Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-07-16
TO PROBE CHARGES


Taking cognizance of charges that
fraud, coercion and other irregulari-
,,es were practiced in the recent
urinary election. Governor Baxter in
a statement yesterday declared that
the full machinery of the state would
10 invoked to trace down the guilty
ones IL such there be. Senator Brew
ster who preferred the charges also
issued statement in which he point
cd ont that while he Is not now pre-
JARED to say who was responsible
for the conditions of fraudulent and
illegal voting shown in the affidavits
nIed with the Governor and Council.
he ia convinced that Senator Far
riprton Was not responsible and that
the Investigations of the committee
have never shown any traces or
knowledge on the part of Senator
Harrington of the conditions which
existed.
Working in teams in order to COW
er the ground more eXpedttiously.
Governor Baxter, the members or
the Executive Council and assistants
sworn in as deputy secretaries OF
State started upon their grind yes
terday morning to examine the DI,-
800 Republican ballots cast in the
recent primary election in order to
determine by recount the will of the
voters regarding the choice of Re-
publican nominee for Governor.
The counties are being taken In
alphabetical order and at the close
of the opening days work. the Re-
publican ballots from one city and
three towns in Androscoggin county
had been examined. the places be-
Ing Auburn, Durham and Greene.
The results of the days findings
were not announced. Governor Bax-
ter having declared Monday morn
ing that no totals will be made pub
lie until the counting has been COM
pcted,
Five Precincts Missing
When the recount was commenced
yesterday morning the ballots had been
received at the State House from All
except five of the voting precincts OF
the State: Linneus and + Plantation
in Aroostook county, Sandy River Plan
ta,lon in Franklin. Medfield in Piscata-
Quis, and Alton in Penobscot.
Telephone messages have been sent
to the clerks of these places, where II
was possible to reach them in that
way, and IL the ballots are not received
speedily. special messengers will be
sent to secure them.
Method OF Procedure
Before any of the ballots had been
brought into the council chamber,
Governor Baxter outlined the method
ot procedure George w. Leadbetter.
messenger TO the council. is the Gus
todian of ballots to bring them in from
tho storcroom where they are carefully
guarded all of the time. For the work
Of examination. the council has been
divided into three teams. and to assist
them the following were sworn in as
deputy secretaries of state: IL. /. NO
bile and Woodbury. Wallace of Portland,
r Frank Parker of Belfast, Il. G. Stin-
son Of Bangor II. +. Dana of Auburn,
and Sanger y. Annis. J. Frank Ashford,
Louis H. Carleton and Alice l.. Clancy
of Augusta Messrs. Noble, Parker
Wallace. Stinson, Dana and Annis are
bank examiners connected with the
State bank department.
Attorney General Shaw and Assistant
Attorney General Robinson are In con-
slant attendance at the counting SO AS
w ElNt IuNltt anu W SchhcA "Ath N''S
governor and councillors as may be re-
Quircd
Governor Baxter stated that * the
candidates or their representatives de-
sired to look at the ballots they would
he at liberty to co so. but that the can
ddatcs must not handle the ballots,
and any questions should be asked
after the count is made of any partic-
ular precin,t in order that those en-
raecd in the work should not be hin
dcred.
work Of First Nay
II was late In the forenoon yesterday
before the governor and council start
ed upon the actual labor of recount,
and with the frequent conferences hold
only few hours were devoted to the
work. 1t is anticipated that much more
progress will be made today as the
prelimnaries have been disposed OF
and todays session will commence AZ
o'clock. Standard time.
Judging by the progress made tues
day, II appears that the work Will take
somewhat longer than first anticipated
The council may be able to average q
county day on some OF the smaller
counties but the larger ones Will uh'
oeubtedly require from two to three
days on each. So the chances are tna'
the governor and council will be en-
yaged in the task for at least three
weeks.
Cost of the Recount
Based on estimates that the recount
will take three weeks time, II ID ng
ored that the cost will be $462o.
The members of the executive coun
Gil receive $50 and expenses meetine