Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1905-11-08

PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 7.-Philadelphia
: has been swept by the reform movement
! the city party ticket winning by sur
/ prisingly large plurality. While returns
! from only six of the forty-two wards in
! this city had been counted up to midnight.
enough is known of the result in the re-
naming wards to indicate the defeat Of
the republican local ticket by from 60,OOO
TO 5000 plurality.
The victory Of the city party carries
with it the election of William II. Berry.
the democratic and reform candidate for
| state treasurer ]. Lee Plummer the re-
publican candidate for that Office, was
badly cut throughout the city and state
| and he has lost his own county, which is
usually republican. The result has every
appearance Of landslide for reform
not only in Philadelphia, but throughout
the state.
Returns up to midnight show that the
republicans carried only a few wards and
these were held by narrow margins One
year ago President Roosevelt carried the
city by 1sO.S4 plurality
None of the republican leaders had
much to say on the result. Sheriff James
l.. Miles. chairman OF the republican city
committee. would not admit defeat until
midnight. Asked for a statement he
said:
"I have nothing to say; what's the use?''
The city party sympathiTers are cele-
brating their victory tonight by parading
the streets AS soon the result was
definitely known hundreds of them formed
in line and marched down Chestnut street.
An unusual turnout was that of the cam
paign committee of the city party, which
Is made up of some of the wealthlest and
most influential people in the city. They
marched behind band to the tune "O.i-
ward, Christian Soldiers"
Many Small scrimmaEes.
Contary to expectation there was no very
serious disturbance in the city today. There
were, however, many small scrmmages at
polling places especially In the more thick
ly settled wards where the republican or
ganization is very strong and where the
city party put up a most determined fight
The police department was at all times
master of the situation and wherever tro,i-
BILE started 1t was quickly stopped. Some
of these Disturbances blossomeds into small
riots, but after the smoke had cleared
away it was found that no one was seri-
= ously wounded
Under orders Of Mayor Weaver the police
force was almost doubled by the swear.
= ing in of citizens, who were sent into the
/ wards where trouble was expected. Nearly
, all the mounted police of the city were
brought in from outlying districts and dis
{ trbuted in the strongholds of the republi.
| can organization. A corps of bicycle police
men were kept in reserve at the city hall
: The police captains were provided with
! swift automobiles so that they could
2 quickly so to any part of the city.
Police Control situation.
Never in the history of the city were
such complete arrangements made for the
! prevention of the casting of Illegal votes
Besides the large number of watchers To-
Gated at tho 1,1OO polling places, there
were from two to six policemen stationed
at each one OF these places. The orders
were explicit and the numerous squabbe,
Z between policemen and election orficeri
proves that they attempted 70 carry then
= out. The patrolmen assigned to the pol!i
carried lists of names of illegal voters
These were handed to the election officers
who were warned not to permit any ont
to vote on the names. The policemen
were also held responsible IL an illega
: vote was cast. Every ballot box had to b.
opened for the policemen's inspection befor
the voting began. Patrolmen were not al
lowed to leave the polling places and wer
required to remain on duty until the vot
| was counted. The orders Of the polio
proved extremely irksome to some election
\ officers. principally those affiliated will
: the republicans. In many cases they or
c dered the police away from the pollinl
n places and upon their refusal to leave tool
: the matter to court where the difference
i were patched up. The election officers ais
e complained bitterly of police interference
d with legal organization voters and asser
e that in many cases honest voters wer
terrorized.
storm Center in Fifth Ward.
The storm center of the day was in tn
Fifth ward where election day seldom goe
by without trouble. Today this ward
. within whose boundaries stands Independ
" ence hall. was in an uproar most of tn
day. There was continual friction betwee
the police and the republicans. The great
est trouble was experienced I'm the Eight
eenth division, where not ballot was cas-
:, until o'clock in the afternoon. The cleo
d tion board refused TO open the polling plac
i until the men left the building. The police
le men refused and the whole party was hale
= into court. The judges instructed the eleC
D ton board to return and open the POLL
lie This they refused to do and a curbstou
IS election was held for the selection Of
L new board, while several hundred peopl
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