Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-12-12
W0MEN'S VOTE
BIG FACTOR IN
HUB ELECTION
Candidates in Dark. as
to How They Will
Vote
Fight Conceded to Be Between
Murphy and Curley, Both
Democrats-Baxter, Repub-
lican Making Bids for Vote Of
Fair Sex

| Boston. Dec. 1.-THE question of
who will head the municipal govern
ment for the first four years of Bos-
tons second century as a city ap-
peared to political workers tonight to
resolve itself largely into question
of how the women will vote next
Tuesday: 1t will be their first OPP
portunity to cast their ballots for
mayor.
In the heated campaign the four
candidates, John r. Murphy, James
NJ. Curley, Charles S. O'Connor and
Charles G. Baxter have advanced
many arguments directed toward
gaining the support of women voters.
Baxter has been particularly active
in this respect and tonight Murphy
supporters We're specializing as to his
probable success, feeling that he was
more likely to draw strength from
their candidate than from the other
two.
Baxter is the only Republican can
didate. but national politics are not
recognized on the municipal ballot,
which carries no party designations.
He has appealed for Republican sup
port and at a rally last week Gov.
Allen of Kansas spoke in his behalf.
Most of the Republican leaders. how
ever, including Governor Cox, are
supporting Murphy.
The real fight is conceded to be be-
tween Mhrphy and Curly. Curley,
former congressman and active in
Democratic politics all his life, served
as mayor from 1914 to 1918. Murphy
has held by appointment numerous
important municipal posts, and re-
signed as fire commissioner when he
entered the mayoralty contest. BaX-
ter has been prominent in Republic
can party affairs for manv years and
MS a former mayor of MedfOrd.
O'Connor is a member of the school
committee.
For several weeks District Attor-
ney Pelletier of Suffolk county. Pc
titions for Whose removal and dis
barment brought by Attorney Cen
cral Allen are pending il the supreme
court, also was a candidate. The
manner of his withdrawal in favor
of Curley drew fire from both his
own supporters and Murphy cam
paigners and added to the uncertain
ty of the outcome. He and Curley
each named a representative on an
arbitration committee to determine
whether either should quit the race.
and the publisher of Boston daily
newspaper was selected as the third
member. Having the deciding vote,
the publisher cast it in favor Of Pei
letters withdrawal.
Earlier in the campaign. Curley
had asserted that many of the lead
ers of the Good Government Associa-
ton, which in each election year
recommends a list of candidates for
city officers and which this year en-
dorsed Murphy, were not citizens of
Boston. The association was quick
to draw attention to the fact that
the publisher who brought about
Pelletiers withdra wal was resi-
dent of Lynn. Some of the men who
! had been working for Pelletier
voiced dissatisfaction with the way
| in which he had been eliminat ted and
| refused to transfer their allegiance
| to Curley.
| Specific issues have been few.
/ Murphy has centered his attack on
| Curley's record as mayor. charging
| that he neglected the city's interests
| and favored certain contractors.
! Curley has been vigorous in his de-
nunciation of the Good Government
Association. asserting it was headed
by clique trying to control munich
pal affairs.
OF the 207.S6s registered voters,
1898 are women. Politicians antici-
pate that at least 10 per cent of the
total will go to the polls and figure
that the candidate receiving 10000
votes will win.
The election commission relieved
| the anXieties of many women yester-
day by ruling that women who had
been married more tina, 60 days be-
fore election day but after registra-
ton would not forfeit their right to
vote because they had failed to regis
ter under their new names. Those
married within the 60 day limit will
be permitted to re-register