P.R. System Wins by 455 Votes; Sullivan, Crane Unofficially Elected in Council Balloting

The voters of Cambridge have endorsed the system of Proportional Representation by the slim majority of 455 ballots.

The official count yesterday on the referendum to abolish PR was 16,331 against and 15,875 in favor. It was the fourth time that supporters of the Plan E electoral system had beaten their opponents in 20 years. This was also the slimmest margin of victory.

At the end of the first day's ballot counting in Longfellow School, two incumbent Councilors were assured of re-election. Unofficially, Councilor Walter J. Sullivan topped the ticket with 4,735 votes, while Mayor Edward A. Crane '35 followed closely with 4,071.

The election commission established the figure 3,250 as the number of votes a candidate must receive for election.

Although only first place votes have been counted, it seems that several new faces may appear in the Council in the new year. In third and fourth positions last evening were G. d'Andelot Belin (2802) and Daniel J. Hayes (2402), both newcomers.

In the counting of ballots, after the referees have tabulated the first place votes, they transfer seconds--from those who have already passed the established quota--to the remainder of the candidates.

At present, it seems that several incumbents are having a hard time of it. Councilor Pearl K. Wise is clinging to ninth position with an unofficial 1796. In tenth, eleventh, and fourteenth places respectively are Councilors Andrew T. Trodden (1722), John D. Lynch (1623), and Thomas M. McNamara(1299).

The top nine candidates after yesterday's counting were: Councilor Walter J. Sullivan, 4,735; Mayor Edward A. Crane '35, 4,071; G. d'Andelot Belin, 2,802; Daniel J. Hayes, 2,402; Councilor Cornelia B. Wheeler, 2,106; Councilor Joseph A. DeGuglielmo '28, 2,004; Bernard Goldberg, 1,984; Councilor Alfred E. Vellucci, 1,920; and Councilor Pearl K. Wise, 1,796.