From the Vineyard Gazette editions of November, 1888:

To accommodate those wishing to vote and leave the Island the same day, the Steamboat Company has decided to leave Edgartown 9.15 A.M. Cottage City 9.45 A.M. Vineyard Haven 10.00 A.M. Connecting at New Bedford with 1.30 P.M. train arriving in Boston 3.20 P.M., Providence 3.30 P.M.

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The Democratic County Convention held at West Tisbury Monday, was called to order at 2 P.M., by Allen Look, Esq., of West Tisbury. Mr. Look was elected President, and Dr. Lyman H. Luce, of West Tisbury, secretary. Capt. Jas. F. Cleveland, of West Tisbury, was unanimously nominated for Representative. After considering for some time the feasibility of ratifying the nomination of Horatio G. Norton, of Tisbury, (the Prohibitory candidate) for County Commissioner, Allen Look was nominated for that office. Hebron Vincent, of Edgartown, was nominated for Register of Probate and Insolvency. Three towns, Tisbury, Cottage City, and Chilmark were represented at the Convention. No nominations were made for Register of Deeds or County Treasurer.

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The result of Tuesday’s voting is no longer in doubt. The Republicans have carried the country and General Benjamin Harrison of Indiana has been chosen as the next president of the United States. Readers will find in our columns a detailed account of how the electoral votes of the several States have been thrown. It is enough to say here that New York is no longer in doubt; it has gone Republican, and in so doing has settled the election.

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Eleven million voters of thirty-eight states met at the ballot box Tuesday for the choosing of a President for the four years from March 4, 1889.

From the latest dispatch received it is conceded by the Democrats that Harrison is elected, receiving 225 electoral votes of twenty states, while Cleveland in 18 states has the remaining 176.

From best sources it appears that the Republicans have made gains of Congressmen in a number of states, and it is quite probable that the Republicans will have a small majority in the Fifty-first Congress.

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The election in this county passed off quietly, a heavy vote being polled, called out doubtless by the vigorous canvass made for Representative. As will be noticed from returns of the Republican vote in the several towns, Edgartown gains a delegate in the County Convention, while Tisbury and Chilmark have sustained a loss of each. Cottage City seems to have made the greatest gain in Republican votes, and will be represented for the next four years by seven delegates, while Gay Head’s representation remains the same. Gosnold’s vote is yet to be received. Mr. Marchant, for Representative, wins a handsome victory over his opponents (all good men), and during the coming winter in Boston will, without a doubt, prove a faithful guardian of Dukes’ best interests. The balance of Republican ticket is elected as follows:

For Register of Probate — Hebron Vincent.

For County Treasurer — John S. Smith.

For Register of Deeds — Tristram R. Holley.

For County Commissioner — Benjamin B. Smith.

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Archibald Mellen, Esq., 92 years of age, who in 1840 cast his ballot for Gen. Wm. Henry Harrison for President, was on deck early last Tuesday morning, and when the polls were opened was the first man in Edgartown to cast his vote, which was for Benjamin Harrison, of Indiana, for President.

Capt. Jared Jernegan cast his first vote for President last Tuesday, although the Captain is well beyond 60 years of age. During a career of active engagement in the whale fishery, this is the first Presidential year that has found Capt. Jernegan at home since he became a voter.

One of the most sensible wagers that has come to our notice is that made between a well-known steamboat man and a popular Main Street grocer. If Harrison is elected the steamboat man is to take a bag of flour to some worthy person in town to be named by the grocer, or vice versa. From the latest news received this P.M., it is probable that the steamboat man carries the flour.

The telephone office at Holley’s grocery was political headquarters Tuesday evening. Gay Head was the first of the county towns to report, followed by Cottage City, Chilmark and Tisbury. The County election disposed of, the crowd then turned their attention to national politics, and from about 9 o’clock, when the dispatches began to come in, until 2 o’clock, the reports from various parts of the country were eagerly received by those in waiting. From the reports received, which were many times conflicting, an occasional one would serve as a good basis for figuring, and the indications were at the time the office closed, 2 A.M., that Harrison was the successful man.

Compiled by Hilary Wall
library@mvgazette.com