The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1896-04-02

tho line to tho other had tho interest OF
Mastern John Qualtrough At heart ana
each crew constituted themselves COM
nittee to gather every coupon in sight as
they went over the road. They had their
friends and acquaintanccs working at al
most every town on the line, and at the
close of the contest the packages OF
coupons turned in TO be placed to his
credit at once placed him strictly in the
race for the prize. and 1t was not until
the last coupon was counted and the totals
made that his contestants breathed easy.
as the votes We're counted first one and
then the other would lead and They can
both he proud not only of their prizes but
Of their good work and popularity In get
ting others to work for them.
The third on the list. Miss Gussie Nc
kcrnon, while not receiving sufficient
number of votes to capture one OF the
wheels. nevertheless demonstrated an un-
usual degree OF popularity. In the city
she was the favoritc with many while not
mail was received but that brought
coupons TO he placed to hcr credit, in each
Instance accompanied by well wishes. Her
friends We're legion and well she deserves
their esteem. Early and late she can
vassed for coupons and for several days
led all her competitors.
Master Alfred Alexander made d gallant
race and received a handsome vote, his
supporters by no means being confined TO
the city.
And the success of the candidates at
tests the popularity of The Post. The
contest continued but twenty days ana
the handsome TOTAL representing only u
small percentage of the circulation. dem
onstratcs the wide field The Post covers in
Its daily visits to thousands OF readers.
Long before noon yesterday. the hour
al which the contest came to close. In.
tercstcd crowns gathered near the office OF
The Post anu were as intent In discu 81, on
Of the probable outcome if the prcsi-
llcncy of the Republic hung in the balance.
Coupons kept rolling In all morning ana
were stacked away in II large basket with
out being opened or counted ana the
Coupon Editor was a. much In the dark
as any one else. He soon became as IN
tereStcd as any one and was anxious for
the count to begin so that he could know
who had won the wheels. They had him
guessing from the very start.
Al the outset of the contest The Post
coupons would be sold for less than s
cents each The object was to encourage
the candidates to work and canvass for
coupons instead OF purchasing them in
large lots. This rule was rigidly adhered
10 ihrougho and resulted In but IA mini
cast in large lots. The large majority OF
the Yates had been gathered one AT Il time
and saved up for the final heat. This
feature added interest to the race and as
result the Coupon, Editor had no way
of even surmising az TO who was in pos
session of the coupons.
As l. o'clock approached the Coupon
Editor repeatedly looked at his watch.
and when the large and small hands both
rested on the MI he called out "closch'
and in n momcut the basket containing
coupons was picked up and taken to the
where the count took place under the
personal supervision OF the Coupon Editor
assisted by Mossrs. S. Il. Swinford. Robert
Adair Jules Hirsch, II. Il. johnson, w.