Omaha daily bee., 1902-10-27
FIGURES ON REGISTRATION
with that OF Two Years
AGO.

The registration Of this year presents
some peculiarities. In the Ninth ward the
republican registration for the FIRST two
days is but thirty-nine names short OF the
registration Of 1900, while the democratic
registration in the same ward is but forty
short Of what II was two years ago at the
same time. The greatest falling of in the
registration on the part OF the democrats
Is in the First and Second wards, while
the republicans show the greatest decrease
in the Third and sixth wards.
In 1900 there we're 9,942 republicans and
1884 democrats registered the first two
days, showing a republican plurality over
the democrats OF 5,345. At the same time
there were 2,2O3 persons registered who re-
fused to give their party afhliation. This
year the republican registration at the same
time is S,107, the democratic 3,400 and those
who refuse to give party af1liation 1856.
There were 29s popullsts registered in 1900
and 145 this year. The combined opposition
to the republicans, counting those who re-
fused to give any party afiliation as OPP
p%onents, in 1900 was 1905, showing a clear
republican majority, on the face OF the
registration books at the close OF the sec
ond days registration, OF 2,s47. With this
showing Mckinley carried the city by a
little more than 1900 votes. This year the
combined opposition to the republican
ticket, taking the same classes as in 1900,
is Sill, the total republican registration
S,107, leaving a clear republican majority
on the face Of the registration books of
1896, showing a republican gain over all
not republicans Of forty-nine votes.
Congressman Mercer, in his personal cam
paign in the Second district, is giving a
modern version OF the old mystery play Of
David the Diviner," and is startling his
constituents by the intimate knowledge he
displays of their families and their personal
experiences. The other day he visited in
the course OF his Handwriting tour a Far
nam street barber shop. The first man was
greeted with:
Hello, Charley. I'm glad to see that
you are around a~gain-heard that you were
SICK" and then followed a handshske for
which the congressman is noted.
"Howde do, TomP' was his next remark
to another artist of the razor. That's a
remarkably fine daughter you have-saw
her the other day" with another hand
clasp, and so on down the room. with the
first name Of the voter at his tongues end,
and a personal remark for each.
When the Congressman left the men all
stood in wonder al, acquaintance OF the
member Of congress with the name and
condition of each, and their comment grew
into wonder as some recalled the fact that
1t had been many years since they had met.
Their wonder was changed to disgust
when the method Of the congressman be-
came known. 1t was learned that he had
visited a saloon next door to the barber
shop and from the dispenser Of liquid re-
fresAments had ascertained the name and
condition OF the employees Of the barber shop
and had then, before the information had
faded from his mind. visited the shop and
displayed his intimate knowledge Of the
men of his district.
The plan was not worked at the barber
shop by him for the first time, It is said,
and instances are recalled where he has
obtained from foremen the names and some
facts in regard to the workmen in factories
which he would spring upon the men when
he made his visit.