The age-herald., 1898-04-10
INCIDENTS AT THE POLLS Some Things That Took Place
 at the Primaries. OLD NEGRO WANTED TO VOTE Alleged Story About Sheriff 0'Bried--An Officer in tee Role of "Heeler-The
 Election Was Orderly.
OLD NEGRO WANTED TO VOTE

There was little disturbance at the polls yesterday and the primaries passed off without any serious difficulties as was thought would possibly result from the heated campaign that had been waged The voting places were kept pretty lively throughout the day and each voter who presented himself at the polls was solicited by friends of the respective candidates
 Hacks, carriages and buggies were kept on the go and those who were delinquent about getting to the polls were given
 free ride for their trouble.
 The polls were closed at o'clock and the count was at once begun and in some of the largest voting places was not com- pleted until an early hour this morning
 The headquarters of the respective can- didates were beseiged with their friends, who were anxious to get some news as to the result.
 The fact that there are two F. r. O'Brien's in Birmingham was the cause of & little political incident yesterday.
 One of them is the high sheriff and the other runs a saloon in Eighteenth street between First and Second avenues. Sher- if O O'Bren was running for delegate to the county convention. The saloon keeper was not. It is said that the saloon keeper told his friends that he was the man running for delegate to the cOHNeutlOii, Oul ti'bI his name was put up against his will ana advised his friends to vote for some other fellow as he did not want the job
 It is further alleged that the high sheriff heard of the actions of the saloon keeper and great was his wrath. The story goes that he straightway proceeded to the pseudo candidates tavern and words so high that their altitude could not be esti- mated, ensued It is intimated that the high sheriff seemed exceedingly anxious to lick the stuffing out the saloon keeper but friends dissuaded him from his pur- pose.
 The irrepressble brother in black played a small part in the primaries yesterday, which, however, nowise figured in the re- sult
 old school about sixty years of age pre-
 At one of the voting places negro of the scented himself to the election officers and asked for ticket to vote. This somewhat startled the boys, but promptly chorus of challenges came from the officers and the old man was told that he could not vote, be- cause he was republican.
 "No, sir" replied the old negro, "I'se a democrat, fore God and I wants to vote for MT. Bryan. Ise perfectly free to con- fess dat I voted for Mckinley de las time, but he done gone back me and I henceforth to be found fighting for de dem ocratic standard"
 The old man was assured that MT. Bryan was not a candidate, but that he could vote for him in 1900.
 A peculiar spectacle yesterday at the polling place in Monroe beat was a police man in uniform "lectioneering" in the in- terests of certain candidates.
 The public official who thus made such a show of himself was, of course, none other than A. A. Gambill, the oficious tax collector who is reputed to have the soft est snap in town, and in addition draws salary and wears the uniform of a polce- man.
 that he was transcending all precedence in trying to influence election, while wear ing the uniform of a public servant but as usual he knew more than any one else and persisted in making himself con- SpicuouS.
 In addition to using his influence in try ing to turn the tide of the election, it is said that he was privately spotting all those individuals from whom he thought he could collect street and poll taxes.
 One candidate wanted to do business on an improved scale at Hill beat yesterday. He had six kegs of beer hauled up to the polls and put out on the sidewalk, and calmly proceeded with his electioneering. But Officer Eagan wouldn't stand that. His Irish blood fairly boiled at the brazen nerve of the man with the beer and he proceeded to run him off. The candidate hauled his beer a block away and proceeded to open up a small barroom of his own. It is not known at this writing whether he was elected or not.
 It was at the court house. An innocent looking voter appeared on the scene and was immediately jumped on by four fix ers." (Which Is the free silver ticket?" asked the afflicted man.
 Mine, mlne," cried the most ardent "fxer."
 "Well which is the Mckinley ticket?"
 "Mine. mne" said the same impulsive "hxer."
 Well, I'm against Mckinley; so I'll not vote your ticket. And with that he pulled one already prepared from is pocket and proceeded to cast it.
 An interesting feature e : lection yes-