The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-11-08
SCRATCHING.
That Is What Voters in Topeka
Are Doing.
Apparently Few Straight Tick
cts Are Being Cast.
WANT MORE BOOTHS.
SloWness in Voting Causes q
Congestion.
Average Voter Requires from
Three to Five Minutes.
PASSES OFF QUIETLY.
No Trouble in Organizing the
Election Boards.
Few Women Voting on the Bond
Propositions.
SloWness in Voting Causes
Congestion.
Average Voter Requires fror
Three to Five Minutes.
PASSES OFF QUIETLY
No Trouble in Organizing the
Election Boards.
Few Women Voting on the Bond
Propositions.

At 2:3O o'clock this afternoon the
scratching of ballots by the voters was
continuing without showing any signs
of letting up. The vote will be heavy
in Topeka and long in counting.
AT IL o'clock this morning nine pre-
cincts in the city of Topeka had issued
demands upon Election Commissioner
T. S. Williams for more booths, be-
cause voters were taking from Is to 20
minutes to mark their ballots. Fear
ing that this would make it impossible
to accommodate the entire voting pop
ulation by night, calls were sent in for
additional facilities. The ticket is be-
ing scratched in Topeka as never be-
fore in the history of state politics, and
is directly responsible for the unusual
amount of time being consumed by
voters to cast their ballots.
In every precinct the story is the
same, that .5 minutes is almost the
minimum amount of time used by a
voter. At some places the election
boards say that instances occurred
where men took as much as half an
hour. The fourth precinct of the Sec
ond ward holds the record; one voter
is accused of having used 45 minutes.
"Are they scratching" was the
question asked at all of the places
visited.
''You just bet they are scratching"
was the answer. You just bet they
are. We never saw them use such
amount of time to mark their bal
lots. People will be standing in line
by night when they come from their
offices and shops. We simply have
to have more booths or the vote will
not get in
On the west side of the city not so
much trouble is being experienced be-
cause of lack of booths. But from
the North and East sides the calls
came all morning. Election Commits
Sioner Williams set to work at once
to provide more accommodations. He
was busy most of the time after 10
o'clock trying to satisfy the demands.
The precincts which had asked for
more booths at IL o'clock were as fol-
lows: The second precinct of the Sec
ond ward, the third precinct of the
Second ward, the fourth precinct of
the Fourth ward, the first precinct of
the Third ward, the third precinct of
the Third ward, the first precinct of
the Second ward, the fourth precinct
of the Second ward, the fifth precinct
of the Second ward.
Election Commissioner Williams could
not be seen. He was too busy supply
ing the extra voting facilities. His as
sistant, John Alexander, answered as
follows in regard to a question concern
ing the matter: THE regular number OF
booths were installed everywhere this
morning. Calls commenced coming in
about 10 O'Clock for extra booths, the
election boards saying that the people
were using an extraordinarily large
amount of time in casting their ballots
We are trying our very best to get all
of the additional booths to the places
calling for them at the earliest possi-
BILE time. 1 think that we can get all
GIN f.
ternOOn.''
How do you account for the trou-
ble?' was asked
1.-The reports from everywhere are that
people are scratching. That appears too
be the most important and the biggest
he answered.
No trouble was experienced anywhere
in organizing the precincts. In the
fourth precinct of the Fourth ward
hitch occurred somewhere by which the
booths did not get to the voting place
until after O'Clock, consequently de- |
laying operations for over two hours. |
Matters were Strengthened around,
however, and the vote is being gather
ed in.
The vote all over the city will be ex-
heavy. People began going
TO the polls early this morning and Il |
big share was cast before the regular |
working hours in the shops, offices and
stores began. AS an index of the large |
vote, the number cast at the following
places by IL o'clock are given:
Fifth precinct of the Second ward, |
125. Registration, 502-
Fourth precinct of the Second ward, |
1885, Registration, 531-
Third precinct of the Second ward, !
l19. Registration, 400.
Second precinct of the Second ward,
l42 Registration, 4Se.
First precinct of the Second ward, |
142 Registration, 529.
Few women are voting on the bond
But one place was found |
in the entire Second ward, in the fourth
precinct. where seven women had cast |
ballots No interest is being taken by
women on the west side of the city. A |
few are voting in North Topeka.
Are Scratching Everywhere.
In the first precinct of the Third
ward 191 votes were cast up to II |
o'clock today. The total registration
of the precinct is $40. About 25 voted |
before O'Clock and about so had cast
their ballots before oclock.
In this precinct it is reported that |
great many more than half are taking !
out lots of time for the marking of
their ballots
In the second precinct of the Third !
it is stated that about to 1 are taxi /
ing long time to mark their ballots. |
1t indicates but one thing. The senti- !
ment is general. The ticket is being
scratched.
The total registration of the second
precinct amounted to 453 and up to |
IL O. clock today 159 votes were cast |