The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1908-11-03
How Presidential Candidates and Presi-
dent Roosevelt Cast Their Ballots.
EARLY VOTING RULE in PADUCAH AND COUNTY
PRECINCTS...PRIMARY POLLS RUN OUT OF BALLOTS
Houser Friends Declare That in All His Country Strong
holds Short Supplies Of Ballots We're Delivered to Pre-
vent His Supporters Getting Vote Recorded

Reports from every precinct in the
city and county are that a tremendous
vote is being polled and in many pre-
cincts warnings of a shortage in bal
lots was sent out as early as 8 O'Clock
| in the morning.
Especially was this true in the
country precincts in the Democratic
primary, and some candidates and
their friends were openly charging
fraud. At Florence Station precinct
1t was reported that only Is ballots
were sent to that precinct.
The cause of the shortage OF thel
ballots in the general election was
that the vote in the county at the last
general election was extremely light
and the estimate was made accord
| ing to the statute. but so per cent
was added to the number of votes
cast at the last election. II soon be-
came apparent this morning that the
vote today would exceed that of the
last general election by at least 20
per cent.
Besides the shortage of ballots in
| the primary, general confusion ex-
isted at many OF the precincts because
| OF the fact that election officers hae
not been instructed as to their duties.
In many precincts no election officers
appeared to hold the primary and IT,
was necessary to summon others,
which required time and many voters
became disguised and went home
after voting i'm the general election.
The general equipment at the vot-
ing places OF the primary was poor
and the crudest sort of voting booths
and tables were arranged. There was
general complaint as to shortage of
stencils. ink pads and other supplies.
As soon as reports began to come
in about the shortage of ballots, the
county clerk ordered the printer to
start the presses, printing extra bal
lots, which we're despatched by spe-
cial messengers at the earliest posi-
Bile moment. All the precincts but
one that reported a shortage We're
near the city, but a 16-mile drive
was necessary to get the ballots to
the Milan precinct.
An example of the heavy voting
was the report that came from Hove
kamp precinct. One hundred and
ninety ballots were sent to the gen.
eral election officers, and at $3.50
lo'clock 1872 of these had been voted,
and it was estimated that there would
be 40 more voters than ballots.
Were Houser Precincts.
II was the cause of general COM
ment on the streets that. every pre-
cinct where ballots ran out in the
primary were Houser strongholds
Friends of that candidate openly
lcharged It was a scheme of the ma
lchine to beat Houser somehow.
Il Extra ballots were procured and
friends of Mr.. Houser went out in
Automobiles to the different pre-
cincts with a good supply of ballots.
Colored Voters Deceived.
Word was received at Republican
Headquarters early this morning that
lmany colored voters through force OF
habit in voting in the circle at the
head of the second column on the
ballot were stamping their cross
marks under the rooster and were
voting the straight Democratic ticket.
Workers were sent to the polls, but
not until 1t is estimated several hun
dred had voted that way were they
set straight.
This is the frst election In twelve
years that the Republican party has
had the distinction of occupying the
first column on the ballot and tn.
Iilliterate voter, who has become ae-
customed to voting in the second
column, did so this morning. thinking
he was voting the Republican ticket.
Louisville, Nov. 3. Especial J.
Reports from all ove- the state show
fair weather and heavy vote being
cast. In Louisville the early vote
was heaviest I'm years.
Big Vote In Davicss.
Owensboro. KY. Nov. 3.-(Spe-
eial THE biggest vote in the his
tory OF Daviess county Is being polled.
Many precincts ran out of ballots.
Mr.. Thomas j. Flournoy. Of Rock