The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-11-13
FOOLED STRAW VOTE TAKER
ALE LIED TO HIM IN THE COUNTY
HE CLNYhSSED.

don question, How did IL happen p are the
managers OF n straw vote engineered three
vseks before the contest by q certain metro
polItan newspaper. Now. this variety OF vote
4. called straw" because 1t IL supposed TO indi-
cate which way the wind blows. but in this
case IL was rather the straw at which the
drowning man clutches. Hope had almost died
out in the ONCE OF the newspaper when the
straw vote was tried. not In New York. whore
the results were considered 10 be certain. but
IN the other cities in the State. and the prophe-
cy ~bolstored the hopes OF its contrivors to AZ
.1tent which they now bitterly regret.
II takes two to make q successful straw vote,
the taker OF the vote and the public, and In this
onse 1.-THE results all along the line were such az
In n certain city on the southern tier. 1t u not
10 be wondered at that the returns worked
vosful deception. To that city was sent q can
ynsssr named Bobbs with Instructions TO
spend time aud money In getting a complete
canvass OF the place. and in obtaining personal
statements from prominent citizens regarding
their intentions as to voting. Bobbs was sup
plied with a big package OF slips on this order:
II shall vote for - for Governor Of the
State Of New York In the coming election. Sig
nature -
Bobbs bore with him q letter Of introduction
10 A young Republican politician. q personal
friend Of the contriver Of the straw vote plan.
To the Republican he explained his errand.
saying:
"one fellow can't cover the whole city by
himself, of course. III have to send around
the slips but what 1 want you to do is to put
me onto the main guys OF both parties and I'll
ace them myself. May want interviews with
some Of EN-"
Having learned the names OF a number OF
the leaders. the canvasser started out. He had
previously hired q lot Of boys as messengers
and sont them around with the slips, bidding
them 20 all through the business district
and the principal residence streets getting
the slips filed out and promising them a
certain amount per signature. lev travels
rapidly in o small city. By the time the
messenger business was arranged and the
c~anyasser had started out on his rounds. many
Of the inhabitants knew what was in progress
and we're prepared to furnish some figures
and facts unique in local politics. They felt that
nobody had any particular right to their sigma
lures and preferences. and that a small lesson
would be ~salutary. as teaching that the best
way to get a vote is to wait until the ballots are
counted. Bobbs's knowledge Of the politics of
this city was inhnitesimal. so that he was an
easy victim to the game put up on him. One OF
the first men he ran across was the editor OF the
local Democratic newspaper. an ex-Mayor Of
the city.
What do you think Of the sentiment here ?"
asked the canvasser.
Sentiment? Political sentiment p said the
editor. We'll. now. speaking not for publica-
ton, but for your w private information, l
want to tell you that the Socialist Labor people
are going to sweep this district like q cyclone"
You don't tell me-" exclaimed the innocent
Bobbs. II didn't know that they cut any ice
In this election"
We'll. / should say they did cut ice. They're
going to knock spots out OF Roosevelt"
ROOSEVELT How's that2 Do they draw
from the Republican ranks2"
That's q popularity Of our politics here.
They do"
Where can I find some of their leaders ?"
This was q poser, but the Democratic poll
tician brought his inventive faculties into play
and reeled of several totally imaginary names
which Bobbs put Town in his notebook for
future use.
Now. you 60 over to George Dammer." con-
unued the Democrat. and talk with him. He's
been holding office OF one kind or another un-
der the Republican administrations for years:
but don't you let him bluff you into believing
he's going to vote for Roosevelt. for he amt.
He's going to vote for Van Wyck."
. To Dammer. who had been warned Of his
probable coming. went Bobbs. and asked him
how he was going to vote. Now Dammer
would as soon think Of voting for Van Wyck as
he would OF swallowing earbolic acid. but what
he said was:
Now, really. I'd rather you wouldn't ask me
that. In my position. you know. Republican
oflceholder-most embarrassing. /" and the rest
was dull mumbling.
Highly elate. the canvasser made a note of the
fact that George Dammer. one OF the leading
Republicans OF the county would cast his vote
for Van Wyck.
And what do you think of the outlook.
locally " he asked.
Never can tell In this town." said the poll
tician. "There'sthe Prohibition vote to reckon
on. That's likely to knock Van Wyck cold"
What with Prohibitionists and Socialist
labor people your politics must be pretty well
mixed up" said Bobbs. But never heard
oithe Prohibition vote drawing from the Demo-
sSTaIbS before; III have to look up some oithese
Yes would Go and see Jim Q'Flynn: He's
ss!eS % t a1Sa msIq oa sP State Y st9eet. catch him in his
wei: h q t. Prossi5itiSn's his principles.
Liquors only his business"
II some doubt the canvasser went to see jim
SFtlyRn. who had been Advised that be would
noon. The saloon keeper. who is one, of the
most active pemocrats Ia the city. had raked
PsrSslnSg' when BoBbs' arrived rive no ""'
nYes, sir," said he In answer to the question
Nhis visitor. the glorious principles q proht-
piion are speeding on to victory. We shall
POI, this year an unprecedented vote for-er-for-
BObbs ~
"Speaklng as a disinterested party" con-
ssyS S. .Issn ts!L y9a that ,yyan ,WycE i going
aePtndents here are dead stuck, on Croker;
WRhInk hes the greatest boss in the business.
WY. me city is as likely to give Van WICK q
majority Of 1000 as 1t is to give him a dozen
SSnH O,a III tell you q man who, can give You
yonters. Ask for Mr.. Silly around on Warham
faset. next to the church. He's the recognized
me man for you"
nI pJT9bsbIly 1t was lust as well that Bobbs didn't
nad the Rev. Mr. Silly at home. that gentle
% Ins ,S being a pill A. and prop Of the vIce-suppress.
%s INDUSTRY. He did, however. run across q
ssrtsln Judge OF one OF the local courts. who Is
s pa neathpsiastic Roosevelt man. but was In the
same 70 have fun with the canvasser.,
od H(49nt put. me on your list" said he. 1T
wouiuht DO for me to let 1t out, but my vote
ICES Tor Van. Wyck. and there are plenty OF
SitSss, 'ESt Ike me II isn't IL the city alone.
aou surprise me-" said the canvAsser: Il
10 Ss Spnss the county was where We were going