Mexborough & Swinton Times – Friday 01 September 1893
Result of the Poll.
Consecration Wins.
The polling to fill the vacancy on the Conisborough Burial Board, caused by the resignation of Mr. B. J. Clarkson, opened yesterday at noon. There was only one polling station, the Church Schoolroom, and Mr. Godfrey Walker officiated as returning officer. Polling opened rather slowly and was slack for the first hour, but at one o’clock a large contingent from Denaby arrived, headed by a brass band, and their votes put the non-consecrationist candidate far ahead.
At two o’clock the state of the poll was Marsh 154, Booth 77, majority for Marsh 77.
During the afternoon the polling continued steady, and, as most of the Conisborough ratepayers came up, Booth slowly began to gain on his rival. At four o’clock the poll stood—Marsh 203, Booth 185, majority for Marsh 18.
From that hour, up to six o’clock, the two parties polled about equal, and at the next declaration the poll stood—Marsh 250, Booth 232, majority for Marsh 18.
During the evening, the business in the polling booth became brisker, and there was a constant stream of voters. Waggonettes and traps were employed by the friends of the rival candidates, and their arrival at the entrance of the churchyard was the signal for an uproar of shouts and cheers from the crowd assembled, most of whom appeared to be colliers, anxious to derive as much fun as possible from the unwonted excitement of a contested election. A band of musicians was improvised, their instruments being chiefly of the non-descript order, and these paraded in front of the churchyard, playing such airs as “The man that broke the bank at Monte Carlo,” which appeared to be a great favourite with the crowd.
In the last half-hour of the polling, comparatively few voters put in an appearance, the efforts of the friends of both being concentrated on the task of bringing up stragglers. At eight o’clock Mr. Godfrey Walker declared the final result of the poll as follows:—
BOOTH (Consecrationist) …………. 444
MARSH (Non-consecrationist) …. 384
Majority for Booth ………. 60
A large crowd was assembled in the churchyard, and this declaration was greeted with cheers.
Mr. Thomas Booth, junr., expressed his pleasure at the result of the poll, and thanked the ratepayers for returning him with the substantial majority of 60. (Applause.) The fight had been fought squarely and fairly, and he thought they could now say that Conisborough was in favour of consecration. (Applause.) At all the Burial Board meetings, it had always been argued that Conisborough was opposed to it, but he believed the result of that election would settle that argument. (Laughter and hear, hear.) He had another pleasurable duty to perform, which was to move a vote of thanks to the returning officer for his able, courteous and impartial conduct of the election. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. Marsh had pleasure in seconding the resolution. Although they had been defeated that day their defeat was due to the accumulative vote.—(A voice: That’s only an excuse.)—He believed however the time was not far distant when they would vote at these elections by ballot, the same as they did at the School Board elections (hear, hear—and a voice: And a brass band to bring ’em up—and laughter).
The resolution was carried with acclamation, and acknowledged by Mr. Godfrey Walker, who said he had tried to conduct the poll impartially, and he believed he had succeeded. (Applause.)
Three cheers were then given for the successful candidate, and the assembly dispersed.