New Britain herald., 1916-10-03
BERLIN DEMOCRATS
 DISPUTE ELECTION Republicans Claim Alling De-
 Ieated BeCkley by One Vote INJUSTICE IS CLAIM ED
Chairman Moore of Town Committee Carries Fight to Superior Court Plurality of 13S.

Plurality of 13S.
 The greatest and most bitter fought political campaign ever held in the neighboring town of Berlin was brought to a close yesterday after noon and, according to the official count on file at the town clerks of flee Judge Willard I. Alling of Ken sington was victorious over Norman l.. Beckley, the democratic nominee, by one vote, the returns giving the former 2SO and the latter 279. The advocates of license worked haId because there were rumors of several secret meetings of the "drys" dur ing the past few weeks and succeeded in showing the latter under by count of 361 to 223.
 Kensington Storm Center.
 Although Judge filling was elected, according to the official count he may not hold the office as the demo- crats protested vigorously and it may take a decision from the superior court to straighten the matter out. The whole trouble occurred in the Kensington district, which is the largest of the town. A count was made and there seemed to be a di- vergence of opinion among those of different political faith. There was a recount and some ballots were thrown out. Moderator Moffat final ly declared the count authentic but the democratic counters refused to sign the official count. Upon this ground John A. Moore of Kensingtoll, chairman of the democratic town committee, went to Hartford today to enter a formal protest to the superior court. Another fact which displeased the democrats, was that the ballots from the Kensington district were moved to Berlin without being sealed.
 Bitter Personal Fight.
 The campaign began in earnest three weeks ago. At that time the republican caucus was held and Judge Willard I. filling of Kensington se- cured the party nomination, defeating William H. Gibney, who had held the office for fourteen years, The latter, whom democrats aver, has been the means of keeping down their vote, be- cause of his popularity among the voters, made a statement the follow ing morning that he would not run independently, despite the pressure being brought to bear by many citi- zens. The democrats nominated Nor man L. Beckley the following week and the most personal campaign ever indulged in in these parts resulted. Judge filling, it is said made a can vass and personal plea to the voting population, while MT. Beckley re- mained silent until last week, when he, too, visited the voters. From va rious sources, it was learned, the campaign was not only political, but also religious and personal through out. The progressive vote of 1912 was appealed to by both parties and all sorts of arguments were waged.
 Republicans Split to Pieces.
 The republican machine, so called, sent delegates to all doubtful voters while the democrats were serene In the belief that their man would over come the republican nominee at the polls. Berlin is normally republican by a large majority, but political wise acres said this morning that this was due to William H. Gibney personally l and not to any principles of that party. A year ago he defeated MT. Beckley by a vote of 352 to 153. But this fall it was a different story. The Gibney vote fell from the republican party to the democrats and many life long members of the former cast a straight democratic vote as rebuke to the new machine, it is said. Rejected Ballots Make Trouble. In the entire town there were seventeen rejected ballots, six in Berlin, eight in Kensington and three in East Berlin. The rejections in Ken sington was sternly protested by the democrats, but were thrown out It i is said that at first the result there would have given Becl1ley the elec- | tiOn by a single vote. A recount was l taken and one ballot thrown out. 1 leaving the result a tie A third | count resulted in another ballot be- i ing discarded and Judge filings con- | seQuent plurality of a<single vote.
 The results as obtained at the town 1 clerks office this morning follow: License.
 Berlin District.
 1 lPS lo'