Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1910-11-17

As had been announced for several days the final counting Of the votes by the contest department took place last evening at o'clock. All 10-Vote coupons which had been i'll the ! Graphic office since the commence ment of the contest had to be in the box previous to that hour. These votes started coming in tn ok and fast yes i terday morning and did not let up until the hour announced for the closing the ballot box. They came 10 the office in all manner of ways. Men, women, boys and girls kept the office door open nearly all the time. In fact more people came to the Graphic yesterday than at any prev ious day of the contest and each had 1 a bunch of votes to deposit for their favorite.
 Votes came in shoe boxes, in hat boxes, in candy boxes, boxes of every description; votes tied with ribbons, string and thread and many thous- ands of them not tied at all, and many were thrown in without any name cn them to designate who they were intended for. These latter were thrown out.
 This is, in a way, hard on the con- testants who have tried so hard tC have these votes counted, but warn ,ns had been s,-llded to one and al some time ago and no exceptions could be made.
 The vote coupon is now thing O. the past and the only thing that vii count from now until the close of th contest are the vote certificates, to De issued up until the closing hour 0 the contest The standing of the con testants as they appear in the pape' r this morning will not be change aga1n before the judges make tn final announcement as to the winner < of the trips next Saturday evening o The key to the ballot box will ) turned over today to one of the gen tlemen selected to act as judges c the contest and will remain in hi possession until the ballot box is OF o ened by them at the close.
 The honor of holding the lead tn c morning and for the next three day o must be given to Miss Maggie Steven of District 1; George w. Lovejo if District 2, and Miss Mary Tagu n District 3. These contestants tax Ia the lead in their districts by a sma o majority and VII hold this lead bot ,n Friday and Saturday as the vote Q will not be counted again until th'
 time. It remains to be seen WI
 will hold the lead when the judge have finished the final count Satu 1 day night. These three contestan
 have done some exceptionally goo
 work during the contest and the
 friends and supporters are enthus
 tic regarding their chances of beil
 returned winners at the close, but
 must be considered at the same tir
 that there are other contestants
 the race, while not holding the le'
 this; rning still they have reser
 fund laid away to be depos ted in ballot box that will astonish tho
 who gre interested in contest doinl
 1t is a certainty that the votes pu
 lished to the credit of the cOntestaI
 this morning is no criterion of h.
 many yctes will win. Those r.
 are ia t...e lead at the present ti'
 and t',cse nearest the leaders ba
 three days more ir- which to soct A the votes that will be necessary return them final trip winners. Vo will be useless next week, now is III time they are required.
 HE You have worked too hard and e IIInestly since the commencement
 the contest to lose now by thousand votes. Avoid this;. go
 ter all your friends from whom
 think there is the least chance
 getting votes and enlist their supp yuha+ y,,otterc if if 1.tny have alre