Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1911-11-07
An IDEAL DAY
FOR ELECTION
Practically Every Voter Came
to the Polls This
Time
DELAYED BY BLUE BALLOT
1t Proves to Be Very Cumber-
some and May Disfranchise
Some.

A cloudless sky, comfortable
temperature, roads partially dried
over from recent rains and an intense
interest in the candidates and issues
brought to the polls practically every
voter physically able to be out ever
though he had to drive twenty OF
thirty miles to vote.
Blue Ballot Delays Voters.
Outside of minor disturbances here
and there, the usual quiet prevailed
at the polls, although there was con
siderable delay caused by the Bl le
Ballot. At practically every pollins
place. some individuals were handed
the ballot who had never heard OF Il
before, who wanted to study it and
desired to have it explained but who
under the law, coula not be permit
ted to take t away, and who after
more or less alteration handed il
back unmarked, for fear of making a
mistake. Today demonstrated more
forcibly than ever, the iniquity of the
ballot and the method of voting it.
No Secrecy About Blue Ballot.
The workers were out in full force
and every automobile and carriage
was engaged taxing voters to and
from the polls. At each window sat
two watchers and these looked on as
the voter had to mark his Blue Ballot
in front of them, thus destroying all
secrecy. 1t was apparent, right from
the start, here in Santa Fe, that the
great majority of voters cast their
ballot against a constitution more
easily amendahle. Reports from all
portions OF northern, central and
western New Mexico also seemed to
indicate the usual Republican majori-
ties. although it was the Republican
tickets that suffered most from the
vest pocket voter who had used lead
pencil and stickers freely These
scratched tickets will hamper the
count tonight.
The Election Returns.
Owing to the fact, that the Blue
Ballot had to be marked in full sight
OF the watchers, the result on it viii
be the first known tonight. Provi
sions to receive election returns have
been made by both state headquar
ters. At the Republican headquar
ters, the Telephone as well as West
ern Union, will repeat all returns dir
ect. while the Postal in the New Mex
lean office will receive the returns
from many points along its lines. But
at this time, it seems that it will be
impossible to tell what the result has
been for at least twenty-four hours, oil
perhaps a whole week, as the task
of counting the ballots with thirty tC
thirty-five names on them is stupen
dous, and many polling places are
miles from railroad, telephone or tel
egraph, although the moonlit night
will make it easier for special mes
sengers to reach the nearest telegraph
or telephone point ny tomorrow fore
noon.
Many Disfranchised by Blue Ballot.
In the cities with a large vote, it is
feared that on account of the Blue
Ballot, many voters will be disfran
chised by the polls closing tonight be
fore all have been able to vote. Ii
those precincts, too, it may take unit
tomorrow noon or evening to finisf
counting the ballots ana checking the
count by the election judges.
Precinct No. 3.
In precinct No. 3, at 11:45 a. m.
1S5 had voted out of registration O
G22. The first man to vote was f
Sena.
There were signs of great activit.
around the polls, automobiles ant
carriages being lined up for a dis
lduCC Vi 0CSCId al luuuI GU lCCl h'
blue ballot was being showed under il
this precinct, despite reports to tn
contrary circulated by "Progressives.
Precinct No. q.
At 11:10 a. m. in precinct No.
175 had voted, out of a registration O
521. There was very little scratchin
of the tickets, it was said, and tn
blue ballot was numerically thrasf
ed.
Precinct No. z.
In Precinct No. II, 124 votes ha
been polled at 1885 a. m. with 80
yet to be polled for the total registrs
! ton of 425. The first man to vot
was Thomas B. Catron, the Republ
can war horse. The blue ballot wa
reported showed under, 5 to /, at moo
in this precinct, bat other reports il
dicated that it would make a littl
bit better run than that. Some of tn
voters, in marking their blue ballo
put such heavy mark in the love
box against the ballot that the pape
was almost torn.
Precinct No. 18.
In precinct No. 18 at 1850, a. m
119 had voted out of total registr;
ton 353. There was much reticenc
around the polls about the wa
things were going," and when anyon
approached the polls except by tn
regular path in which the voter
stood in line, rope was raised i
warning, reminding one of the SCI
shore. Many autos and carriage
lined Palace Avenue.
One of the autos, the Stevens-Du
yea Of Bronson NJ. Cutting, was de-