Evening star., 1915-11-02
Suffragists and Ants
Both Claim New York;
5000 Women at Polls

NEW YORK, November -2.-Some 5000
women arose long before daylight and
when the polls opened at o'clock this
morning were on duty in every elec-
ton district of New York city as
watchers for the cause of woman suf-
frage. Proposed changes in the con-
stitution were the only statewide Is
sues before the voters of New York to-
day. A new constitution was sub
mitted for popular approval. but the
suffrage question appeared on the bal
lots as distinct proposition calling
for a separate vote.
While the suffrage organizations have
conducted a careful campaign through
out the state they have concentrated
efforts upon this city because they De-
lieved that their opponents were
strongest here. The suffrage leaders
declared they would win, but the esti-
mated majorities they gave were con-
siderably more modest than the sweep
ing predictions of the anti-sunrags
workers
Other Questions Voted Upon.
In addition to the proposed suffrage
amendment the people of the state to-
day voted upon proposals regarding
of s27,0O0,O 900 in bonds for the compile
ton of the barge canal and the ques-
ton of permitting the legislature to
change the rates of interest on certain
debts already incurred.
The taxation and reapportionment
proposals were among those submitted
by the recent constitutional convention.
The other sixteen proposed changes in
the constitution were placed before the
voters to be accepted or rejected with
out division.
The regular state political organiza-
tions bent their efforts to the contest
for control of the lower house OF the
legislature. This body, the assembly,,
now contains 80 republicans. 49 demo-
Gratis and progressives. The only
other state officers elected today were
eleven justices of the supreme court.
Local Contests Spirited.
Voting for county and city officials in
various places throughout the state
developed local contests that over
shadowed the suffrage issue. but there
we're few communities where the ques-
ton of votes for women failed to at
tract the principal interest.
In New York city the democratic or
ganization expressed absolute conf
dence of success in the contests over
district attorney and sheriff.
Three congressman will be elected to
fill vacancies in midterm, one in this
city and two upstate. Local issues
have been most prominent in these
three congressional district campaigns.
FAIR and comparatively mild weather
was promised throughout the state. AL
though the polls will close at pm.
the number of questions submitted and
the variety of ballots probably will
DELAY the count on the constitutional
questions.
sufragists to Get Returns.
DIR. Anna Howard Shaw and the officers
of the National American Woman Suffrage
Association completed preparations to-
dav to receive election returns tonight
at the national headquarters here. They
will get the returns from all three
states where votes for women is up for
aac;sion.. and will be in direct COM
,,unication with the suffrage head
quarters in Boston and Harrisburg.
Miss Shaw came to headquarters just
hefore noon, having spent the night
a. Atlantic City in an effort to re-
90 pnnaign. According to figures given
ont at headquarters the president of
tha national association has made 100
sneeches in the campaign, seventy more
than she planned to make when she
started out.
The national leader was cheerful and
optimistic when she arrived.
"Well,". she said, win or lose, 1t has
been a great campaign-ths greatest I
have ever been through"