Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-11-11
FREAK OF THE BALLOT
Singular Result of the Vote
in Maryland.
THE SITUATION MIXED
THE ELECTORAL VOTE WILL
PROBABLY BE DIVIDED.
Election Regarded the Most Simple in
Comprehension Held in State
in Years.
rHE SITUATION MIXED
Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.

Special Dispatch to The Evening Star
BALTIMORE, November II, 1904.
A trihe less than seventy-two hours ago
the polls closed in this state, and at this
writing neither of the state chairmen Is
able to announce as a certainty the result
of the election, so far as the presidential
electors are concerned.
1t hardly seems CT edible that such con-
dtion of affairs could exist, but such is the
case The cause for this long-drawn-out
delay in making returns is due entirely to
the use of trick ballots in the counties.
These ballots are not only confusing to the
average voter, but it seems that the judges
of election are having somewhat of warm
time finding the crossmarks opposite the
names of those candidates who were fortu-
nate enough to have as constituents men
who could mark their ballots SO as to in
sure the counting of them.
The election last Tuesday was the most
simple that has been held in this state in
years. Only two crossmarks were neces-
sary to vote for all candidates on any ball
lot in any county. One crossmark opposite
the name of the presidential candidate and
one mark opposite the name OF the congress
sional candidate voted the entire ticket
Therefore, ii is evident that without the
trick ballot the returns from all over the
state should have beer among the first, II
not the first, to be flashed over the country
Repeal of Ballot Law Suggested.
The present condition of affairs furnishes
the strongest argument that could be pre-
sented for the repeal of the iniquitous ball
lot law passed by the German legislature
of 1902 This law was framed for a pur-
pose and it has served It's purpose most ad-
mirably, say the republicans, and In this
view the better class of democrats coincide.
L Mr. I'm 4 no
lights of the German combine, who Is cred
tied with having taken part in framing the
existing ballot law, admits that trick BAL
lots are boomerangs and don't pay.
The canvass of the third congressional
district now in progress in this city shows
that Mr. Charles ]. Bonaparte, who headed
the republican electors, and former Gov
ernor Frank Brown, who headed the demo-
cratic electors, have run hundreds of votes
ahead of their respective presidential can
didates and the other electors on both
tickets.
An Unusual Incident.
This unusual circumstance will result
from the fact that the names of Brown
and Bonaparte were the first on the demo-
cratic and republican tickets, respectively.
Immediately under the names of Parker and
Roosevelt, and many voters by mistake
placed their crossmarks opposite the
names of these electoral candidates in
stead of the presidential candidates. Both
Bonaparte and Brown will probably run
over 900 ahead of the other electors.
AS these peculiar returns are taDulated
from the reasonably fair ballots used in
this city, it is an easy matter to conjecture
what trouble was experienced py the voters
in the counties favored by trick pallots
TO tntelligently mark the ballot, so ar
ranged as to confuse the illiterate, and In
many instances the voter OF average IN
telligence.
The general consensus of opinion in Balti-
fc hat hA O.
ing the holding of the election in this state
last Tuesday and the subsequent delay IN
getting returns from the counties can only
result in greatly improving the chances Tor
democratic success at both the city ana
state elections next year.
An Independent Democrats Opinion.
In discussing this condition prominent
independent democrat who supported Mr..
Mckinley in 1900. but voted for Judge Par
ke' this year. said to The Star correspond
ent today:
at state and city elections have always
voted the democratic ticket, because had
reason to believe that my duty as good
citizen lay In this direction. 1t seems to me
now that the time has arrived when it is
the duty of those democrats who have the
interests of their party at heart to vote
another way, and thus drive from power
those leaders who have brought the party
into disrepute and reSorted to such nefa-
rious methods as trick ballots to subvert the
will of the people. have made up my
mind on this matter, and know hundreds
OF democrats who hold the same view of
the situation as do.
This is a fair sample of the expressions
heard among business and professional men
who have been affiliated with the demo-
cratic party for years.
The Evening Herald (dem) claims Par
ker has carried the state by 176 plurality.
Smith Anticipates Contest.
Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.
DENTON, November 11.-Thomas A.
Smith the newly-elected representative
from the first Maryland district. said today
that he had received no congratulations
Il iom Representative William II. Jackson of
Salisbury, his republican opponent. but that
he understood the latter would make
contest for the seat In rhe Fifty-ninth Con-
gress.
Mr.. Smith claims that he lost many hun
dreds of votes throughout the district be-
cause of the difficulties democrats had in
marking the ballots and that he believes
the "disfranchisement'' made possible by
the present election methods bore as heay-
lily against him as against Mr. Jackson.
At the returning boards which met in the
various counties today both republicans and
democrats took careful note of the rejected
b&llots, for the purpose OF furnishing eyi-
dence of their respective parties for use in
the expected contest Mr.. Smiths plurality.
on the official count. will be 500 or over.
Allegany County's Vote.
Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.
CUMBERLAND. Nd. November 1.-THE
official count of Allegany county has about
been completed. The supervisors stated at
1 O'Clock that the totals were not known
and could not be given out for several
hours. but that they would practically be
the same as the unofficial vote already an
nounee6. There was no hitch In the official
count, everything going smoothly
The republicans suffered much the greater
In this county from the throwing out of
ballots. IL is believed that Elector-at- large
Calten l.. Bretz of this city, who, IL return
ed defeated on the face q the returns by
Frank Brown. will erlter contest Mr.
Bretz is very enthusiastic and very wealthy
S65, 900 Fire in Dallas, Tex.