The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-02-05

the blinds drawn. The weather did not
deter any Of these women from their
purpose. When the cold wind began
blowing stronger about = O'Clock, they
sent home for heavier wraps and furs.
When II began to rain they sent for
umbrellas and remained at their posts.
Establish a Precedent.
1t was the first time in the history
OF Wayne county that women had TAX
en- such prominent part. One old
man visited the voting place at the
city building. He stood around and
watched the women hand out their
cards for about ten minutes. then said:
I'm seventy-two years old and this is
the first time ever / saw women work
ing at the polls. l havn't missed vot-
ing any time. either
At the court house the women
sought shelter in the corridors. They
handed out the cards and did what
they could. but the first ward had been
conceded to the vets before ever the
race was started. On the outside Of
interested in the Minck brewery. At
one time there were nine saloon keep
ers and several bartenders assembled
on the outside also. Within the time Of
ten minutes three rigs in use by the
vets arrived and brought voters. A
number OF negroes congregated about
and these were sought as soon as they
arrived by the vets.
Condemn the Women.
Many voters condemned the pres
ence of the women. They said 1t was
not the place for them. One bystander
remarked that il he found his wife
doing that way. I'd send her flying
back home" The sentiment he ex-
pressed was approved by others In the
group discussing the propricties pre-
scented by the question. Another man
been made and that the "old man"
would have to 60 hungry for dinner.
because his wife was campaigning. A
prominent business man and member
of the city council was quoted on the
streets as saying no had favored tho
drys, but when he saw the women at
work at the polls and the tactics they
pursued it made him angry and he
voted wet
Not All "Goody-Geods."
The women we're not all from the
class termed the '.goody-goods" by
their enemies. At some of the voting
places the women most active In their
work are wives Of shop laborers. One
woman was heard to say to q voter:
MY husband works at the same place
you do. know how you fellows down
there drink and all Of you would be
better OF without it."
Fair Weather Wanted.
The drys had hoped for fair weather
In order that the country vote would
be out in full. force. It IL generally
regarded as a fact that the farmer.
who may have to drive a number or
miles to vote, will not make the trip'ff
the weather be very inclement. For
this reason the drys had hoped for .
day such as Thursday or Wednesday.
The advance predictions proved true
and the day broke damp and cloudy.
About 10 o'clock q drizzling rain be-
gan and It continued internationally
throughout the day. Farmers who
came to the city stated that they did
not believe the weather would have
much effect on the size Of the vote.
1t was not too bad to drive and the
rain did not come down with force
great enough to dismay the weak
hearted. One well known farmer de-
clared that today's election differs
from political contests by being solely
a moral question and that farmers
would go father to express their opin-
ion on a question like that confront
ing them than they would on one OF
political preferment only.
Make Round Of Polls.
This morning Sheriff Meredith and
Superintendent Bailey made a round
Of the voting places. No attempt was
made to keep the electioneering fifty
feet distant from the rope enclosures.
This section of the law has not been
enforced for many years in this coun-
ty. At one polling place. the sheriff
measured off the distance with table
line, but his good intentions were
WASTED after his departure from the
place.
The voting was Unexpectedly rapid
this morning. At noon It was esti-
mated that if the rate continued the