Americus times-recorder., 1904-04-20

The democratic hosts in Sumter vii
line up III battle array at the ballot boz
today where will be waged one of the
hottest fights ever witnessed in Sumter,
but as paper shells alone will be used
the carnage will not be really terrific,
and the wounds will soon heal
The scars of battle will not be dis
cernible a week hence, even.
For there are,no "grave issues" con.
fronting the voters of Sumter. They
will merely express a personal choice
between the candidates, all "good men
and true," and all will accept the
result.
Sumter can very well afford to trust
her interests in the han5s CT such n zen
as are running today. They are good
citizens, and the ones honored by the
voters will do all IN their power to
promote the public veal. AS before
stated, the ''issue" is one wholly oi
personal choice.
But the selection of the winners is
going to be attended with interest.
The polls will be opened at o'clt OK
this morning and closed at this eve.
ming, And during this time not less
than eleven hundred votes Will be
handed into the windows at the court
house.
The voting at all the country pre-,
cincts will be heavy in proportion, but
it is here in the city the largest vote
will be cast, as usual. Many farmers
will come to town to cast their ballots
and these votes Will go to swell the al :
ready large list assured.
It is going to be busy day for the
clerks and managers here, and they
will scarcely complete their work until
early morning.
Judge Wardlaw Num- will be the
presiding justice of the peace here.
both the Americus justices being ill.,
The managers here are E. Z. Mathis
and H. D. Watts, while E. A. Nlsbet,
Zach Childers, Eugene Lockett and
Allen Fort, Jr., will serve as clerks
The force is an excellent one and will
expedite business rapidly.
An improvised "desk" will be put up
near the polling place, where candi-
dates can do their scratching" or
marking off names not wanted.
And about the political "guillotine
toe candidates Will gather in fear, hope
and trembling. And as the voter
seizes one of the yard long ballots and
begins to swipe out names with pen
Gil each candidate will hope that his
name will linger there.
Little attention will be given the
ticket until the names of the county
officers are reached.
The first of these, in which there is @
contest, are the names of Messrs, f. A.
Hooper and J. r. Williams for solici-
tor-genera', and it will take the voter
some time to get over this dilemma.
Both are popular, and each is going
to poll flattering vote.
The same may be said of the sena
torial sspirants, Messrs, w. T. Lane
and Crawford Wheatley. Both have
made an active campaign in the county
and the friends of each are working
hard. No feature in today's contest
arouses as much genuine interest.
DR.. G.. w. Barrow, J, H. Lumpkin,
r. e. Lee, J. j, Wilson and L. J. Bla.
lock, is the order of names on the Iegis
latlve ticket. Strike three; leave two.
For clerk of court H, E. Allen and G
A ChambIiss are running "a neck-and
neck race, it is said, and neither will
have walkover today.
The sheriff's race, toe, occupies the
csntre of the stage and great deal o1
interest attaches to the result. Sherlf
E. L. Bell, the efficient incumbent, is
apposed by Mr.. T. @. Bass, and their
names upon the ticket will command q
careful glance of the votes;