Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-11-04
UNIFORMED TICKET HOLDERS.

The Straightouts Adopt New Scheme at
Polling Places-Archie Rowand Angry al
Their ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Ac-
tivity in All City Precincts.
A new departure in election work was
brought into use by the "Straightouts'
yesterday whereby the polls were manned
with messenger boys. At almost every
polling place, one or two Of the uniformed
lads of the street held big punches of tickets
in their hands, and with full knowledge OF
their own Importance, attracted attention
with the cry that "Here you are for your
Straightouts." In their own minds, for the
time, they were politicians as big as
C. L. Magee, and in hustling, they
discounted the old war horse ward worker,
who has grown old in service for his country
and his boss. The boys were selected, ac-
cording to a statement from Arch. H. Row.
and, because they could not be bought or
bullied to leave their work. They seemed to
imagine the future of the county depended
on how hard they pulled for the straight
outs" and frequently reported the progress
they we're making. One of the youngest
telephoned at u O'Clock:
1--WE got 90 to vote my ticket and the boy
in the next district says our party is away
ahead" aef=fT
His idea of ownership was held by all, and
as there were about 800 of them there was
hitherto been reputed as leaders.
The Infants in 1t.
But the life of the small boy was not al
together pleasant. The bigger politicians
seemed to think he was infringing on rights
sacred to the hard-shell wire puller and
with sneer and sarcasm ridiculed the little
workers and the infant party that had hired
them. or course it was all in fun the men
claimed, but the boys thought it wasn't and
conseq uently they followed the Straight
out" example and kicked. So did Arch H.
Rowand. He was the engineer at the
"Straightout'' throttle during the entire
day and all that was needed to open
the escape valve was for a boy to
p0 has drun A' me ne o 3 ne% snc% as ~as %ee one
Of the statements made by the
precinct, Second ward. This is at the De-
partnent of Charities Office, just around the
corner from Rowand's office. When Archy
heard that one of his boys had been driven
of, he lowered Sunols record in getting to
the place of disturbance.
An idea OF the scene that followed cannot
with the efervescent Mr.. Rowand. A roar
an an eartSaaake taken ES p8saG" togetnep as anu a
star aggregation giving a performance in a
recitation in comparison with the straight
OUT leaders wrath. He still cherishes the
anger and says that to-day the perpetrator o
the decd will be arrested for stealing tickets
and burning them. The man could not be
found. Constable Heiner who was standing
ut the polls says the boys were not driven
away and no tickets were burned. A similar
charge by the "Straightouts" to the effect
that boys were driven away from the Second
precinct of the Third ward, Allegheny, was
also denied.
The Polls Closely Watched.
The Republican and Democratic organiza-
tions never watched polling places more
closely than they did yesterday. They each
had from two to a dozen men on hand, and
besides the Republicans were aided by the
war veterans watching the interests of
Gregg and Morrison. Both parties had
fiashy posters on every available spot, and
the man with the vest-pocket vote who ran
the gantlet of the party workers without
telling who would receive his support, had
more brass in his composition than book
agent. Throughout the day the battle was
closely contested, and the victory won was
at the price of as hard work as has ever been
done In Allegheny county on election day.