The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-11-05
SILENTLY VOTING.
Very Few Voters Telling How
They Vote.
Both Kepley and Burdge Men
Claiming a Majority.
COLORED MEN DIVIDE.
Many of Them Are Voting for
Kepley.
The Country Said to Be Largely
for Burdge.
COLORED MEN DIVIDE.

for county officers and chief justice OF
the supreme court which is in progress
today is conferred in the contest for the
office of sheriff.
Dave Burdge, the present sheriff and
candidate for reelection as the Repuoli-
can candidate. is making a good tight
aud will probably be reelected by a de-
creased majority.
Bob Kepley, who is running for sheriff
as an independent candidate, has the
support of most of the PopulistE, Demo
Gratis aud allied liquor interests and has
carried on a powerful campaign, but
even his warmest supporters scarcely ex-
pect him to be elected. kepley has been
unfortunate in thai all the law breaking
elements are on his side.
Mr. Kepley. the opposition candidate
for sheriff visited all the polling places
today He says that he was not out OF
the house last night, but stayed at home
to rest up and let others close his cam
paign.
If Kepley is not elected he will be the
most disappointed man in Topeka for he
is sincere in the belief that he Will de-
feat Sheriff Burdge.
IF there is anything in the way things
look" said he, 81 will be elected by
good majority. l may be mistaken but
things look as if they are coming my
way I don't find any people at the poll
ing places working for Burdge."
Commissioner OF Elections Frank Her
aid is driving about the city in his buggy
visiting the different wards and polling
places To a STATE JOURNAL reporter
he said: 81 don't believe there is 100
votes poIled at any precinct in town now
and it is within few minutes of noon
and l fail to see how the whole vote can
be polled. l think the vote will be very
light, probably not over 5000 votes will
be cast. Y es it will be about $500 short
of the registration. l think the vote will
be very close between Kepley and
Burdge."
Tho First ward is one of the parts. Of
the city claimed by Kepleys workers but
an active business man who is always in
terested in elections said this morning
that while Kepley Is showing cousidera-
BILE strength, Dave Burdge will carry
the ward by decreased majority. Two
years ago Burdge carried the ward by
15U and he thinks the ward will 60 for
Burdge this time by something less than
100.
Tom Wilkerson who has injured Dave
Burdge's campaign more than he has
helped it is taking care of the sheritf'5
office today and is not around the polls
as usual.
John Jones, the colored ward heeler,
has charge of the Kepley poll book at
the second precinct of the Third ward
and he watches every voter who enters
the booths. "Things are all our way
said he. "We have Burdge beaten with
plenty of votes to spare. Nine colored
men out of ten are voting for kepley
and l know what l am talking about"
John is sometimes mistaken.
d. c. Tillotson, who is driving Burdoe
carriage in the Fourth ward, said that
Burdge will carry the ward by big ma
jority. The Kepley people have been
claiming the ward, and Mr. Tillotson
says if they are far wrong on their
other representations Burdge will be
elected with plenty of votes to spare.
The Kepley people say that they will
carry the First, Second and Fourth wards.
and the Burdge people do not concede
that the kepley people will carry a sin
gle ward.
Jasper Earnest is on duty looking after
Bob kepley's interests in the lower part
of the Second ward, he said: This ward
is going for kepley sure; Just wait till
after dinner and you willssee the Kepley
votes pile in when the shop men get out
Dave Burdge will get more votes in the
nth precinct than any place in the
ward but we are for Kepley down here"
At the polling place of the second pre-
ciuct of the Second ward, where d big
colored vote is polled. every body goes 70
election to have good time. Al Ben
son is on the election board as a clerk.
and his good natured way of calling
every cOlored voter u ''nigger" makes
lots of fun, which the black voter does
not resent
In the Fourth ward the vote is being
cast IN matter of fact way and little is
Bald about how it is going.
Chief of Police Wilkerson who votes
In the First ward, but is watching the
whole city. says he is satisfied Dave
Buroge will be elected by a good vote
lie says that although the election boards
are against Burdge they can't help Kep-
ley to any great extent
Col. George w. Veale is always on the
election board in the fifth precinct of
the second ward when he is not a candi-
oate himself He manages things in that
precinct and today he is handing out the
tickets '-i0
He sends the prospective voter to the
booth with the admonition: Now he
sure TO vote right" The colonel himself
mas not had much to say in this ca1nnniyn
voted. :" 40
George Il. Evans is working hard for
hepley. What want to see" said he
rs change in the way property is an.
pralseu, and l am after these fellows he
cause they did not do the right thing Ly
me- just watch US and see if we don;t
carry the Third ward for Kepley."
sergeant Frank Ellison of the police
Iorce TOOK a drive around this morning
he SAID that there is a very light vote
Deing polled and that it is not essv to
sell no" things are going but he is of the