Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1892-11-11

ooldUIe. SEVERAL examples OF GllS may
may be cited: One man must have pos
sessed a fierce desire to elect q lieutenant
governor, no matter of what political
faith, for he voted for both candidates;
another voted twice for G. M. Dahl on
n ticket; another one must have had
serious scruples against making marks
upon such a pretty piece Of paper, for
his ballot, when opened, was as clean
and guiltless of any semblance of an X
as when it first came from the press; an
other voter balloted for each set of pres
idential electors. And these are but a
few of the vagaries.
An Election.
Somebody re marked Tuesday that it
was election day,
And as the impression seems to be
general,
There is probably some truth in the
rumor.
The day dawned clear and cold. 1t
was as favorable a day for a large vote
as could be asked. The cold of the morn
ing soon moderated under the rays of the
sun, and by the time voting began in
earnest the atmosphere had warmed up
to a pleasurable extent. The polls we're
opened promptly at 8 o'clock, although,
at that hour, voters we're few and far be-
tween. Hacks were incomprehensibly
numerous. 1t is surprising the number
and description Of the vehicles which
we're turned out. There were new hacks
and old hacks, good hacks and bad
ones, hacks in good repair and hacks
which were noticeably the worse for
usage; there were hacks for the demo-
Gratis, for the republicans, for the indie
pendents, and, in fact, for the convent
ence of members of all political parties,
with the single exception Of the prohibit
tionists, who seemed to be in an infini-
tesimal minority.
No n walked to the polls; that is, no
one who was blessed with the glorious
American privilege of franchise. He no
sooner appeared on the street than he
was gobbled and driven away to his vot-
ing place. There he voted and was driven
away again to wherever he wished to 60.
In fact, the voter was a peer of the
realm, and men, especially candidates,
awaited upon his wishes with homage
and reverence.
A visit to the polls in the morning re-
vealed a very quiet state of affairs. Out
side the railing, which kept all but voters
from the polls, the usual crowd stood
and looked on. The cold of the morning
necessitated some sort of fire, and So, at
the court house precinct, a stove was set
up outside the polls and a fire soon
warmed up the somewhat chilled by
ISLANDERS; at the Green House precinct a
bonfire was built and heartily appreci-
ated. And here stood the interested and
gazed with interest at what was tran
spring. They discussed the merits of
the candidates and Of the Australian
system Of balloting and everything per-
tanning to election affairs. When cold
they warmed themselves up with loud
discussions and violent gestures. And
as the time passed by the votes came in
slowly and every one watched, waited
and specialized.
Up to the noon hour the vote was by
no means heavy. The same crowd hung
around the polling places; a few voters
strolled through the gates and initiated
themselves into the mystery Of the
blanket ballot. The c%hallengers paced
their beats and scanned with eagle eyes
each voter as he presented himself for
inspection. It was very quiet-uninter-
estingly dull for election day.
But o the conflict began to quicken
and grow warmer. The noon hour was
followed by a renewal of the tagging in
terest. Hacks began to run more rapidly
and steadily, and after depositing their
loads of voters rolled off again after
more.
A visit to the Fourth ward at about 4
o'clock in the afternoon revealed a state
of affairs which, for quiet and solitude,
could not have been surpassed. The
challenger paraded his beat with coat
collar turned up about his ears and hands
buried deep in his pockets. For it be-
gan to grow uncomfortably chilly and
raw about this hour. He did no chal-
longing, for there was no one to chal-
lenge. It was as peaceful as could be
imagined. At about 4:40 the judges at
four precincts stepped forth and an
nounced the near approach Of the very
end. And at5 o'clock sharp the polls
were closed and the work Of counting
began.
Very few incidents occurred to mar