The San Francisco call., 1904-11-08

WASHINGTON, Nov. IA few
hours before the balloting In the Pres
identiaI contest finds the national capi-
tai practically deserted of qualified
electors. From every department of
the Government hundreds of officials
and clerks have gone home to vote, en-
bracing the opportunity afforded by the
election to take at least part of their
annual leave Among Government en-
ployes the interest in the contest has
been greater than in any election for
many years.
Only two members of the Cabinet,
Secretaries Hay and Morton, are in the
city tonight. On account of his health
Secretary Hay felt that he ought not
to make the trip to Ohio at this time,
and Secretary Morton is detained here
by important business in the Navy De-
partment.
Arrangements have been completed
for the Presidents trip to Oyster Bay
to vote. A special car for the accom-
mediation of the President and his par
ty will be attached to the regular Penn
sylvania Railroad train which will
leave here for New York at 1890 a. m.
Roosevelt will be accompanied by Sec
retary Loeb and several White Hosue
attaches, who will also vote at Oyster
Bay. Arriving at Jersey City at 7:15
o'clock tomorrow morning, the Presi-
Dental party will be conveyed across
New York in carriages to Long Island
City, where a special train will be in
waiting to take the party to Oyster
Bay. Thee President will remain In
Oyster Bay only long enough to cast
his ballot, returning to New York in
time to catch the ia p. m. train for
Washington. The party is scheduled
to arrive here at 6:16 o'clock in the
evening.
RETURNS AT WHITE HOUSE.
Returns from the election will be re-
ceiVed by the President at the White
House. He will have as his guests such
members of the Cabinet as may be in
the city and a few personal friends. In
addition to the returns by telegraph
and cipher at the Executive Mansion,
messag ges and bulletins also will be re-
ceived in the Presidents library at the
White House.
Special wires were strung to-day
connecting the main Office of the West
ern Union with instruments placed in
the library and one of the corps of
operators in the executive telegraph
bureau will be on duty at the State
Department. Communication may thus
be secured by the President with any
city in the country. National Chair
man Cortelyou, who will be at head
quarters in New York, will keep the
I,Je fr;o 0f
the returns as they are received by
him.
At the headquarters of the Demo-
cratic. Congressional Committee at the
Riggs House, Secretary c. A. Ed
wards will receive the returns from
various States and from Democratic
national headquarters in New York.
A big torchlight procession and a
serenade to President Roosevelt has
been projected by the local Republi-
cans in expectation of his election.
BETTING GROWS BRISK.
At the headquarters of both the Re-
publican and Democratic headquarters
tonight the utmost confidence is ex-
pressed as to the outlook. This con-
fidence is substantially expressed in
the betting on the result which has
been heavier in Washington than ever.
The odds on the general results are
to / in favor of Roosevelt and Fair
banks. but many wagers have been
made at shorter odds. The interest of
the bettors centers in New York, and
large sums have been wagered on the
result in that State. Odds Of 2 to
have been offered by Republicans that
Roosevelt would carry his home State
and they have been accepted eagerly
by Dmocrats. Many have been re-
corded on the result also in Maryland
and West Virginia, but Republican
money is as scarce on the former State
as Democratic money is on the latter.
A final personal word from Republi-
can and Democratic leaders has been
sought to-day by many people in
Washington. AS a result National
Chairman Cortelyou, National Chair
man Taggart, William F. Sheehan,
Charles F. Murphy and Senators and
Representatives in Congress from both
political parties are being quoted
wherever political discussion may be
In vogue.
WASHINGTON. Nov. 8.-President
Roosevelt left Washington at 1890 this
morning for his home at Oyster Bay,
L. l., to cast his vote at to-morrow's s
election With him were Secretary
Loeb, Dr. C. F. Stokes Of the navy, As
sistant Secretary Barnes, who will
leave the train at Philadelphia for his
! home at Vineland, N. j., and other
persons connected with the executive
household. The party occupied a spe-
ciaI car attached to the regular mid
night express on the Pennsylvania
Railroad.
After casting his vote at Oyster Bay
the President will Immediately return
I fo waShin eton He ia seheduled r.