The record-union., 1891-04-08
Special 10 the RECoRD-UNIoN.

CHICAGO, April To-day has been the
most exciting election held in Chicago
for many years, and according to returns
at midnight, Hampstead Washburne, Re
publican leader in the Mayoralty fight, is
on top by a safe plurality. The Demo-
Gratis had formidable split in their ranks
in the Independent candidacy of eX-
Mayor Harrison, while the Republicans
were no better off, owing to the 'Citi
zen's" movement, headed by Elmer
Washburn.
Both Carter Harrison and Elmer Wash
burn, particularly the former, polled a
vote amazing to the straight party poll
ticians. Harrison is said to have had the
secret support of a large number of
wealthy men of the city who are backing
the Worlds Fair. His old-time strength
with the foreign-speaking population,
especially the Germans and Bohemians,
also returned to him heavily.
Elmer Washburn's vote, while sur
prise to the neutrality-suspicious. was
something of a disappointment to his
friends, being confined more closely than
was expected to the membership of the
American societies.
The turning point in the contest was to
a considerable extent the Irish-American
vote, and this was eXerted in a singular
manner. Hampstead Washburne's wife is
the daughter of the President of Hiber-
nian bank, and it having been asserted
that certain elements were antagOniZing
Washburne solely because his wife was Il
Catholic, a large number of IriSh-Ameri-
cans, wearying of the fight between the
Democratic leaders, rallied to Wash
burne's support.
The indications at midnight are that,
aside from Hampstead Washburne, the
other successful candidates are about
evenly divided between the Democrats
and Republicans.
Socialist MOrgan's vote was uneXpect-
edly insignificant, about One-eighth of
the number of Socialists popularity sup
posed to be III the city.
The interest shown tonight in the
returns has surpassed anything ever dis
played here before. Madison street and
Fifth avenue, where the newspaper bull
letinS were to be seen, were blocked for
hours by thousands of people yelling
themselves hoarSe and blowing tin horns.
The corridors of the City Hall were
thronged to suffOcation and in all the
theaters the returns were read from the
stage.
The day was marked by a number of
bloody affrays. Even the boot-blacks
fought over politics.
Frank Calls, aged fourteen, was
stabbed and seriously injured by another
boy named Clements because Calls
abused Clements candidate.
Thomas Haskell was shot and fatally
wounded at polling place by Ben Luppie
in political quarrel.
In free-for-all fight at another point
James Scott (colored) was shot and seri-
ously wounded.
IN the Thirtieth Ward J. II. Clark be-
came involved in a dispute and was IA
tally beaten.
At one Of the polling-places a ticket
peddler named Quinn had his tickets
snatched away by a burly tough, who
also slugged him. Quinn went away, but
soon returned with a new bundle of
tickets and huge revolver strapped out
side his coat. Quiet prevailed in that
precinct the remainder of the day.
At l a. VI. City Comptroller Onahan
gave the figures from 500 precincts, leav-
ing only seven to hear from, which
showed a plurality of six votes for Gre
gier.
The City Press Association, which has
been gathering the returns for the papers,
announced that the City Hall people had
made mistake early in the night of ], $50
votes in their foOtingS, and that the error
was continued through the night. Ac-
cOrding to the City Press Association,
Hampstead Washburn still has a plural
ity of 1861.
Lateral \. NJ. Controller Onahan
said au the precincts had been heard
from, and that the complete returns gave
Cregier 433 plurality over Washburne
The great gain for Cregier was in the
stock yards, q district where a large body
OF Irish-Americans seemed to have stuck
to the regular ticket. The official count
viii probably be necessary to decide the
matter.
IN KANSAS.
KANSAS City, April ELECTIONS were
held in Kansas to-day in all cities of the
first and second classes. Although with
ont general political significance. the re-
suits Of the elections were regarded with
considerable interest, for two reasons:
First, because the Citizens Alliance has
tickets in the field and is fighting all the
old parties. The Citizens Alliance is re-
ally n branch of the Farmers Alliance
1t is organized on the same basis, and has
the same objects in view 1t is composed
of the element in the cities which would
9Oin the Farmers Alliance but for the
ssct that the constitution of the latter or
ganiZatiOn will admit none but farmers.
This element has been organized in the
cities mostly since the Farmers Alliance
landslide last fall, and this election is its
nrst opportunity Of showing its strength
Much interest was manifested in the re-
suit on this account.
The other element in the election which
attaches interest to it is the fact that
women, under the laws of Kansas, are
allowed equal suffrage with men in
municipal elections. 1t has been pre-
alcted that after one or two experiences
HS the polls the novelty of the thing
would disappear, and with il the women's
interests III municipal politics. This pre-
dlctlon has not been fulfilled. On, the
contrary, the women's interest in politics
and their activity mt the polls have in
creased with each election. The registra-
ton OF women at tho present election ex-
ceeded any former registration. In
Kansas City. Kansas, the increase in
registration was smaller than in other
less metropolitan cities of the State.
being only seVenty-five At Topeka
the registration lists were augmented by
about four hundred new names of
women. At Wichita the increase was
about 300, ut Leavenworth $50 and at
Atchison 200. At Kansas CITY I.245
women registered, at Lcavenworth 9. .71S.
in Topeka 2, 40. in Wichita 1900 and at
Atchison about 1,S00. In Kansas CITY ali
tho candidates provided carriages TO take
the women to the polls. About two
thirds of the female vote was cast there.
The women confined their interest in
the election to voting, and in only few
cases did any of them resort TO practical
activity at the polls. This activity was
confined to a few Citizens Alliance fe-
male leaders.
The number of negresses that voted in
Kansas City was notable. They marched
to the polls with as much, If not more
pride, than their white sisters and exer-