro polled
1908 and Frank A. Dewitt, the other
Republican nominee, received 1,042
Their Democratic opponents, Wheeler
and Wilder, got $40 and 362, respec-
lively, in Brattleboro.
The 10 justices of the peace, 10 Re
pubiicans and five Democrats, were
elected by votes ranging from 1851
for Col. j. Gray Estey and Town Clerk
Carl s. Hopkins, to 1,l90 for Charles
+. Mann. The votes were: Robert G.
Bacon, Republican, 1,240; Charles A.
Boyden, Democrat, 1898; William r.
Daley, Republican, 1,22l; j. Gray Es-
tey, Republican, 1881; Carl S. Hop
kins, Republican, 1,251; Harry B.
Haus, Democrat, 1,19s; Charles F
Mann, Democrat, 1,l90; C. Menzies
Miller, Republican, 1,211; Fred B. Pier
Republican, 1908; Daniel f. Riley
Democrat, 1,199; Anthony F. schwenk
| Republican, 1896; Frank D. E. Stowe
Republican, 1,213; William A. Shum
| way, Democrat, l,240; Ernest J. Water
man, Republican, 1928; Harold E
| Whitney, Republican, 1,o02.