The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-08-25
FINE ORDER AT ALL THE POLLING PLACES One Little Disturbance in
 Line at ElytOn VOTING VERY SLOW Numerous Challenges Were Made and at One Time 150 Men Were
 in Line at the City
 Hall Box

Police officers who were stationed at the polls yesterday were unanimous in say ing that less trouble was had with the | crowds than in either of the previous pro- | hibition elections.
 Not a single difficulty was reported to the police department during the day. Re- ports at the sheriff's office were similar. i But one personal conflict took place, and that was at West End. The question in | volved was neither saloons nor dlspen- sary. No arrests were made. | Two men came together at Elyton and passed a few blows. One accused the other of usurping his place in the voting line. Hot words arose and blows were passed, but both men were quieted by mutual friends and no arrests were made.
 Voting at all the polling places was very slow, and. it was necessary for voters 10 stand in line for a considerable time be- fore they could deposit their ballot | It is alleged that the sowness of the voting was caused by the numerous af- | fdavits that were required of the voters Voting at Elyton was held up some time l on this account, and it was necessary 10 send to the probate office to obtain more affidavits Voting at the city hall and at 1 the courthouse was especially slow. At one time 15O men were lined up awaiting | their turn.
 The crowds at all the polling places were unusually good-humored, state officers. There was much chaffing among them selves, but everyone took what was given and endeavored to send back as good. It is estimated that a good deal of money will change hands on account of the election. Numerous bets were regis tered among the crowds at the polls One man put up $500 on saloons at the odds of | 5 to B. Other bets of smaller sums were made at the prevailing odds of 9 to 4. The majority of the bets were as to whether the dispensary or the open sa- loon would triumph
 1 While the money bets were numerous, those of a freak nature were more in evil dence Two men at the courthouse agreed with a mutual friend in the fol- lowing wages: No. l, betting against the dispensary, agreed not to shave for one month if the. dispensary won, while his opponent was to pull him through the streets of Birmingham for 30 minutes in dog cart if the saloon won
 IT all election bets of that nature are paid the police will have a busy time in the next two weeks preventing riots and keering the streets clear of laughing crowds Wheelbarrows, express wagons, and practically every mode of convey anoe is to be used.
 Rerorts to the sheriffs office from the country precincts indicated good order The voting was considerably swifter than it was in the city. Good order prevailed throughout the county, and in few in- | stances did the returning officer have to assert his power.
 Anent the quietude of the situation, R. w. Weaver, desk sergeant of the police | force, and in direct touch with every of fcer in Greater Birmingham, had the follo wing to say:
 "The day has been an unusually quiet | one for an election day. l have had no reports of any trouble from any of the polling places in the city. In fact, if it had not been for the newspapers, we would not have realized that it was cleo I tion day. Today was much quieter and | the crowds much easier to handle than in | the previous elections in which prohibition was involved The officers stationed at the polls stated that they have had no trouble whatever
 | The most conspicuous feature of the 1 crowds around the polling places today vas the absence of women The bands of singing, praying women were absent from the polls. Not a song was raised yesterday, not the flutter of skirt was | observed.
 There were no brass bands around the polls to make a noise The scenes around | the polls yesterday and on November %, l 1909, were contrasted and voters were loud in their praise of the conduct of the crowds.
 There was little drunkenness observed on the streets yesterday. Wednesday night the officers of the blind tiger squad of the police force raked the city with a fine-toothed comb to find tigers. About
 20 arrests were made for violating the prohibition law, and all people who were suspected of operating blind tigers were warned that no relaxation would be made for yesterday.
 During yesterday the blind tiger squad was on the streets during the entire day, and kept close tab on places where raids have previously been made. lit was re- ported at police headquarters last night that all tigers were closed and had re- mained so yesterday.
 In addition to the raids made bv the police department, Sheriff McAdory made numerous raids yesterday morning. A force of deputies raided places and placed Richard Wray and D. Fulton under ar rest on charges of violating the prohibi- ton law. They were warned by the depu- ties that unless they closed their places of business raids would be made every hour. The places were closed. Other raids were made in the business district of the city, while the suburbs were not neglected
 That the election of yesterday passed off without disorder and in good nature was source of much qualification, both | to Chief Bodeker and Sheriff McAdory | Both expressed themselves as greatly pleased last night
 TEXAS AND PACIFIC CHANGE T. B. Moss Succeeds J. B. Payne at Rirmin Cha m Office