THE
ADVANCE
Patchogue, L.I. Saturday, April 10, 1880
Spring
Election
Large Vote Polled
Scenes and Events of the Day
Election morning opened bright and sunny,
the lowering skies and threatening rains and winds of the
day before had all passed away; the air was just cool
enough to be pleasant, and the citizen of New York, of
the Town of Brookhaven, &, & donned his holiday
clothes, going to the extravagance of putting on, in many
instances, a brand new paper collar. The patriotism of
the average voter knew no bounds. He received the ticket
put into his hands, and his instructions to vote it as a
boy would a Christmas present, with a "thank
you" and a smile.
At daybreak all the livery stable men and
owners of wagons around Patchogue were up "hitching
to" while the roosters crowed in the adjoining sheds
to herald the great day's advance. Groups of
"statesmen" assembled at the corner of the main
thoroughfare, and before seven o'clock around Jenning's
building and Mill's corner there were gathered many
hundred voters. Teams of very varied descriptions waited
the pleasure of the men whose decisions were to decide
how this old town should be governed for the next year or
two, to convey them to Coram - where the conflict was to
be held. And very early many teams loaded with citizens
were on the way to Coram to be present at the opening of
the polls. The opposing factions meant "fight"
seemingly, events have showed they did fight earnestly.
Scenes At Starting
Strange as it may sound there was hardly
a perceptible ripple on the sea of difference as between
the Republicans and the Democrats, although the names on
both tickets were, of course different. But this may be
in part accounted for from the fact that one of the
principal officers to be voted, namely: Supervisor, was
tacitly the choice of both parties inasmuch as John S.
Havens the present holder of that office had been
renominated by the Democrats, while the Republicans made
no nomination whatever for the office of Supervisor. The
great contest seemed to be between the Cold Water
Brigade, and the Rum and Beer Avengers. The minor
offices, and there were quite a number to be filled, and
the names of those seeking election to them were made
subordinate to this license, or no license movement. The
parties on both sides evidently felt like work. Ellis
Smith with several of his Lieutenants was on hand talking
to those deluded people, and stuffing tickets into their
hands bearing the name of the temperance standard bearer
as they filled wagon after wagon with them. Truth was
widely departed from in the endeavors of those over
zealous men, and we overheard even Commissioner Ellis
Smith, in the frenzy of what passes current for zeal make
positive misrepresentation as to the amount of money
collected through fines during the past two years. Lawyer
Smith looked on benignly, and chuckled as he thought of
the certain victory of the cold water people's ticket.
"Hack" Bishop had steered for Coram with the
early dawn and not a prominent rum dealer sought to
counteract the "big licks" Ellis Smith and his
men were getting in. "Charley" Rose drew the
best crowd, and as he made known his determined purpose
to vote for the nominee of the pro-license men not a
little satisfaction was expressed by those in favor of
granting licenses, while Brother Ellis Smith, Dominie
Harding, and a few lesser lights seemed shocked. As wagon
after wagon rolled away to the polls eight miles beyond,
the passengers did present a queer sight. The majority of
them we had seen gave resemblance to those who attend
Camp Meetings, kick up "old harry" after they
"had got religion and whiskey too", for a few
miserable looking flags were carried in hand and faint
cheers were echoed as the country wagon in motion shook
them up and down with every motion of its wheel - and all
this without any very reasonable cause. The general
appearance of the streets throughout the day gave ample
prove of the fact that all the voters were out, and that
the election was being desperately fought. At Coram
A regular Donnybrook Fair barring the
shilalah, was presented at Coram. The peripatetic peddler
of everything from a lemon to a boiled clam was on hand.
Tents, stands, refreshment booths of many makes, and
decidedly uninviting looks surrounded the polling place.
Weighing machines and the shooting tent
drew hundreds of the country folks to witness how the
proportions of their comrades were recorded, and their
weight reached; while any number of fellows tried the
aims as marksmen at the shooting tent. Cider was the
strongest liquid dispensed, and although many, doubtless,
carried a private "canteen" like Pat's
description of the wake:" Divil a mother's son of
them was drunk at all, at all". We record this fact
with undisclosed delight and it was the best evidence of
the right feeling rising in men that though enjoyment and
use of drink in a moderate way is sensible and
commendable, drunkenness is abominable. The excitement
throughout the day was extensive enough, but it never
assumed any serious shape, or resulted in fights, or
angry discussions.
The temperance people, and those in favor
of licenses, worked in their respective spheres with a
devotion worthy of a far better cause on both sides. The
various tickets were scattered around with the profusion
of water when a pond bursts. Evidently there was no
juggling in this branch as almost al the tickets used
were printed at the office of the Advance and ergo were
"square". The office seekers were as bland as
expected heir to the odd fellow who keeps him out of his
patrimony by living so long.
In the afternoon, the excitement of the
election reached a climax when the propriety of passing
resolutions in favor of a bill at present before the
Legislature for the abolition of the present mode of
holding the town Meeting of Brookhaven, and of
substituting voting in the ???? districts as at the
general elections. Speeches were delivered ?????? ??????
in favor of it, but when put to a viva voce vote it stood
about evenly balanced, which is a fair indication that
the people of our town favor the election by districts
over the old system.
Supervisor John S. Havens called on the
people to vote money for Contingent Expenses, and in
answer to his appeal $1,500 were voted. He also asked for
out door relief of the poor, and $3,000 was appropriated.
It was then by motion directed that the Dog Tax on hand
be paid toward the expenses of repairs of the bridges;
and that the resources of the town, from all sources, be
paid to the Supervisor, and held by him subject to the
order of the next Town Meeting. The Honorable George F.
Carman, and Honorable Charles S. Havens delivered
effective speeches on both of these questions.
It would take two or three little boys
half a day to count the number of wagons scattered
around; and it would keep all the stenographers in the
United States busy, had they been present, to jot down
all the oaths uttered. As most of our readers are aware
the road to Coram is anything but good - it is narrow,
sandy, and it is almost impossible along portions of it
for vehicles to pass one another. If you are sitting
behind a stepper surely you will feel the least wee bit
put out when you discover that you are compelled to walk
as at a funeral, owing to half a dozen country wagons
being ahead, and you cannot pass them? We do not for a
moment assume that good Deacon Edward as he sat in his
sulky would grow so violent in his impatience as to
swear, as he held back with all his force the horse so
famed for speed, anxious to dash past the slow old jades
ahead. No, no; but it was enough to make even so just a
man to do so. We almost weep to recall several profane
expressions falling from the lips of dear, good very
pious church members as they were brought to brook such
an experience. We hope they will never do so anymore, in
fact we had almost set about the composition of a prayer
that they may not - like good Christian souls, thus
transgress again.
It began to get chilly in the afternoon,
and some of the "Statesmen" did feel just the
least like fighting, but excepting "chin music"
and some violent - as it were -demonstrations, not a bone
was broken. At the close of the polls, a great stampede
began, and east, west, north and south the horses heads
were turned, and the ground so lately deluged with wagons
was a barren plain, save the equippages of those whose
duties, or interests compelled them to remain all night
to watch the counting of the votes. It is too late, and
it would be "stale and flat and unprofitable"
to write even a line now about the foreshadowings, the
prophesies, and the foolish dreams of some of the
assembled multitude as to the results. Let our readers
feast their eyes upon the official details elsewhere
given.
Summed up it was an eventful day for the
town of Brookhaven, and a few closer, more bitterly
contested elections have taken place within it's border
lines. For the first time in the history of the township
a straight Republican ticket was elected, save with one
exception, and that was against our young friend
Hutchinson, who ran for Town Clerk. John R. Davis came so
near to the winning post that we almost lament his
failure after a fight against such overwhelming odds. As
will be seen from the list of successful candidates, our
worthy and efficient Supervisor John S. Havens received a
vote so flattering that we almost fear the addition of
our congratulations will prove overpowering. The
gentlemen elected will no doubt be acceptable and
efficient officers, and discharge their duties with an
eye single to the best interests of their constituents.
In writing this we cannot withhold perhaps a sigh in
condolence with several excellent gentlemen defeated.
Thus, passed into history the election of
the Town of Brookhaven for the year 1880. To many it will
bring pleasant reflections, and it's results to us all,
let us hope, blessings. The following is the ticket as
elected:
For Supervisor,
John S. Havens
For Town Clerk,
Henry P. Hutchinson
For Collector,
Charles J. Randall
For Justices of the Peace,
John B. Mount, to fill vacancy
Thomas H. Saxton, full term
George E. Hancock, to fill vacancy and full term
Jacob DeBaum, to fill vacacncy
For President of Board of Trustees,
Henry W. Carman
For Trustees
Israel B. Tyler
Joseph C. Valentine
Henry W. Carman
Gideon F. Smith
Smith Cammerden
Charles W. Baker
Samuel Dare
For Overseers of the Poor
Charles W. Baker
Israel B. Tyler
For Assessors
George B. Gerard
Samuel F. Norton
For Commissioners of Highways,
Henry T. Osborn, to fill vacancy
Oakley A. Overton, to fill vancaancy
For Constables,
George S. Dykes
George W. Hastings
Amos B. Laws
John Thurston
David H. Raynor
Henry B. Bennet
Edward Fanning
Elbert S. Hawkins
For Game Constable,
John F. Hawkins
For Bay Constable,
Alvin Jarvis
Joseph Brown
Special thanks
to
Mr. Frank Costanza, Editor of the Long Island Advance
and Joanne
for providing us with this article
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