The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-09-23
POIIs BEFORE ELECTION.
A Method Of Estimating Results Highly Pleas.
Ing 20 Those Who Try II.

There are approximately %. 200 polling places
In the United States in a Presidential election
Delaware. which has the smallest number.
has i3j. New York. which has the largest num-
Der, has $500. The great majority are in rural
districts. In advance Of an election II is usual
10 hear that one political party has completed
its poll of the State whereby, with accuracy
and precision, the results Of the pending cleo
ton can be foreshadowed, to the great ad-
vantage Of credulous bettors and to the mani
fest relief Of apprehensive candidates. the
poll be true.
The method Of making polls is simple enough.
For instance. in a close State like Indiana,
which has 1850 polling places. and In which
the Republican plurnlit four years ago was
5000. OF an average OF five votes TO each poll
,ng place, IL Ia customary for the Democratic
State Committee 20 send ont, in advance of
the election, a number Of letters or postal cards
to individuals having or presumed to have
accurate knowledge of the political condition
In their respective voting districts. Thcoret-
,cally. such estimates. made by competent
persons. would be of great value az a guide
TO the probable vote Of the State.
As a matter Of fact. actual returns do not
come from more than one-half the districts
and these are made by partiSans whose mani
fest Interest it is 10 show great gain, from
the other party AZ the result Of their, diligence
and sagacity. They are loath 10 admit losses
ON their own side but send a return Of which
In The town Of Paw Paw, Wabash county,
Ind, there are three election districts In
were, for instance. in the Presidential election
100 votes cast for Mckinley, 90 for BRYAN and
! for Palmer, The Democratic reIr"sentatiye
AZ Paw Paw. TO whom inquiry, : made, responds
in substance a. follows; 81 send YOU here
With a list Of ten Republican,. who voted for
fnr Rrya an have not communicated with
either ~ the -four Gold Democrats. hut under
stand that two of them are for BRYAN and two
from our side since 1901. Ultimate this y ar's
vote AT 90 for Mckinley and 20 for BTynn; a
as stated. $3.50 polling r,lqccs and q change
OF 20 votes in each would represent a total
81 $500 In the whole state, turning a Renuhll,,
can majority into a pemocratic plurality OF
5000. That H.. according, To the pemocrattc
roll. The Republican in the first diStrict. OF
Paw Paw oa aomcTn ,h' IN inaqfi nIIoT Sf the sMs SSfIc
lev vote -four years ago 100; no detection since.
Free Silver Republicans who voted for BRYAN
information as to the -four Gold DcmoCrnts;
probable vote this year, N"ktni"y, Nc. GrNnp
30, n Republican gain NJ % \ IKE gain of
20 votes in each, lo,,'E' '' ihC iaia
would increase the Nj. "' 'h"f'
from 1900 70 slOp.
~ linz aitn -rch cstimeics. based on polls
is tlo recent bulletin issued by The Democratic
state C. mmitteo of Illinois by which the success
% - ,pcmocratic electoral nnd s,ate iicEe, is
ten, Of estimates, success In Nebraska, West
virginia. Kansas, Kentucky. Wisconsin, Iowa
and MichIsan Ia. sim nGrn nn c@WnHFffI oT a pnnmber
OF wears Political prophecies based on polls
have the ADVANTAGE that they present an ne
stand. in most cases. the ordeal, Of the election.
md after n very little II heard Of canvass by
G.oli. until The neSt SH%T"i g noj ip 10 S' raiiTS
estimates and this method Of prophec9 gets
little support In New England.