The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-11-08
NEW YORK.


New York, Nov. S-Almost perfect
weather prevailed in the greater New
York and early indications pointed to
"A heavy vote in today'S election. From
the moment the polls opened at six
o'clock the booths in many election
districts were filled. and lines of men
stood awaiting their turn to deposit a
ballot. While perfect order prevailed
in most sections of the city, trouble be-
gan in some quarters almost at the
start and arrests for alleged illegalVot
ing began almost simultaneously with
the opening of the polls In some cases
the arrests were accompanied by dis
orderly demonstration and at least
two persons. a policeman and citizen,
were injured before voting had been in
progress 20 minutes.
The first surprise of the day was
sprung by State Superintendent of
Elections Morgan when he distributed
nearly 5000 deputies representing his
office through the election districts of
the greater city 1t had been expected
that the 500 deputies that the Superin-
tendent of elections is authorized to
appoint. would be reinforced today by
about 200 men, including a large num-
ber OF secret service agents whose
whole attention would be directed
toward the holders of alleged illegal
naturalization papers. 1t developed to-
day, however, that Mr.. Morgan had
found that under section of the met
ropolitan election district law the state
superintendent or any of his deputies is
empowered to call on any person toas-
sist him in the performance of his duty.
This law raised practically all restric-
tions regarding appointment of depu-
ties and 1000 additional men were
sworn. The men selected for this work
are volunteers and they went on duty
at the opening OF the polls to remain
until the votes are counted.
The presence of the deputies was ear
ly in evidence and hundreds of men
We're challenged during the first few
hours. Each of the deputies was sup
piled with a list of registered voters
who were to be challenged. The list
included the name of every person
whose right to register was challenged
provided that challenge had not been
Withdrawn. Hundreds of other names
had also been placed on the list as a
result of Investigations conducted by
Mr. MorganS office since the registra-
tion closed. Arrests for aIeged[hlegal
voting began early and the offs &rs at
police headquarters soon had all the
business they could attend TO in the
election cases alone.
The first case reported was that of
Winfield Scott Moore. customs in
EpectOr, who was arrested in the Twen-
ty-first election district of the Fifth as
Sembly district. 1t is alleged that
Moore's name appeared on the regis
tration list merely as Winfield Scott.
without the Moore" Moore claimed
that the registration clerk had erred.
The first real trouble was reported in
the turbulent Eighth assembly district.
in the lower east side. At one polling
place a gang of 80 or 75 men, apparent
" acting Upon a prearranged plan
surrounded the polling place and be-
gan to make ii unpleasant for the po-
licemen on guard there. Finally they
rushed the booth and began to jostle
the officer who stood at the door 9th
er policemen came to the assistance of
the assaulted officer and the mob final
" was dispersed. In the melee one of
the policemen and one of the assailants
was injured. Similar disturbances in
which the police had to drive off other
gangs occurred in other polling places
in the district.
In the districts in the lower part of
the city the early morning balloting
was very heavy. Nearly one-third of
the normal vote had been cast during
the first two hours and the leaders
predicted heavy vote before the
polls closed at o'clock. Further up
town the early hours passed quietly,
but the voters began to turn out in
good volume during the forenoon.
Magistrates were sitting in all sections
of the city to give an immediate hear
ing to men arrested on charges of il
legal voting and the prisoners were
aTraigned as soon as they reached the