Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-08-04
Governors Proclamation

The proclamation Of Gov. Baxter
bearing on the recent primary election
is as follows:
PROCLAMATION BY THE GOVERN
OR IN REGARD TO THE REPUB-
LICAN PRIMARY RECOUNT
On June 16, 1924, a Statewide Re-
publican primary was held. An official
tabulation of the returns from the
cities, towns and plantations gave
frank g. Harrington 47.67S votes and
Ralph 0. Brewster 47,35S votes.
A recount was asked by Ralph o.
Brewster. in accordance with the pro-
visions OF law. and the same has been
conducted in open session" by the
governor and executive councillors. In
making the recount certain situations
arose for which the governor and
council could find no presidents or
statutory provisions to guide them,
ana. In accordance with the Constitu-
ton or the State, the governor pro-
pounded a series of questions to the
justices of the supreme judicial court.
me answers Of the justices to these,
questions have been received and the
governor and council have followed.
and will follow in every detail the
opinion of the majority of the Justices
The recount has been completed and
II IL were not for the vote in st. Aga
tina, Aroostook county, and Ward Four
in the city of Portland the final result
could now be definitely announced. IF
the votes Of st. Agatha and Ward Four
are added into the total Republican
vote or the state as returned by the
local election officials and canyassed
In the returns by the governor and
council. Frank G. Harrington would
nave 1880 votes and Ralph 0, Brew
ster 1895. a majority for the former
of 2s4 votes.
These figures. however, are not mai
because, under the ruling Of the su.
preme court, to final vote Of ST. Aga
tina, amounting to 252 votes for Far
rington and nothing for Brewster. Is
to be thrown out on account OF the
TACT that no election booths were pro-
sided or used in that town. The jus
tees OF the court advise that this be
done. The majority of Frank G. Far
rington with the votes in Portland,
ward Four. yet to be decided upon, is
thus reduced to AZ.
In regard to the Ward Four Portland
votes, the majority Of the Justices of
the supreme court advise that these
votes be held in suspense until an in
of the fraud. IL any, is
made by the governor and council, and
until an opportunity is given the yot-
ers Of that ward to inform the roy.
ernor and council as to how they voted
on Primary Day. The governor and
council regardless OF their own opin-
ions as to their power to conduct an
in the Ward Four situa.
ton, are to follow the advice OF fhe
majority of the court.
The governor and council. from evil
dence already presented to them are Of
the opinion that fraud was committed
in Ward Four. Portland. The majority
of the court holds that such being the
case 1t becomes the duty Of the gov
ernor and council to prove by other le-
gal evidence" what the lawful vote of
that ward was, for II is Impossible for
the governor and council from the rec
eros to determine the actual number Of
spurious ballots"
The governor and council, after no.
tifyins every voter In the ward who is
recorded as having voted on Primary
Day. will proceed to Portland and hold
a hearing at o'clock in the afternoon.
daylight saving time, Wednesday, Au.
gust 8. 1924. at the council chamber,
City hall. Every voter Of Ward Four
will receive printed notice of said
hearing or the same will be left at
his recorded voting residence, and will
be given an opportunity to state for
whom he voted. We quote from the
majority opinion. mo elector fs oblig.
ed to give such testimony. II the voter
prefers to keep his choice a secret he
can do so. Those electors who do not
care to disclose the facts will lose their
votes. but this method will permit the
counting Of ballots actually cast 30 far
as they are proved"
It Is apparent from the above that
the decision as to who was nominated
as the Republican candidate for SOW
ernor now rests with the electors in
Ward -Four. Portland. A great respon-
sibility rests upon these citizens. AS
governor Of this State / urge every
elector who voted in Ward Four, Port
land, on Primary Day. June 10, 1924,
TO come to the City hall on August sth
and 18th. the days herein designated.
ana there inform the council for
whom he or she voted. Under the
opinions OF the majority Of the justices
OF the supreme judicial court Of tI1e