Perth Amboy evening news., 1919-12-09
JUSTICE BERGEN
PASSES JON VOTES
IN PERTH ANBOY.
Instead Of 3 Votes Lead R8pub-
IiCan Gains Q More
THREW OUT ONLY ONE VOTE
Has No Jurisdiction in Fifth
Ward Case, the Court
Says To-day
5v STAFF Correspondent.

on ctuH COiIeopOHuaHt-
NEW BRUNSWICK. Dec. 9-John
N. Wester, Republican capdidste for
aIderman-at-large won IN the re-
over his Democratic opponent. Wis@1
liam Voorhees,, by majority OF
twelve votes
This fact became known shortly
before II O'Clock this morning, .wh6r
Supreme Court justice James J. Ber-
gen completed his work of passing on
the ballots referred to him, action in
deciding whether or not the votes
should count.
A total Of 1875 votes which had been
referred to HIM, were acted upon by
Judge Bergen, he allowing all except
one to count. This one, which he re-
fused to allow was a Wester ballot,
on which the voter had voted yes |
for the increase in patromen's pay
and then wrote in the words, s'but
have less men" A total OF seventy
seven referred Wester ballots were al |
lowed to be counted, while fifty eight
Voorhees, ballotHAwere counted.
Counting the referred ballots with
those which had been allowed by the
County Board of Elections in their re-
count, Wester's total vote IN the clse-
ton was 2512 as compared with Noor-
hees' $500. \
Prior to the action OF Judge BegsI
on the referred ballots, Voorhees,
a majority in the recoHnt Of sveeai
This was overcome by Westef' hen ss:er
owing to his having a larger number
Of votes referred to the Judge for ae-
tion.
The original figures OF the Noyep- 4
Der election gave Westsr 1905 and
Voorhees, 1902, the Republican eandi-
date being shown winner by three
votes Thus 50 result of the recount
which was brought by the Democrats
OF the CITY, the Republican candidate
has won iby nine more than at hrst
suspected.
During the counting OF the referred
ballots this morning which occupied
in ali about forty-five minutes OF
Judge Bergen's time-Harry Medineta
Democratic attorney, opposed ths
throwing out of the four extra votes
In the second poll of the nth ward
and also argued against certain de-
cisions being made by the Judge The
lawyers opposition had no effect In
making the Judge change his dect-
sions
H. Thayer Martin OF Woodbridge, Re-
publican attorney, moved that the en-
tire second poll, fifth ward box; be
thrown out because OF the 'lrregu-
larities' which had been discovered
there. Judge Bergen, however, would
not consider the request. and said his
only duty in the matter was to recount
the votes which had bsen referred
to him.
Attorney Martin also explained that
in this particular poll there were fourI
more votes than names of voters ON
tho poll book. Judge Bergen refused
to count these votes, in spite Of ops
position made by Attorney Medinets.
who offered to have the testimony
taken in court of three voters who de-
cIared they had voted. but had failea
to sign the book. Judge Ber8en
ruled that any ballots in excess or the
number Of names on the, poll book
should not count and that the elec-
tlon officers should have stopped
counting when the number of ballots
/ tailed with the number OF signatures
! on the book.
Judge Bergen was very liberal IN
his decisions. Out of the 6S Voorhees,
ballots referred to him, not one was
thrown out. while only one failed 10
count out of the seventy seven Nestsr
ballots acted upon by him. " heR-
ever objections were made to cegFain
votes being counted, these objsctions
usually coming from Mr.. Medinets.
Judge Bergen would refer TO the law
and then continue passing on the re-
naming referred votes.
As q result of the recount showing
Wester elected, the city government
will remain Republican. as this one
Office was the one which was 70 de-
eide whether the Board of Aldermen
would be Republican or Democratic.
Next year the council will have the
same political standing as at present
with four Republicans and three
Democrats.
The holders OF sppointiye city po-
sitions will continue over next year
under the present regime, but had
VOORHEES, been elected and the Dem
ocrats placed in power there would
have been changes in all or the city
positions. which are filed by the
party In power.
Continues on page 81
- 1nOSf Il q 4-7f