[herrington] first legislative assembly of ONTARIO 233 



The contest was waged over the doubtful voters who, then as now, 

 constituted a large percentage of the electors. All doubt was removed 

 the instant the vote was cast and the announcement was received in 

 the street with triumphant shouts by one party and hisses and jeers 

 by the other. Dozens of tents were pitched throughout the village 

 from the poles of which floated the colors of the respective candidates, 

 and a welcome was extended to all voters known to be friendly to the 

 color, or likely to be amenable to such influences as might be brought 

 to bear upon them. The over-crowded taverns were the main re- 

 cruiting grounds and as the voter arrived in the village he promptly 

 made his way to the tavern which was recognized as the headquarters 

 of the candidate of his choice. If he had no choice, as was frequently 

 the case, he would be promptly taken in hand by an agent of one of the 

 candidates and conducted to one of the tents or the tavern. Re- 

 freshments were provided on a bountiful scale, especially those of a 

 liquid character. Representatives of the opposite party were always 

 lurking near, ready to spirit away the victim to the other camp. The 

 more irresponsive the voter the more unremitting in their attentions 

 were the respective agents of the opposing candidates. The less in- 

 clined the voter to go to the booth and poll his vote the more indus- 

 triously was he plied with whiskey. 



The scene about the village tavern can readily be imagined. 

 There were scores of voters in all stages of intoxication. Those who 

 had already polled their votes were endeavoring to induce their friends 

 to do likewise, or, if overcome with their exertions and libations, were 

 lounging drowsily in a corner of the bar-room or curled up in a stall 

 of the tavern barn, oblivious of their surroundings. Fights were as 

 common then as arguments, and few ever thought of interfering to 

 separate the participants, who, as a rule, were too drunk to do each 

 other much harm. As the poll closed on the evening of the first day 

 the votes were summed up and couriers were despatched to the farther- 

 most points of the riding to anonunce the result. The party in the 

 lead would despatch messengers to see that the indifferent voters were 

 hurried to the poll on the following morning in order that they might 

 retain the advantage they had gained, as many a voter was influenced 

 by the state of the poll and preferred to be on the winning side, as 

 that meant that he would be a participant in the feast that followed 

 the victory. The losing side sent forth their messengers on equally 

 important errands, bearing messages of encouragement to the 

 faint-hearted and to the indifi^erent they carried persuasive messages 

 of another kind, generally conveyed in two gallon jugs. 



The second day of the polling witnessed a renewal of the strife 

 and so on from day to day, the feeling growing more bitter, the fights 



