Omaha daily bee., 1902-11-11
VOTING MACHINES MOVING WEST.
Several Tried at Milwaukee with sat
fsfactOry Results.

Several Tried at Milwaukee with SAT-
isfactOry Results.
When the polls close on election day
every citizen who has performed his duty
wants to know the result with the least
possible delay. The present ballot system,
as we'll as the method of counting, are not
designed to shorten anxiety. Both we'll
serve to strain anxiety to the NIT. Even
under the most favorable auspices six to
eight hours are required to complete a
count OF ballots such as were cast in Ne
braska last Tuesday. Should the contest
be a close one the limit OF public anxiety
is measured by the slowest counters. Com
pared with the ~promptness and accuracy OF
the voting machines in several eastern
states the system in vogue In the west is
as much OF a back number as a prairie
schooner. Hundreds Of voting machines
were employed in New York state last
week. in some places for the fourth time,
and in every instance worked satisfactor-
ily. The first trial of them in the middle
west was at Milwaukee. where seven were
put in operation at the last election.
THE voting machines proved a perfect
success" reports the Milwaukee Sentinel.
"seven machines were used, one in each
of the six precincts of the Thirteenth ward.
and one in the Sixth precinct of the Sixth
ward. and all gave such complete satisfac-
ton to voters and election officials alike
hat interest in them almost exceeded the
interest in the election. Rapidly and ac-
curacy were the chief characteristics noted
nv the election officials, and the ease with
which the voting proceeded during the day
led all who watched the machines work 10
express themselves in terms of the high
est praise.
THE first returns were received four
minutes after Z o'clock from the Fifth pre-
cinct Of the Thirteenth ward. The return
was the quickest ever made to the central
station by any precinct in the city In any
election ever held in the history OF the
state.
In some Of the booths votes we're reg
,stered in from nine seconds to half a
minute and in but few instances were
voters within the curtain Of the machine"
longer than a full minute. Although II
was expected that some voters would de-
mand the paper ballot. none objected 10
the machines, the majority appearing to be
greatly pleased with their operation. Ihe
city possesses fifteen Of the machines out
eight were not used, as there was not sum-
Gent time to instruct the voters in their
use.
"From the general appreciation OF the
voting machines II is evident that their
use will be extended to all parts OF the
citv as soon as possible, and probably 100
will be in use in the next election IL
was feared by the election officials that
some OF the machines might make a mis-
take. or get out Of order, or in some man
ner fail to work, but the unfailing regular
ity with which the casting Of the vote
went along in all the precincts rapidly es-
tablished the machine in the confidence
of all voters, and within an hour after the
booths opened yesterday morning all worry
/ and anxiety over the operation OF the ma
| chimes disappeared, and the inspectors and
clerks settled down to enjoy the easy work
Of checking on the voters, allowing the
machine to perform the heavy labor OF the
day.
ITO say that there was an entire abb
sence of trouble with the machines would
not fully explain their operation, but what
d%ifhcuIty was encountered in any OF the
booths was due to the voters and not to
the machines. The trouble was chiefly
with voters who could not read, or who
became ratified on entering the machine
and had to be cautioned in its use. In the
Sixth precinct Of the Sixth ward the cleo
ton ~ofhciaIs reported that one old voter,
who during the last six years was never
known to take less than half an hour to
mark his ballot, accomplished the task OF
making a split ticket inside OF two min
utes. his achievement being greeted with
a rally Of good-natured applause from all
the o~nhcials. In this precinct forty-hvs
votes were cast in forty minutes.
'In the Sixth precinct Of the Sixth ward
one voter got into trouble with the machine
by pulling down one Of the small levers
first, instead Of ringing his straight party
ticket before attempting to split. The ex-
actness with which the machine worked
was illustrated by the fact that the small
lever was moved out OF position so slightly
that 1t was not noticed, and yet the ma
chine. would not work. This Occasioned
some confusion. and at first II was thought
that the machine had become disarTanged.
A the voter allowed the inspector to