The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-11-06

AoHo--<xdCAdTy 36JiuI.
Ideal autumn weather, spiced with
tang Of winter and shot to the core
with sunshine beckoned to Gods greAt
out-of-doors, initiated against
apathy and was conductive to the
plans OF the leaders OF all parties 10
poll big vote. And even with nc
exciting issues at stake, the results
brought about some surprises. The
Wilson vote In Richmond totalle1
1856, q majority OF 4.643 over the
vote OF his i've combined competitors.
Roosevelt ran little ahead Of Prcsi-
dent Taft. the Bull Moose receiving
A73 and Taft $40. 1t is noteworthy
that the combined votes of the two
did not equal the vote given Taft In
1908, Taft, four years ago. polling
l.Ib3 votes In Richmond. and Chain.
~.
Ecliped Bryan Vote. 4
Another striking fact il that in 1908
William Jennings Bryan received only
4,143 votes in Richmond, while Wood
row Wilson yesterday received consid.
erably more votes than did Bryan and
his competitors combined In 1908.
Of the presidential candidates
bringing up the rear end OF the pro-
cession. Debs, the Socialist candidate,
receivd - votes: Chain the Prohi-
bition candidate. got s: and Heimer.
the candidate OF the Eocialist-Labor
element, received only 3.
Former Governor Montague and the
five candidates for the city adninis-
tratiye board. selected In the Demo-
Cratic. prisnerfes.t received d fiatterinx
vote, leading the ticket, and the three
proposed amendments to the consti.
tuition carried With whoop.
Naturally there was intense interest
In the election, but with the trend Of
ttsehtft1ent Mt pnA way 9fheEe. MR6ssIif-
tie or no outward manifestation Of en-
fhusiasm. and the scenes around the
polls were in marked contrast to the
administrative board primary Of Sep
TENDER 10th, when 1887 votes were
poiied. but that primary followed
heated campaign with local issues at
stake. The usual quota OF party work
ers around the polls were mostly con-
spicuous bv their absence. save for the
scattered few who buttonholed a voter
now and then in the interest OF the
amendments. and with the absence of
activity there was lack Of excitement.
/ The lone policeman who did guard
duty 1T. each precinct was monarch Of
all he surveyed save for the occasion
al sovereign who dropped In 70 cast his
ballot ana hurried on to business
| Rsssmbled the Sabbath.
/ With the capitol. city hall and banks
and other public places closed, and
officials and clerks taking holiday
there was general air Of quiesude
that resembled. more than anything
else, an autumn Sabbath, save for the
fact that the retail stores were open.
| Neither Was the colored brother en-
thusiastic over the election. Compare
lively few OF them took advantage Of
the opportunity to exercise the right OF
| suffrage. and those who voted pretty
well divided their votes- Many Of the
prominent leaders Of the race voted
for Wilson and Montague. while tho
rest Of the negro vote was well scat
tered between Taft and Roosevelt.
! WhimeicaIities Of votsrs.
/ The administrative board candidates,
who had everything their own way.
1 poiled practically the full voting
strength Of the vote cast. though here
and there 1t Ii noticeable that suffra-
txans exercised their pFefogHtfves by
scratching those for whom they enter
tanned ..grudge."
/ But for 4 few scattering votes cast
for Charles A. Haight and III. Adolph
Muller, nobody would have known
that Andrew Jackson Montague. DEM
j ocratic primary nominee for congress
from the Third district. had encoun-
/ tered any opposition, though even the
popular ex-governor did not lead the
ticket, as might have been expected.
and similar whimsicalities were mo-
ticeable in returns from all Of the city
precincts, quite number OF the vo-
ters failing to take advantage Of the
| opportunity 70 vote for everything In
sight. but coutenting themselves with
putting in ballot for tho men and
4 vVx<~ 1ssH ~