The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-11-03
IN THE CITY.
Tremendous Vote Is Being Poll
ed In Every Ward.
Impossible to Tell How Some
Precincts Are Going.
BUT FEW CHALLENGES
Total Number of Votes ChaI-
lenged Won't Exceed 20.
Most COlored Voters Vote Re-
publican Ticket Straight.

The heaviest vote ever pOlled in To-
peka will be cast today. The opening
of the polling places at o'clock this
morning was the signal for a rush un-
precedented in Topeka elections. At 10
o'clock at least one-third of the vote
had been cast in the city and at some
of the precincts half the registered vote
had been cast at that hour
For weeks all parties have strained
every nerve to get out a full registra-
ton and there are very few people liv-
ing in Topeka who viii not be urged to
vote this year. There is no doubt about
the city going Republican, but conserv-
ative Republicans admit that the ma
jOrity will be greatly reduced. The
greatest losses will be in the Second,
First and Fifth wards. Everywhere
the cOlOred Republicans are standing
by their ticket and they are doing al
most no scratching; it requires cOnsid-
erably study and patience to vote a.
scratched' ticket.
The o. NJ. B. has made a terrific fight
upon NcKeever and Larimer but it is
claimed that the colored people who
were expected to vote for Col. Holiday
are not doing so. Several bets that Nc
keever viii have 1000 majority have
been made
The o. NJ. B. members in the Fifth
ward claim that they Will carry the
ward against Larimer and defeat him
in the district. Larimer claims a large
vote in the country and even if it is
the country may save him for it is
known that the prohibition sentiment
is strong in the country 1t is claimed
that the cOlored people in the Fifth
ward are scratching Larimer.
There has been much talk of a Re
publican slush fund but there was no
evidence If its use anywhere in the city.
The ward workers We're really less ac-
tive than usual and in many places the
crowd of hangers on around the polling
places was not so large as usual. The
silver forces are keeping a close watch
and their chalengers have been posted
at all the polling places to watch for il
legal voters
In the Third ward George H. Evans,
who has for years been a Republican
voter has a poll book and is watching
his old Republican associates in the in
terest of the silver forces. If there is
any corruption Mr. Evans ought to be
able TO uncover IT,
The detection from the Republican
ranks is not known. Many Republicans
admit that they are unable to tell how
the white Republicans are voting and
they fear that many who have been
pOlled as Republicans have really vO-
ted for Bryan when they were in the
privacy of the booths.
Republicans admit that the vote in
the Santa Fe shops is an uncertain
quantity and they say that they know
of people who are wearing Mckinley
badges who will vote for Bryan. If
there is a doubtful ward in the city it
is the Second
Senator W. E. sterne was up early
this morning While not SuperstitiOus
he is believer in mascOts and he
donned an old white hat worn and di-
lapidated that he has worn on election
day for 10 years. He says he feels com
paratively safe with that hat on his
head.
Judge Hazen kept 9. close watch on
the polling places 1t is generally be-
1ieved that he viii lead the ticket in
Topeka and he expects a majority of
5 600 over Stebbins- Democrats are vO-
ting for Hazen all over the city.
There was some betting done last
night and this morning. Late yester-
day afternoon Dave Mulvane cleaned
the board at Eagles of Bryan money
on Kansas but more went up at once
This morning one 500 bet was made
on Kansas and ATr Mulvane took two
or three other bets but there is still
some Bryan money left on the board
Odds of two to one on Morrill, were re-
fused. There were q few bets made
on the local ticket but they were all on
major1ties. There was no betting on
Other states Charles Eagie holds $4,000
in stake money almost all on the result
of the Kansas electoral ticket.
The rapid voting in the Third ward
continues this afternoon and in nearly
all the precincts there will be few votes
to cast after 4 o. m.
IN the first precinct $40 votes had
been cast at 2.30. There were then but
125 more votes registered in that pre-
cinct
In the second precinct there were 358
votes cast or 80 votes less than the
registration books show.
In the third precinct where the regis
tration amounted to a total Of 673 there
were ISL ballots cast at D. m.
In the fourth precinct the total vote
at 2 p N. was 319 and the registration
is 469.
There has been no trouble any place
and but little challenging has been done
IN the ward by either side though both
the silver forces and Republicans are
exercising the greatest vigilance
The greastest trouble has been in the
capacity of ballot boxes. Everywhere
they have been found too small and
-four barrels are now being used
A vote was challenged this afternoon
in the fourth precinct of the ward
which gives grounds for the charges of
fraud made against Commissioner Nc
Master D. r. Malone of 1888 Mulvane
street called to vote and was challeng-
ed His name appeared on the books
but when questioned he admitted that
he had not registered. Mr.. Purviance
who is doing the challenging for the
silver forces says that MalOne's name
was placed on the books at the request
of neighbor named Fuller 1t is for
this kind of registration that the war
rant was sworn out for Commissioner
McNaster's arrest yesterday