Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-02-05
BY an Overwhelming Vote
the People Of Ottumwa
Support Propositions
WOMEN'S HELP AN
IMPORTANT FACTOR
Ladies Turn Out in Large
Numbers to Aid in Piling
Up a Big Majority

Ottumwa voters both men and wom-
en- by an overwhelming majority de-
termined in Mondays special election
, thai the city shall construct the two
concrete dams and do it's own street
| lighting.
These two propositions. each depend
ent upon the other for success at the
polls were put before the citizens both
male and female who by age and resi-
dence were entitled to vote and al
, though only special election, the re-
suits tell in an unmistakable manner
that the people of Ottumwa favor the
! propositions. The dams and improve
ment carried by majority of 3,121
and the bonds by 1884 majority
The usual vote brought out at spec
ial election was greatly increased even
by the male vote alone and added to
this vote of the women made the day
seem like presidential election for
considerable more than the average
regular election vote was cast. From
best returns obtainable and which can
only be changed by the canvass of the
vote to be made Wednesday there were
3,425 men and 2,O74 women who voted.
This does not take into account the
number Of spoiled or rejected ballots
of which there were fifty. the total
of all votes cast being reported as
5,549.
Good Feeling Prevails.
Now that the returns are in and the
fight over, both sides are apparently as
good friends as ever and no animus is
apparent on either side.
The Railway & Light Co.. stated this
morning that while it lost it's conten-
ton. it is a good loser and bears no
grudges and having fought clearly it
is satisfied to abide by the decision of
the voters.
Women Are a Factor.
The factor that the women played
in Mondays election is worthy Of note
for it will be seen that their vote was
little better than 60 per cent of the
vote cast by the men. The organiza-
tion that was effected by both sides to
the question is responsible for
the big vote. Throughout the
day there were autos kept busy
by the supporters and opponents of the
proposition and these gathered in the
women to the polling places Of the var
lOuo WdluS. udt Vic NOHlcA Iul uCu
out in large numbers is easily seen by
glance at the table Of the vote by
wards. In most cases an average Of
300 women cast votes in the various
precincts. In some it ran over this
number and in but three wards was the
total less than 800.
The first ward had the least women
voters. 204 voting in that precinct.
There were 266 women voted in the
fourth and 299 in the fifth wards while
in the seventh 319 and in the sixth
32S women voted. The banner women
vote was cast in the second and third
wards where $50 of the ladies voted
at each voting place.
The two south side wards led In the
number of men voting there being a
difference of but two votes in the two
precincts which show $50 men voting
in the fifth and 5SS in the seventh
wards In the sixth ward 533 men ex-
ercised their prerogative. 1913 in the
first, 410 in the third. 400 in the second
and 395 in the fourth ward.
The returns were in and the bulle
tins announcing the results shown in
the window Of The Courier shortly af-
ter 10 o'clock.