The San Francisco call., 1908-07-15
POLITICAL MERCURY
STEADILY RISING
Heavy Registration Points to
Big Vote at the Approach
ing Campaigns
4I,977 Names Already Enrolled
and $1,000 Expected Before
Books Are Closed

Using the registration roll as ther-
mometer to determine the increasing
warmth of the political atmosphere, it
is evident that the sizzling point in
local politics is being rapidly ap-
preached. The recently aroused inter
est in primaries. which is one of the
most hopeful civic signs of the present
time, is bringing an average of 700
men to the registrars Office every day.
On Monday 742 qualified for the COM
ing primary contest.
Notwithstanding this good showing
it is probable that many citizens do
not understand the necessity of regis
tering this year. The year 1908 marked
the beginning of a new registration.
In order to vote at the August pri-
mary and at the November election it
is necessary for every voter to have
registered since the beginning of 1908,
as all previous registration has been
wiped out.
In order to vote at the primary cleo
tion of August II, voters must be reg
istered by midnight of July %. There
is. therefore, only a short time remain
ing in which to qualify for this pri-
mary fight. But the registrar is doing
everything in his power to make il
easy for voters to register. Tonight.
Thursday night and Friday night the
Office in the city hall will be open
from 1880 until 10 o'clock. On Satur-
day it will be open from $50 o'clock in
the morning until midnight. On Mon
day. Tuesday and Wednesday of next
week it Will also be open until mid
night. After that nobody can regis
ter for the primary election.
The total registration at the present
time is 41,977. Supposing that at least
500 are registered every day from now
on till the roll is closed, it is esti-
mated that at least $4,000. and in all
likelihood as many as $4,000, will be
qualified for the primary election This
will mean a primary vote of between
25. 900 and 10000.
The heaviest registration is in the
thirty-fourth, thirty and thir-
ty-ninth districts. In the last few days
registration has grown steadily heavier
from the fortieth and forty first dis
tricts. indicating particular activity in
the strongholds Of the fourth congress
sional district.
Republicans have much the better of
the registration, while the democrats
make a bad second and the union labor
men a tagging third. The following
table shows the percentage of party
registration:
Republican ...-... IS Socialist .......... .O25
Democratic ....... DO Doodle dee ...... .o25
The bad showing of the democrats
and union labor men is exciting con-
siderable comment. While a small pri-
mary vote has come to be regarded as
usual with the democrats, it was
thought the efforts of the labor unions
TO get the organized worl1ingmen reg
istered in their own party would meet
with better results. 1t is possible that
the night registration will show bet
ter returns for the toilers. At the
same time it is true that some of their
leaders are inducing union men to reg
lister as republicans in order to help
in the bitter fights wagIng in certain
districts.
The regular union labor club of the
thirty second district was formed Mon
day night at 50 Alabama street with
the following officers: Joseph Ault,
president; Thomas Quinn, vice presi-
dent; ]. Murphy, secretary; Charles
McDermott, sergeant at arms.
An organizing committee of five was
elected, as follows: J. E. Brennan, J.
Black, Richard Downing. Joseph Green
and NJ. Lewis. The membership roll
was signed by 81 men,
Special efforts will be made by the
club to bring out union labor registra-
tion.