Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-10-28
Comparatively Few Eligible
Voters Register Their
Choice at the Polls
CONGRESS EXPECTED
TO NULLIFY RESULT
Day Passes Quietly Without
Disorder; Final Count
Not Due For a Week

Not Due For a Week
I Washington, d. c., Oct. 27--On the
face Of the meager returns from the
Mexican elections and apparent indl,
vations that a president had not peen
chosen, officials in Washington today
based justification for the policy OF
this government in declining in ad-
vance to recognize the elections as
legal and fair
Z Although nothing official had come
to the authorities here. the prevailing
opinion was that Huerta would retain
his authority and that new congress
would proclaim the election null ana
void. Definite announcement from the
Huerta government of the election out
come is not looked for here for seYeral
days. A few dispatches were received
by Secretary Bryan from Mexico City.
They contained no detailed lnforma-
tion as to the votes cast for president
but all asserted that the vote every
where throughout the republic had
been light. The reports were sent to
President Wilson at Mobile.
Returns Are Meager.
Mexico City, Oct. 27-The returns
OF Yesterdays elections may possibly
be Known within week but 1t Is more
likely that a fortnight will elapse be-
fore the result is placed before the
public.. Not even good guess as to
who was. at the top Of the poll can be
made at present Returns, even from
nearby states. are fragmentary.
IN the federal capital itself, the re-
suit may be known within day, or
two. Kilograms received today by the
department Of the interior showed that
the elections at Guadalajara and To-
luca passed off in an orderly manner.
Not Enough Votes.
At the close of the elections last
night the indications were that not
sufflcient votes had been cast to con-
stitute legal choice for the presi-
dency to Succeed Gen. victoriano
Huerta.
No Official announcement was made
but it .,Ras estimated, judging from the
results in the capital where it was ex-
pegfed the vote would be up to the
syerage that less than 10000 of the
10 900 eligible voters in the federal dis
tract went to the polls. It would be no
surprise II congress. the members OF
which also we're voted for, declared
the election void when the body Is Or
ganized and revises the returns.
The leaders Of the Catholic party
claimed q long lead, although they
were unable to estimate the number
OF votes polled for their candidates,
Federico Gamboa and General Rascon.
II this claim is correct. it is generally
thought that General Felix Diaz and
Senior Requena ran second.
Huerta at His Home.
The liberal candidates, Manuel Cal
ero and Flores Magon, had no printed
ticket at the polling places, their con
stituents being obliged to write their
names in blink spaces. President
Huerta spent the day at his Popotla
suburban home.
Since the deputies and senator's are
not subject to the election provisions
governing the presidential elections,
1t is said that the choice for congress
Is assured It is assumed. on the show
ing SO far as known. the Catholic
party will secure majority In both
chamber and senate.
At 10 o'clock last night everything
was quiet ard ABSOLUTE order prevailed.
The polling places opened at o'clock
In the morning and remained open un-
TIL noon. when the attendants closed
the booths until 3 p. m. AT that time
they were reopened and closed finally
at 5 o'clock From three to Ave
oficials, one of whom was, designated
''president,' were in attendance at
each polling place. These officials rem
resented the various parties and assist
ed in the preparation 2of sthe ballot
when necessary, but offered no coercion
or suggestion as to how the applicant
should vote.
Better Class In Charge.
/ The election officials appeared to bel
representa- class of citizens. SO
far as could be ascertained no gov
ernment employees served in this ca
pacity
The polling places of which there
were said to be 92s, were located in
the entrances of buildings generally,
but in some instances were set up on
the sidewalks or on corners of public
squares Each had table on which
were spread the tickets OF the various
candidates. From these the voter
made his selection, signed. folded and
delivered it to the president. who de-
posted 1t in the presence of the voter
in the ballot box. There was no sec
recy about the voting.
As the vote was deposited the
name was checked on the registration
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