The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-04-05
ENROLMENT IS
CLOSE TO $4,000
This Makes Total Voting Strength
For Primaries About 65,o00-
Democrats Not Very Active.

City Clerk Nichols announced late
Monday night that OF the $4,000 who
might have enrolled Monday about
$4,000 came into the fold. Previous
to Monday. about 10000 voters were
enrolled. That brings the total who
will be eligible TO vote at the primaries
next September up 10 5000.
AS was indicated by the light en-
rollment throughout the morning and
the afternoon. the rush 10 the voting
booths did not begin until after the
stores and factories had closed their
doors. In some OF the precincts, this
rush caused such a congestion that it
was found necessary TO keep the
booths open long after o'clock. the
hour set for closing them.
Some silly mistakes were made by
several Of the boards. the most notice
able one being that they copied the
names into the books 10 be sent 10 the
county clerk and the secretary of
state. but neglected 10 enter them
Into the regular books for use a. next
September primary.
City Clerk Nichols and his staff
worked all night Strengthening out
orders and making out the payrolls for
The boards. The returns indicated
that the Democratic enrolment was
very light, except in the Fifth and
Ninth wards, where there are likely 20
be lively contests in the aldermanic
primary.
1T will be several days before We
will be able 10 determine just how
many people enrolled Monday said
Charles A. Gadd, chief clerk in CITY
Clerk Nichols's Office Tuesday Il
think however, that $4,000 is a bis
estimate, and | doubt If the number
will reach that much. Figuring 200
in every precinct would give more
than 3e,000,~ but IL is safe 10 say that
the average will be far less than 200
to precinct"
In most of the precincts the enroll
ment boards found that voters did
not entirely comprehend the purport
of the enrolment. confusing IL with
the usual registration. In the first
precinct of the Second ward one young
man painstakingly related the neces-
sary facts about himself. bur baked
when asked his politics.
What business is that OF yours
he inquired tartly.
That's what the enrolment is for
be was told.
"Oh, well. I'm Democrat. but l
don't see what that has TO do with II. "
Another irate citizen called up the
city clerks office and protested that,
In 20 years of voting. he had never
been asked his politics before.
Are you a Republican or a Demo
craft" he was asked
why, I'm a Republican, of course"
he replied
well, this enrolment is arranged
just so that the Democrats can't come
into the Republican primary and have
anything TO do with nominating Re
publican candidates. was the reply
from the city clerks Office. The voter
pondered.
81 guess it's good thing. after al"
he remarked. I'll so back and tell
'em my politics"
Both of these were more fortunate
than a young man in the first OF the
First who was undecided as TO his
party Affiliations. His brother had
just enrolled as a Republican. but this
man could not make up his mind. One
of the board members tipped a coin
IN the air and examined IL attentively.
you're a Republican" he asserted
noting that the coin had fallen heads
up.
"Yes, I guess am" admitted the IN.
decided elector. And he was enrolled
that way.