Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-10-26
RETURNS WILL BE LATE.
Almost Every State Has Something
Like Australian Ballot System.
Hence Il May Be "a Hours or More Before
Result Is Known.

/ Washington, Oct. 25.-The Presidential
election of Nov. 3 will be held under con-
ditions which have never before prevailed
and which Will render the official count
a matter of difficulty and unusual delay.
| Since the last Presidential contest al
most every state which had not then
adopted the Australian ballot system has,
of secret blanket ballot. either based on
the Australian plan or closely resembling
| IT, The only exceptions are Georgia. Lou
isiana, North Carolina and South Caro-
| lima.
| In the first three states named the old
| open ballot system prevails and the cleo
ton machinery Is IN the hands OF the
| is what is called the reform ballot" the
avowed purpose of which is TO restrict
the votes of the illiterate negroes.
In nearly an other states the blanket ,hae
| the count will be complicated by the fact
| that the state. legislative and county
nominations are printed on the same bal
| lot with the names of the Presidential
| electors.
Connecticut has the envelope system
| New Jersey, prints each party ticket upon
"A separate ballot. Should the election be
in any way close, 1t is quite possible that
it may be "A hours or even As hours alter
the polls close before the result is known
with absolute certainty.
In states like Nebraska for instance,
where. according to conservative opinion,
there may not be margin of 5000 votes
| either way. it will be impossible TO arrive
ut a correct judgment until all the back
counties are heard from. The polls in the
cities will close at +. NJ. but in the
country districts viii keep open till i.
NJ and with a Governor and Legislature
and county officers to- elect. all on one.
ballot it viii take al least six hours 10
complete the count.
Some idea of the general trend of votes
in Ohio can be obtained from the result
of the counties in which Cincinnati and
Cleveland are respectively situated, as
these results will probably be known
comparatively early The rest OF the
state. ii is anticipated, will go pretty
much as il has done in previous Presi-
dental years. The doubtful points are
Hamilton and Cuyahoga counties.
Chicago VIII control Illinois. There VIII
he no doubt of the outcome when the vote
of Cook county is recorded
In the other doubtful states like 1ndi-
ana Michigan and Kansas where the
state and legislative tickets also compli-
cate the ballots. there VIII probably be
no keynote from which the results can be
definitely determined. Tuesday night. I'M
slide. In that case. midnight may give
a clear idea of who are the Victors.
Otherwise there may BE- many hours OF
anxious suspense. The last two Pres-
DENTAL elections have been singularly free
from uncertainty 1t was known by 10 +.
NJ. on election day in lSSs, that Mr. Harri-
son had defeated Mr.. Cleveland and Il
was known with equal certainty at II +.
NJ. election day in 1872. that Mr.. Cleve-
land had defeated Mr.. Harrison. In the
election of 1884. when Mr.. Cleveland de-
feated Mr.. Blaine. the official result hung
in doubt over the vote OF New York Tor
days.
Fusion tickets will add another element
of difficulty in the Presidential count this
year. Fusion has been arranged between
the Popuiists and Democrats on the cleo
toral ticket in every Democratic state but
Tennessee Mississippi. Georgia. labama.
Florida and Texas. In several Southern
states while there has been no formal fu-
sion between the Republicans and Popu-
lists on state Legislatures and congress
men. local arrangements have been made
that amount to fusion and will have more
or less TO do with the result.
The following states Will elect Govern
ors Nov. 3: Colorado, Connecticut. Della
ware. Idaho. Illinois. Indiana. Kansas.
Massachusetts. Michigan. Minnesota,
Missouri Montana, Nebraska. New
Hampshire. New York, North Carolina.
North Dakota, South Dakota, Tennessee,
Texas Washington, West Virginia, Wis
consin and South Carolina.
The following states will elect Legisla-
lures: California. Colorado. Connecticut.
Delaware. Idaho, Illinois. Indiana. Iowa,
Kansas. Kentucky tseven Vacanciesl.
Michigan Minnesota. Missouri. Montana,
Nebraska Nevada, New Hampshire. New
Jersey New York trart. North Caro-
lima North Dakota. Pennsylvania. South
Carolina South Dakota, Tennessee,
Texas. Utah Virginia. Washington. West
Virginia Wisconsin and Wyoming.