The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-11-09
IN FRONT OF BULLETINS
THE CROWDS WERE NOT AS GREAT
AS TWO YEARS AGO.
Democrats Behind Locked Doors
The Afternoon Extras Mis-
lead the Public.

Early In the evening crowds began to fill
the streets, crowding around the newspaper
offices, filing the theaters and overrunning
the committee rooms and other places where
news of the elections might be obtained
The newspapers had prepared to give ster-
eopticon bulletins as fast as the returns
were received, and the streets in front or the
offices were damned with men waiting for
information. Returns from Marion county
and the State were slow in coming in, and
the first news with regard to the situation
in New York and other Eastern States. As
the bulletins showed Republican or Demo-
cratic gains there was some enthusiasm, &C
cording to the complexion of the crowds,
but the demonstrations of approval We're
rather tame when compared with other
years Everybody was impatient to learn
how Marion county had gone, and there was
but little interest in the reports from other
States. 1t became early apparent that
nothing definite would be known with re-
gard to the local situation until very late
and the crowds began to thin out, although
hundreds hung on, in spite of the unpleas-
ant air. There were immense crowds at the
theaters, where the announcement that re-
turns would be read from the stage took
many who were curious to know how the
election had gone but did not care to walk
the streets Election night for this reason
proved to be quite a bonanza to the man
ayers AS the evening wore away the
crowds in the street grew restless and
moved constantly from one newspaper office
to the other, hoping to find returns coming
in more rapidly.
There were the usual election night scenes
at the committee rooms. In the Majestic
building, State Chairman Hernly, with
members of the state committee and those
of the candidates who were in Indianapolis
sat listening to kilograms and telephone
messages received by special wires. There
appeared to be general air of confidence,
although it was known to be too early to
get at any satisfactory results. Representa-
tive Overstreet during the evening received
private messages from other congressional
districts that were of a hopeful character,
and patiently awaited the slowly-coming re-
turns from this district. Mr.. Overstreet
felt confident that the district was safe.
There was little of interest at the Demo-
cratic state committee rooms. A clerk said
that there would be nothing going on here
until after IL o'clock. Chairman Martin
and few of his advisers were behind
locked doors receiving the news The sit
uation here was in decided contrast with
that at the county committee rooms, where
Chairman Bell, Leon o. Bailey, w. w.
Spencer and other candidates were barri-
caded behind tables, at which several clerks
were ready to work on the tally sheets as
rapidly as the returns were brought in. Mr..
Bell expressed confidence, and there was
loud cheer as the first return came in from
precinct in West Indianapolis, and it was
announced that it showed Democratic gains
OF about 20 per cent. The Twelfth ward
has always been claimed by the Democrats
to be reliably Democratic. There was q
throng of ward and precinct workers crowd
ing into the headquarters anxiouSly inquir-
ing for "Dore' johnson, Tom" Taggart
and Charlie Mcguire, but neither was in
sight and inquirers were told that they
would be in later. The Democratic candi-
dates were claiming everything as usual,
asserting that they had been advised that
Republican voters, as many as fifty to the
precinct in some instances, had stayed at
home in the North-side wards. They adj
mitted there had been Democratic losses IN
the South-side wards, but asserted that they
would be more than overbalanced by Re-
publican losses north Of Washington street.
While talking in this strain they did not
appear to be really as sanguine as their
words indicated. There was plainly a feel
ing of uneasiness, that deepened as later
returns from New York indicated Tam
manyism had been defeated there and the
State was Republican by a very safe ma
Jority. Some wondered whether Taggartism
was to meet a similar fate.
Arrangements to receive returns had been
made at the Marion Club, where large
crowd listened to the bulletins read that
were coming over special telegraphic wire.
Several of the candidates were there, smiI-
ing and confident At the Columbia Club,
also, there was quite a crowd gathered to
hear the results. The Grand Hotel was
practically deserted. Three or four patrol
men, who had been detailed to keep order
there, had but little to do Taken all
through the scenes about town last night
were quiet and uneventful as compared
with other years, and the public seemed
almost as Indifferent as it had been through
81, rOafc
rain about II o'clock, hundreds went home,
deciding to wait for the morning papers for
news Of the election. Those "cranks" who
always hang on through rain or shine still
.aI..aAS,raa Oh the hllllatin boards