The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-11-05
The Party Managers Late I'm the Even
Ing Were Sure the Result Would
BE Satisfactory.
VOTING IN VARIOUS WARDS
MEs OF BOTH PARTIES WORKED TO
OVERCOME GENERAL APATHY.
A Heavy Vote Early I'm the Morning
--ExceIIent Arrangements for
Handling the Election.


day, The sun shone brightly in the morn
ing and in the early hours Of the afternoon,
but lit grew slightly cooler and cloudy to-
warts evening. not enough. however, TO cut
down the vote. The polls opened at
O'Clock in the morning and closed at
O'Clock at night promptly in each case. and
these was much satisfaction at the sys-
terpatic manner in which that important
feature OF the election was managed.
For an OF year a comparatively heavy
vote was cast II exceeded the expectations
OF Republican managers and was surprising
TO ahe Democrats who had anticipated
heavy falling OF in the Republican vote.
Estimates Of the vote cast naturally vary.
County Chairman Elliott thinks the total
vote will be I'm the neighborhood of so per
cert, which he regards as highly satisfac-
tory. Chairman Spencer places his estimate
at from 70 TO IS per cent. Both estimates
OF the county chairmen were based on
bulletins sent in almost hourly by precinct
committeeman from every polling place In
the county. These bulletins pointed to
fact somewhat unusual, that Republicans
were getting out their vote better on the
WHOLE than the Democrats. even in strong
Democratic wards. 1t was remarked that
thu greatest losses TO both parties were in
wsrds where the majority of each party
YVES heavy, but at the Republican county
headquarters the statement was made that
th, Democratic losses were considerably
In excess OF the Republican
edwin Logsdon, Fred A. JOSS Floyd A.
Woods and others identified with the coun-
~, organization say that no matter how
light the vote was that Republican MAORI
tics have been maintained in an almost I'M
varying ratio. Late yesterday evening Re-
publican managers were claiming the coun-
~, for Overstreet and the ticket by a ma
josity OF not less than $500. with the prob
ability that il would run higher. Chairman
SEencer's staff gave no figures, but insisted
tfsat the Democratic ticket was elected and
that Dunn would win over Overstreet by a
close majority. The bulletins to the county
headquarters of each party did not bear
oat. however. the statement at the Demo-
cfatic county headquarters.
SCRATCHING WAS DONE
Ii was not denied by either side that
there was more than the usual amount of
SCRATCHING. Notations were made on bull
lttins by precinct committeeman to the
cbunty chairrnen that a good deal of
scratching was going on by voters of both
parties. The scratching did not apply to
over the city. In the North Side wards,
where the Republican vote is heavy, it was
said by precinct committeeman to be no.
ticeable, and in the South Side, in Demo-
cratic wards. the same statements were
made The conclusions were based on the
lime IL took voters to mark their ballots.
En many cases voters remained long enough
IN the booths to warrant the conclusion
that they were not voting straight tickets.
democratic managers took this to mean
that EnSleys chances were being injured
Sut Republican committeeman in touch
~lth the situation could not see where
Ensley was losing any more than other
candidates. Mr.. Ensley himself visited
svery ward and sized up the situat ton care
<ully. He made the statement that he is
satisfied with the way the vote was going
and cannot see where he was suffering a
loss.
The early vote was very heavy. AS soon
as the polls opened at o'clock there was
sinued until after o'clock. From then on
Gntil noon the vote light, and only a
few stragglers visited the polls to take
advantage OF their privilege of citizenship.
The same was true throughout the after
moon, although the vote ran heavier than
between o'clock and 1850 O'Clock in the
morning. At o'clock voting commenced
again fairly heavily. and from then on until
closing time the election boards were pref
~ busy II is estimated that at clock
80 per cent. OF the vote had been cast. Al
moon the percentage was raised TO so per
icent. At o'clock in the afternoon it had
and
Democratic managers were predicting that
II would go to so or So per cent at s O'clock
Inc election was carried off very quietly
There was practically no disorder and the
services OF the special police were little
REQUIRED. In the so-called colored wards
land among the Jews on Eddy street there
were a few fights on account of voters he
tfng challenged, but these little differences
were adjusted by diplomacy on the part
OF their respective managers without the
Intervention of the police So far aa could
observations
awards there was comparatively little chal-
llenging One thing that was conducive 10
orderliness was the closing of the saloons
by the strict orders of Mayor BookwaIter
These orders were pretty generally heed.
ed. and hrewater was obtainable only al
extreme difficulty, IL obtainabie at all N
was a matter of comment that there was
far less than the usual amount of intoxi.
cation.
ARRANGEMENTS GOOD.
) Both parties had made excellent arrange
ments for handling their ends of the cleo
ton. Corps of bicyclemen carried bulle-
tins from the polling places to headquar.
tiers OF each party. and a careful tab wa:
kept on the vote as il mounted hour b,
hour. AT the Republican headquarter.
Fred A. Joss. Secretary Harry Negley anc
Thomas Whallon received the bulletins anC
: tabulated them AS they went over tn,
wards one by one they expressed satisfac
ton that constantly increased with latel
: returns The claim was made by them tina
the Republican vote was showing up IA
better on the whole than the Democratic
At the Democratic headquarters Secretar,
Ross Joseph +. Bell and others worked ii
the same manner over bulletins received
from Democratic precinct committeemel
and while they maintained that the situa
ton was hopeful for them they were not $,
tubilant the force at Republican head
quarters.
A review of the situation obtainable a
Republican headquarters at 10 O'Clock yes
terday morning placed the Republican ma
tority In the county at Loo. At o'clock II
the afternoon the situation had grown ever
more favorable and Edwin Logsdon place,
the Republican plurality at 400. At
o'clock the Republican vote had increase,
fast and Mr.. Logsdon placed the Republic
an plurality at from 1900 10 $500 II
stated that IL the Republicans continued 4
: vote as they had in the past hour or s.
!; the plurality would be somewhere between
: 4cfo and $500. The election OF every can
I dfdate on the county ticket was insured
: he said. at o'clock in the afternoon. A
Democratic headquarters at 4 o'clock some
thing like gloom had begun 10 cast its pail
There was some talk OF optimistic vein
hut no figures were given 10 back IL up.
one OF the most surprising things abou
the election was the failure OF Democrat
20 get out their vote on the South Side
The Republicans. the other hand. 20
more men 10 the polls I'm proportion thar
, An former years. The state OF affairs on tn