The Sentinel=record., 1912-03-27
PRIMARY IS
 IN BAD MESS
PRESIDENT TAFT SWEEPS NEW YORK IN ELECTION WHICH IS
 REGARDED AS A FARCE.
Ballots Not Delivered to Some Pre- cincts Until p.n1-classed as a Complete Breakdown of Elec-
 ton Machinery.

Fictory TOT the organization dele gates to the republican national con vention, who were opposed in IT con- gressional districts of New York state at today's primaries by candidates named by Roosevelt supporters, was claimed an hour after the polls had closed tonight by the state and coun- ty organization chairman
 The primary elections in this city where most of the contests arose were made chaotic by one of the worst ballot mixups known for many years, and returns from dhe election were considerably delayed.
 William Barnes Jr., chairman of the republican state committee, claimed at 10 o'clock that the opposition 'by the highest possible estimate" would not win more than seven out of the 90 seats in the national convention which New York state is entitled to. No statement on the result had been issued from the Roosevelt headquar- tsrs up to two hours after the polls closed.
 County Chairman Koenig claimed vic tory in his own district by a vote of 9S0 to 70 and declared the returns from about 10 per cent of the cleo tion districts indicated a ratio of about 8 to l against the opposition. He claimed the election of organiZa- ton delegates in every district.
 The primaries opened at pm. amidst great confusion owing to the delay in delivering the ballots in many voting districts.
 In one case on the west side, the police officially reported that the bal lots designated for use at IS polling places did not arrive until about 6 l pm, and In the threehour wait some early corners left the polls. The polls closed at 9 pm.
 There was further embarrassment because the green ballots for the democratic primaries were delivered to many places instead of the repub- lican pink ones. It was we'll into the evening before the mixups were all strengthened out.
 President Britt of the board of cleo tions. declared the delay was due largely to the eleventh hour litiga- tion which the Roosevelt committee began over the position of delegates on the ballots, resulting in court or ders. which handicapped the printer.
 After the polls had closed at 9 o'clock in some instances only about half an hour after they had opened, on account of the delay in the deliy- cry of ballots, Roosevelt supporters ,fs,ia. the the saix-nn wnnld laY the ground for a contest as to the validity of the election,
 It was the first trial of the new primary law and the working of it had beeen looked to with special inr terest on this account Ballots in many of the districts ranged from 10 to l4 feet long and so great had been the haste to get them out that In some cases they were in sections, there having been no time to paste them together.
 The democrats who elected dele gates only to their state convention and members of organization commit tees had little trouble, but repubii- cans. independence league voters and prohibition voters in some instances were unable to vote. Notwithstanding the confusion, there was no disorder of importance, voters venting their complaints in ridicule of the primary system. County Chairman Koenig declared tonight his organization was Tn no wise to blame for the ballot mixups as the ballot delivery was in the, hands of the board of elections. The republican county committee issued the following statement on the mat ter:
 In every case where 1t was report cd that the official ballots had not heen delivered. the inspectors were advised to send to the nearest polling nlaces having sample ballots contain inc the names of the candidates and to use them in the same manner as official ballots. No person snouiu have lost his vote by reason or 'he absence of the official ballot.
 Al the republican county headquar- quarters tIhe contest was descrlDed as between "Taft and Roosevelt. rms | ;s heeause the county organization has indorsed President Taft ana claims all delegates nominated by the
 
 nartv committees in the various dis- tricts favor the presidents renomiha- ion In accordance with the pri- mary law, however, none Of the deie- oates is specifically instructed.
 County Chairman Koenig late io- nieht called .he white house on the long distance and told Secretary IJilies that President Taft had swept New York county and that not more | than three or four election districts
 had given pluralities for the Roose'
 Tn In Saa6f the {s congressional dis | eha state there were no con.
 pNs ., qhese districts included those
 tests. tlyn, Long Island and most oi fot brvytte brratate districts. Among the