Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-04-27

the weary hours of the afternoon in jabbing
straws into the tempting ears of doing in
spectors. Occasionally man drifted in,
and with severe expressions of ostentation
the voter would be put through the cate
chism and then be given a ballot.
There were comparatively few instances
of voters calling upon outsiders for intor-
nation. They seemed to understand, and
the disappointment was keenly felt by
the knowing ones who vsinly waited for
an opportunity to instruct. Along about
supper time, when the horny-handed son of
toll wended his homeward way, there drifted
into the Second precinct of the Eighth
ward, a man with a look of wrapt thought
upon his beseamed face. He drawled forth
his answers, took a blank ballot and re-
paired to the little canvas box in the rear
He opened the ballot, read every letter and
period on it, studied intently for a full
minute, rubbed his hand across his forehead
a few times and then dashed the paper to
the floor and walked out, needing neither
words of query nor command. When on
the street he broke away and ran. A
curious youth pursued him, and when the
voter finally stopped he said in broken
tones:
He Had Lost a Hat.
'I've lost a new hat. made a wager
that 1 could vote under the new law with
out any explanation. I've failed. 1
couldn't get the thing through my head and
someone will get new hat tomorrow"
and he sadly turned away.
Mr.. Kennedy was not about the polls all
day. He was seen In his own precinct-the
Fourth of the Fourth ward-about 4
o'clock, but seemingly frightened at the
small number of votes polled he hastened
away again. A new feature of the law
made itself manifest and was the occasion
for considerable trepidation on the part of
the Republican candidate and his support
ers. This was the blank space on the right
side of the ballot. Opposite was the name
OF the party and the candidate, and the
blank space, according to an article of the
law, could be filled according to the option
of the voter.
Mr.. Kennedy was asked about this and
said there was an opportunity for some
skilltul maneuvering to be done. eff the
space was filled before it was given to the
voter it would do away entirely with the
chances of underhand work, but as it is the
opportunities are good. A man, ambitious
for the Office could go to work upon the as
surance that, as there was no opposition to
the regularly nominated candidate, the
vote would be small, and could interest a
number of his friends, and with their aid
they could ring In large opposition vote
by the voters writing down the name of the
self-appointed candidate, and the chances
for the regular nominees defeat would be
good.
Just a Little Alarmed at First.
81 apprehended no such opposition, but
when the matter was first broached to me
during the early part of the day, must
confess that L felt somewhat exercised over
it. But then. of course, it was too late to
do anything TO prevent the possible contin-
gencv. / think it is an unwise section as in
cases of bitter feeling toward single candi-
date the matter could be turned TO suit the
wishes of the silent, though effective opposi-
tion. a man might take advantage of this
section and permit a candidate to be nomin-
ated with little or no opposition and then
on election day make q great surprise by
having his own supporters appear and cast
q written vote"
In speaking of his plan of action as
Mayor, Mr.. Kennedy said he had not vet
decided upon what Alderman he should
appoint to conduct his magisterial hearings
as was published in Thursdays DISPATCH.
There does not seem to be much chance tor
me TO appoint police magistrates, he COLI
tinued, "as Councils have not yet
made an appropriation for them. Per-
sonally l do not consider this ccnsur-
able, as L myself am opposed to
inficting a heavy debt upon Allegheny,
when in reality there is no necessity for so
many magistrates as the lew allows. 1
shall probably make an Aldermanic ap-
pointment, notwithstanding the fact that
the entire expense of substitute will fall
upon me. i am willing to carry this ex-
pense, however, as believe there is plenty