The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-11-20
ELECTION DAY IN PARIS.
Characteristic Gallo SIud-sIinging and
Rejoicing.

the wild excitement, WHiCH IA -
F'renchman finds vent in gesturlnss
and posturings even more than IN
speech. The writer of this shetcIi
was an Interested spectator at such .s III
election, not long ago, IN the NolaeiiS
French capital.
TO be sure the work OF the cam
pafgn had been chiefly done before the
gray and gloomy dawn OF eiection sun l.l,,
day-for in France the elecAons q
always held on Sunday, and as III TINS
country is always rains-but the day
was a busy one. In spite or. OF poS9A-
bly, because Of. the preliminary WoIk.
At an early hour small group OF
known electors met at each OF stle
voting places about the city me
mayor deputy or an official represen-
tative or the city, acted as cAAlIill-
and the election board was lnIofsllal
y chosen from among those preseH.
able to read and write, the Two oioess
and the two youngest mis- Ooaru
chosen, the voting quietly began
While this was going on wllnln
doors ''the battle Of paste and paper
was raging fiercely outside In the
dim light of early morning multi
tude Of bill-posters began thelI
rounds covering every dead Wall Win
many-cOIored posters As rast as one
bill sticker would move on, his place
would be taken by another, VINO pro
ceeded to obIiterate the poster Just
hung on the wall, and to post, IN IFS
stead, his own flaming election pro-
nOuncsment
AS the day grew older the usual
Sunday fete- day crowds began TO nood
the sidewalks, and IN spite OF a STEADY
dOWnpour of rain, to study with much
eagerness, the astonishing statements
laid bare by the ubiquitous bill pos
ter. Often some unusually exciting IN
dividual would stand and read WITH
both fists cienched and beating the
air in wild anger Then he would pc
showed rudely aside, and the black and
red sheet which angered him would be
III 70 r1r7rf- . f1Nr
clamation-possibly in direct an
s-ver thereto-in terms even more in
The walls and doorways Of every
public building were freely given over
to these posters, and were soon COW
cred inches deep, as high as could be
reached by the aid Of short ladders,
and this part of the battle continued,
without much intermission, until late
in the afternoon The stone walls of
the Hotel de Vile and Of the great pal
ace of Louvre were faVorites with the
gentlemen of the brush and paste
buckets. and before night were sights
to behold.
Here are some of the headlines. done
into idiOmatic English. lines which, in
letters six inches to a foot high, her
aided the final days arguments.
threats charges and cOunter-charges
of the candidates and their support
ers:
IAN Impudent CaIumnyl A Roor-
back Acknowledgements False
hoods
Who is the Liar? NJ. Rene viviani
Stands for the Truth. Down with the
Scoundrels!"
THE Flag Forever. Defend It with
Your Vote NJ. Gras Keeps Faith"
"Attentioniii More Desperate Ly-
ing. Liberty and Truth Forever
IN. Buisson the Only Clerical
D.vk e.
And End to Base Deceptioni Pun
1sh the Traitorsl Your Confidence
Abused! Stand Boldly for the Right"
THE Freemasons are Scheming to
Capture the Deputiesi Bewarel"
''The Infamies Of Millerand.'
"Humbug on HUmbug, Candidate
of the Sums! A Fugitive from JUS
tice."
.'ShalI Idiocy Triumph ?"
Patriots and Honest People Not
Wanted"
FED With Honey They Want
Your VOtes.'
Look Out for Crooked Nose.''
"Lepers in the Synagoguei"
Treason Upon Treasonl Down
the Traitorl"
Last Appeal to Small Tradesmen."
Beware the Red Jesuitsi'
Honest Government Needs Your
support. Down with Infamy and Cor
ruptioni"
One peculiar feature of this bilIpost-
that the Masonic fraternity-an Amer
lea SO assiduously kept out of politics
was here in the thickest of the fight
Stickers bearing the square and COM
pass OF the ancient craft told of the
civic virtues Of this or the awful vices
of that candidate in as unmeasured
terms as any.
Toward noon I visited one of the
voting places-in the Hotel de Vile
The entire first story of this beautiful
building was literally pIastered with
vari-colored posters of the most in
hammatory character. Outside the
great entrance pranced a double row
of gesticulating, shouting men They
were cloaked in waterproof canes to
protect themselves from the pouring
rain, and in the band of their dripping
hats were thrust painted slips bearing
ing big letters the names Of the sew
eral candidates for whose support
votes were asked. Each man an
peared to be endeaVoring with ever,
show Of ultimate success, to yell his
vocal cords into ShredS. As I passed
slowly between the two lines sims of
white paper about six inches square
were thrust into my hands by each
vociferous worker, with shrill oral in
structions as TO why that particular
ballot was the only one worthy of nv
vote.
within the building was compare
tive quiet. As each voter entered. he
took his place in the line and awaited
his turn There was no electioneerine-
inside the building. Arrived at the
long table behind which sat the cleo
ton officials each voter gravelv ana
respectfully removed his hat and pre-
scented his ballot folded neatly. to the
man standing by the wooden ballot
box At the same time he handed IN
the clerk a card giving his name and
residence and attesting his right to
vote After a slight delay, occupied in
recording the name, the ballot WAS
slipped INTO the box. one corner of the |
card was torn of. the mutilated card
was handed back to the voter. who
speedily put on his hat and left the
building.