The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1897-11-02
PROGRESS OF
THE
Light Polls IN All the Wards This
Morning.
THE DEFICIENCY CONSIDERABLE
A Total Decrease of over Three Hundred
Votes From the Noon Vote Of Last
Fan-remporary Suspension Of
Electioneering Caused by
an Alarm Of Fire.

Election day opened very dishearteniug for
the politicians. Both the Democratic and
Republican parties learned several days ago
that there was danger Of a big stay-at-home
vote, but hoped for favorable weather to aid
them in a campaign Of persuasion. 1t can
readily be understood how they felt when
the day opened with the rain pouring almost
in torrents and the streets covered with mud
over ankle deep. Their discontinue was not
uncalled for. The rain got in its work
During the morning hours runner employed
by both parties complained that many voters
declined to walk to the polls through the
storm, and many would not even risk a drive
in a carriage in the %dampness.
Whether or not the weather was respon-
sible, the fact stands that the vote polIed
during the morning hours was very light in
all the wards and there was considerable
grumbling among the workers, although
they expressed hopes of being able to catch
up with the figures Of last fall if the weather
took a change for the better during the
afternoon.
The vote up to the noon hour was Us fol-
lows First ward, 1872 Second, 1914 Third,
200 Fourth, 1872 Fifth, 1853, a total of 797.
This was a decrease Of no little proportion
from the figures at the same hour during the
last fall election, when the poll was First
ward, 241 Second, 176 Third, PCS; Fourth.
pol Fifth, 223, a total of 1, 100. 1t will be
seen from a comparison Of the figures given
above that the total vote up to noon to-day
was 312 short of the vote up to noon at the
last fall election. The deficiency was di-
vided among the wards as follows First
ward, SO Second, n; Third, 6s Fourth,
40 Fifth, "a.
The figures given are correct and the
readers of the HERALD can draw their own
conclusions as to the causes of the discrepancies
and the party which will be the most affected
by it. A canvass among the political work
ers to-day showed that both the Democrats
and Republicans were claiming that the de-
crease was working to the benefit of their
respective parties. Which claim is correct
only the returns will show, but there is
every reason to believe that the Democrats
will not carry the borough by al large a
majority as they predict. Many claim Toole,
the candidate for Sheriff, will carry the Dor
ongh by from 800 to 700 majority. A few of
them we're more enthusiastic during the day.
They felt confident that nearly all the stay-at-
home vote was in the Republican camp and
that Little Jack" would carry the town by
about 500 majority. On the other
hand the Republicans were quite conserva-
tive. None made any pretensions
to the claim hat Albright, or Rowe. would
get a majority in tho town. To the con
trary, it was generally conceded that Toole
would carry the day. The Republicans
were well aware that a quiet house to house
sympathetic canvass had been made for
Toole, despite the Democratic claims that the
Democrats in this own had done very little
work. The only difference Of opinion among
the Republicans was on the extent of Toole's
majority. Estimates CLEANED from various
sources ranged from $50 to $50.
At about two o'clock this afternoon
work at tine respective polls was temporarily
stopped by an alarm of fire from the Fifth
ward. At the poll of that ward work was
paralyzed for about half an hour, as the
scene of the fire was but a short distance
from the poll and almost all the men on the
election board belonged to one or the
other of the fire companies. The fire was in
a house on West Lloyd street occupied by
Jacob YOst and owned by Theophilus
Williams. The fire caused great volumes of
smoke to float over the town, but the damage
did not amount to more than 5000 or $500.
Its origin could not be learned, although it
is supposed to have been started by some
children who were playing in the garnet of
the house. A woman residing in the vicinity
of the place became so much overworked by
the excitement attending the fire that she
tainted. She recovered in a few minutes.