The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1950-11-16
.FRALEY IS GIVEN
ONE VOTE LEAD
IN OFFICIAL COUNT
Gender Will Contest Result of
State Senate Race-Official
Count Complete

Defeated by only one vote in the
State Senatorial race on November 7,
Bernard l. Gender, Democratic candi-
date, announced this week he would
contest the election of Neil c. Fraley
to that office.
The official canvass of election re-
turns which was completed last
Thursday evening, showed no other
appreciate change in the unofficial
tabulation. The official count for
State Senator showed 1880 for Fra
ley and 3079 for Gender This in
cluded the four soldier ballots which
gave the two candidates two votes
each.
Fraley's unofficial total gave him
lead of p over his opponent. In the
official count Fraley lost five votes
in a Glantsville district and another
five in an Oakland precinct which
still gave him an advantage of II
votes until the canvassers came to
14-3, another Oakland district. Gender
picked up ten votes here.
The situation became dramatic as
Gender himself came to the door Of
the Election Boards office just as it
was discovered he was behind by one
vote. Then someone remembered the
soldier ballots. The first one was for
Gender, making the count even. Then
Fraley picked up two and Gender got
the last one.
No Local Recount
The procedure to contest the re-
suit Of a general election is different
from that in a primary election The
law requires that notice must be sent
to the victor by the one defeated, and
Mr. Gender said this had been done.
Next a hearing will be held before a
magistrate where testimony will be
taken under oath of any irregularities
in the voting or counting of ballots.
Mr.. Fraley will have the opportunity
to cross examine or question any of
the witnesses brought before the
magistrate by Mr.. Gender.
Then Gonder's petition, along with
the testimony at the magistrates Of
flee, will be presented to the State
Senate at the January session, and
will be acted upon by that body. They
may call for a recount Of the ballots
if they deem it advisable.
Mr.. Gender said he had not intended
to ask for any recount with the diff
ference at 21 votes, but he said many
of his friends had urged him to chal-
lenge the count with only one differ
ence.
He declared, "Of course | do not
suspect any deliberate attempt to
change the vote, but | do have evil
dence that certain Irregularities oc-
Cured in the marking and counting of
the ballots which could alter the re-
suit" Mr.. Gonder's decision to con
test the election followed a meeting
on Monday night. He declined to say
where any of these irregularities had
occurred, but said they would be
brought out at the hearing in the
near future.
No Other Changes
Although there were some changes
in the unofficial totals, the results
were the same for the balance of the
ballot.
The official figures, by districts,
are published in today's issue. j.
Glenn Beall, in his bid for reelection
to Congress, led the entire ticket with
1922 votes. Paul w. Fisher unop-
posed for sheriff, was second high on
the ticket with 4,209.
Although the five amendments and
the constitutional convention were not
favored by Garrett county voters,
these were successful throughout the
state The anti-subversive ODER law
was favored by voters of Garrett
county 1883 to $40, and was favor
able throughout the state. The ODER
law was about a fourto-one favorite
on a statewide basis. The ODER law
requires loyalty oaths from state en-
ployes and candidates for political Of
flee and provides stiff penalties for
those convicted of subversive activi
ties.