An Extract from “Q.C.G.”, 1903:
Lit & Deb Elections
...J. HENRY, M.A. sends us an interesting letter. He writes "I do
not know whether you still have contested elections in the Debating Society. I
hope you have, but it may interest your readers to know something of the zeal and
resource displayed by the opposing parties in former contests.
I remember on one occasion, when the issue of the election for chairman
was doubtful, having my diggs invaded by a press-gang and my companion actually carried off to record
his vote. In the struggle on the way to the door, the whole party fell through
the balustrade, but that was a detail. I was left to follow my own course, probably
owing to the same cause that saved Captain Grose in
days long gone by.
On another occasion the foot-ball team, which was chiefly composed of supporters
of one candidate, was at a mach in Oughterard on the
day of the election, and was late in turning up. Fearing such a disaster, a few
very able lieutenants of the party talked against time at the debate, and thus
obstructed the election proceedings to give their friends time to arrive until
the other party became exasperated. The votes that night were recorded by each
member yelling the name of his man into the ear of the teller."
("Q.C.G.", Vol. II Issue i, Nov.
1903, p39)