The daily sentinel., 1908-11-03

cast in this precinct out of a total
registration of 712 votes.
There has been no trouble. Much
scratching
AT late hour this afternoon there
seems to be but little doubt that at
least 80 per cent of the registered
vote of Mesa county will be recorded
on the voting machines today.
There is no doubt but what the vote
cast in Grand Junction and Mesa
county at this election will be by far
the heaviest vote ever polled in the
city and county.
Nearly 5000 names are on the
registration books of the county. The
Sentinel believes that the total vote
will not fall far short of 5000, If it
does not exceed that number.
Election day dawned clear and
bright in Grand junction and Mesa
county. 1t has been a typical Grand
Valley fall day. Surely no. one would
have to stay at home on account of
the weather.
Reports received from all sections
of the county and city indicate that
the polling places were opened
promptly at seven o'clock with all
the officers, watchers. etc. on duty.
There was a general disposition to
/
the use of the voting machines would
result in many people being unable
to vote ii there was a rush at the
last hour or two of the election.
! Never in the history of the county
has there been such heavy voting
during the early hours of the day.
BY few minutes after seven
many voters we're gathered at each
polling place in the city. Not a few
voters were in waiting at several of
the polls when seven o'clocl', the hour
for the polls TO open, was recorded
In the east third ward the heaviest
voting ward of Grand Junction the
first 21 votes cast were recorded on
the machine in a space of minutes
or at an average of one vote to about
every half minute. This record was
touched at nearly every polling place
in the city. OF course in the country
precincts the voting was much slow
er In Palisade and in Fruita the
voting was about as rapid and heavy
as in Grand Junction wards, during
the forenoon hours.
There is no question in the world
but what many people afraid to at
tempt to vote scratched ballot in
view of the fact that only one minute
is allowed to each voter and the
threats made by some Republican
leaders that any one who attempted
to take more than a moments time
would be thrown out gave up their
personal wishes about voting a
scratched ticket and voted a straight
ticket.
II was demonstrated clearly that
much more time is required to vote a
scratched ticket than is required to
vote straight ticket. 1t was also
demonstrated that the average voter
could hardly vote a badly scratched
ticket in a moments time.
Before seven o'clock carriages and
automobiles and other vehicles We're
out to haul the voters to the polls:
Each of the old parties had many
vehicles employed in this work and
all day the carriages. autos and other
vehicles have been exceedingly busy
carrying the voters who would not
or could not walk, to the polls.
Party workers were out in great
numbers, both men and women. The
candidates have been exceedingly
busy Even on the last day a great
amount of electioneering has been
done by nearly every candidate who
happened to be in the city.
Around every polling place there
has been great crowd all day long.
1t has been necessary to form
lines for voters in nearly every ward.
The claim that the vote would be
polled with as little or less incon-
venience to the voters than was eN-
perienced during the old system of
voting. has not proven true. Many
people have had to stand in line for
considerable lengths of time in order
to get to vote.
BY noon today 1t was estimated
that between so per cent and 60 per
cent of the total vote had been polled
in the city precincts and reports from
over the county indicate that in the
county precincts the vote before noon
was very heavy.
Many reports reach The Sentinel
to the effect that many people, espec-
tally among the women voters, eX-
perienced trouble in casting their
votes, where they decided to vote a
scrat tched ticket
The polls close in Grand Jucntion
aud Mesa county and in fact all over
Colorado at I o'clock this evening.
Owing to the fact that votinr ma
chimes are being used here it j. he
lieved that the result of the Nesa
county election will be known within
an hour after the polls close - I
o'clock. AS voting machines are ON
: ployed in no other county in the
state and as the telegraphic dis
patches indicate much scratching is