Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-11-07
EXODUS OF VOTERS
IT REACHED HIGH WATER MARK
YESTERDAY.
More Government Employees Than Ever
Before Have Gone to Their Homes
demonstrations Projected.

The exodus of voters from this city to the
nearby states, particularly New York, New
Jersey, Connecticut and West Virginia,
which began in earnest Saturday, reached
the hfgh-water mark yesterday. railroad
men say. Every outgoing train was crowd
ed to its capacity, and in some instances it
became necessary to couple extra cars to
the regular trains to accommodate the
rush.
The same conditions were observable on
the outgoing trains this morning, but by
afternoon the rush was practically over,
and only few belated ones were taking
the trains for their homes to take part IN
the great contest at the polls tomorrow.
The absence of so many residents of
Washington is noticeable on every hand,
and the work in some of the government
departments is said to be almost at
standstill. AS an evidence of the general
absenteeism it was stated today that fully
80 per cent of the men employees of the
government printing office are away on
election leave Similar conditions re-
ported in the other departments
Effect on Food Supplies.
grocer who has been in business for
many years and whose patrons are princl-
pally employees of the Interior Department
and the government printing office said to-
day that he had never before in any presi-
Dental election year seen such general de-
parture of voters.
Why" said he zone of my customers. an
old gentleman who formerly lived in Brook
Ign and who has vote there, told me that
he had retired from politics years ago, and
to my knowledge he has not been home to
vote before for ten years. left here Satur-
day to vote for Roosevelt and Fairbanks
He said he had not reconsidered his deter
mination to retire from ponies. put he
Il 10 X
traordinary reasons, whatever he meant by
that
The grocer also said that Judging from
his sales since Friday night the homeWard
rush of voters must be the greatest for
many years. Although he laid in smaller
stock of meat and bread than usual Satur-
day owing to the election exodus, basing his
calculations on former election times, he
found that he had overestimated the guam
tity needed and before s o'clock Saturday
night he was selling meat at greatly reduc-
ed prices to get rid of the surplus, and many
of his six-cent loaves of bread went for five
cents. Reports of a like character We're
made by grocers whose patrons are prlnci-
pally government employees.
Demonstrations Projected.
1t is stated that in the event of the eiec-
ton of Roosevelt and Fairbanks the re-
publican marching club of this city will,
when the event is assured tomorrow night,
parade over the principal thoroughfares of
this city with flaming torchlights, brass
band and "a wave of triumphant enthus-
iasm" as one of the members expressed it.
A number of Maryland democrats are also
considering the ACCESSIBILITY of making a
demonstration should the returns show that
the state has given majority for Parker
and Davis.
A project is on foot among a number of
Spanish War Veterans, members and nom
members of the organization of Spanish
War Veterans, to tender President Roose
welt a rousing serenade should he be elected.
We intend to make this spontaneous
tribute from soldiers of the war with Spain,
without regard to the organization said
one of those interested in the project. 1t
dered for the same reasons that We have
labored for his election night and day for
the past two weeks and sent hundreds of
voters to their homes to deposit their bal
lots for the soldier President whom we all
love and admire man ard a comrade."
1t is stated that if the serenade cannot
be arranged for tomorrow night it will be
carried out later in the week. The ar
engagements are in the hands of Captain
active and leading part in sending soldiers
to their homes to vote; Lieut.. Joseph l..
May, Lieut.. B. Falk, Mr.. Wilhelm Fennel
and Capt. j. Walter Mitchell. 1t Is prob
able that the veterans will be headed by
the First Regiment Minute Mems Band and
escorted by the Roosevelt and Fairbanks
Marching Club.
Maryland democrats in this city were
busly engaged yesterday and this morning
spective voting places, and it is reported
that since Friday several hundred have
gone to their homes to vote for Parker and
Davis