The Saint Paul globe., 1902-09-11
FAILURE OF COUNCIL TO AGREE
ON PRIMARY OFFICIALS WILL
RESULT in TROUBLE
ia DEPUTIES oNEcEssARY
TO SWEAR IN CITIZENS
Crowds Around Booths May Under
Law "Asree" on Volunteer Judges
and Clerks in Absence of Regularly
Authorized Men-Preparations for
Primary Vast and Expensive.


ond experience with the new primary
law. 1t is also the first day of regis
tration, and in consequence both the
city engineering department and the
force at the city clerks Office are busy
getting the booths and supplies in
readiness. yfss
The booths, of which there are ia,
were erected week ago, in fact the
majority Of them have been in posi-
ton since the last city election, but
time and the elements constitute a de-
structive force, and each booth must
have an overhauling in order to make
it habitable.
Every election held in ST. Paul en-
tails, an expenditure between $4,000
and $4,000 and an amount of work
that hardly seems commensurate with
the results attained. For the past
week a force of six clerks have been
busy In one Of the store rooms in the
basement of the city hall getting the
ballot boxes in readiness.
Including the stationery, twenty
four different articles are placed in
each box, they ranging from paper
OF pins and needles, for the pinning
and sewing of the ballots, to candles
for the lighting of the booths.
In addition to these articles, there
are bottles of mucilage, ink, stickers,
nails and hago The amount of sup
plies placed in each ballot box is more
its first time to- see any Of the articles
returned unless it was printed sta
tionery. 81
Fears Councils Action.
On the flats and in other precincts
throughout the city the candles, at the
close of the election, are eagerly
CO fI1f
ply has often to be furnished before
the day is over,
While there are two more days in
which a voter can register, a special
effort is being made to have the voters
come forward next Tuesday and de-
clare their rights Registering on that
day also includes the right to partici-
pate in the primary election. The other
two registration days fall on Oct. 21
and Oct 25.
The greatest fear of the city clerks
department the past two days has
been that the two council bodies would
not agree on list of judges.
Should such thing happen, City
Clerk Jensen would be compelled to
have a deputy clerk stationed at every
polling precinct on the morning of the
primary, ready to swear in any per-
son whom the voters might select.
This would require the employment Of
la deputy clerks.
Prepares for Heavy Vote.
Next Saturday and Monday will be
the busy days at the city hall, when
City Clerk Jensen will turn over to
one judge in each precinct the ballot
box for that particular district. In
each case the contents of the box must
be inspected, the judge sworn in and a
receipt taken. He is then handed a
bunch Of ballots in separate pack
age, for which receipt must also be
given. For those judges who fail to
appear, three deputy clerks, each with
a carriage, are employed, and the sup
plies are carried direct to the polling
place.
At the last primary election one of
the heaviest votes in the history of
the city was polled, and 1t is. expected
that the number will be exceeded this
time. In anticipation of such an in
crease County Auditor Johnson, who
is the custodian of the ballots has had
an extra number printed.