The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-11-04
HOW RETURNS CAME in
ENORMOUS COUNTY R~EPUBLICAN
GAINS WERE SHOWN EARLY.
The First Precincts to Report-Com-
parfson by Vote of 1884 and Re-
publican Poll Book.

The first actual returns last night from
the city came from a precinct OF the Third
ward, which showed a Republican gain Of
so on straight ballots over the 1894 vote.
Tn board had counted the unscratched
ballots first and laid aside the more COM
plicated tickets until the straight ones
should be disposed of. The second precinct
Of the Eighth ward sent in the first full
report. 1t gave Mckinley 9s votes and
Bryan 80. The precinct had the same boun-
daries as in 1894 and gave Owen. Rep, 65
votes. and Myers. Dem, ca votes. This
shows q net Republican gain Of 80. The
year 1894 was considered a Republican
landslide, largely attributable to the claim
that Democrats remained at home and re-
fused TO vote. The indications from this
first precinct received are that the same
Democrats came out this year TO vote for
sound money.
The second precinct of the Twelfth ward
followed quickly upon the return from the
second OF The Eighth. Here the gain was
also decidedly Republican as compared
with the landslide, though exact compar-
ison canuos be made, for the reason that
the boundaries of the precinct nave been
changed. Mckinley received SIS TO Bryan's
ITO votes, a gain of Il for Mckinley over
the Republican poll book. The out-of-town
precincts began early, with the fifth pre-
cinct of Washington township, and showed
that the country districts were not inclined
toward the free-silver heresy, as claimed
by the Popocrats. 1t gave Mckinley 50 and
Bryan 81 votes. a Republican gain of u
over the poll book.
The Republican poll book showed Ma
rion county Republican by over $500 an6
upon this basis, which included all sound
money Democrats who were outspoken in
their convictions. the gains are estimated.
Six precincts which came in early showed
a Republican gain of 66 over this esti-
mate. This was an average gain Of II
votes to the precinct over the poll book.
Then came the return from the ninth pre-
cinct of the Sixth ward, which showed
the enormous gain of "a votes
over the Republican landslide of 1894.
The second precinct of the same ward
gave Mckinley ia and Bryan 40, while 4
votes were cast for Palmer and Buckner.
In this precinct there were fourteen votes
which were counted as doubtful and they
split even, seven going for sound money
and seven for silver.
The first precinct which showed a Re
publican loss was from the Fourth ward.
The fifth precinct showed a net Republic
an loss of % votes according 10 the poll
book. Mckinley losing IL and Bryan gain
ing IL. Even this untavorabie comparison
with the poll book did not give a suffi cient
Democratic gain to give Democrats any
hope. for il was almost up TO the vote
of 1894 at that. The fifth precinct of the
Third ward showed a gain of 10 for Nc
kiEley and of 10 for Bryan over the poll
book. giving Mckinley Il net gain of 5.
After Q o'clock the returns began to
come in more freely to the Journal office
and in the editorial rooms a corps of ac-
countants were busy compiling the returns
and comparing them with the vote of 1894
and the showing OF the Republican poll
had his finger on the political pulse of the
county and knew just how the Republic
an sentiment was circulating, sat at the
head of the table. Early in the evening
he predicted an enormous majority. stat
ing that the poll book was conservative.
Outside the office was a terrific din of the
people cheering the Journals bulletin. 1t
was first on the ratio OF gains
that Mckinley would carry the county by
5000. but soon this estimate was boosted
TO 10000.
The Lcng-distance Telephone Company
and Western Union Telephone Company
had a score or more employees in the Jour
nal office obtaining results from the Jour
nails reports from county and State, which
were promptly flashed over the country.
Mckinley by upward of $780," was the first
message sent out by the correspondent of
the New York World at G o'clock in the
evening. The Journal estimates Indiana
for Mckinley by 10000 to 40. OO0' was an
other message wired everywhere. shortly
after 8 o'clock. as the reports from various
counties began to come In.