The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-11-14

" LECTION figures served piping hot-that
is what people in New York want every
- year after the ballots have been east.
There is no better proof OF this than the
crowds before the newspaper bulletin boards on
election night. crowds exceeding in number those
evoked by the big sporting events Of the year.
and rs Il rule far noisier.
These election crowds are II feature OF New
York life. They represent every element OF the
biz towns population. 1t is II real desire for
election figures that brings many out to stand
thus patiently for hours. wedgesl in among thou
sands: for others the figures are merely an ex-
cuSe for noise and merrynaking. But even for
the carnival along broadway election night the
figures are essential. if only for II background.
IIow many of New York's population have this
habit of turning out election night to get returns.
no matter what the election is for. it is difficult
to estimate. One thing is certain. AMI that Is
that nowlere else in the country is there any
keener interest in the results of elections than
right here in New York. This year it was natu-
rally augmented by the interest of the women In
the suffrage vote. 50 that besides the usual
crowds in places like Tnmmany Hall and Iepub-
licnn county headquarters there were those who
waited just rs anXiouSly for figures ut the head
quarters Of the suffrage and anti-suffruge work
ers among the women.
In New York city people do not have to wait
long for election results, in spite of the fact that
New York in comparison with many cities Is
somewhat badly handicapped so far as local re-
suits go. That is because up 10 this year it has
been nyerse IN using voting machines. which
cities like Buffalo and Rochester have had for
years. This year. for the first time In New
York's history. voting machines were tried i'm
two districts ON the West Side of Manhattan.
In those districts the vote was known n few
minutes after the polls closed. The machines
having indicated themselves. it appears to be
now only II question Of Il short time before New
York will be voting entirely in this fashion. 1t
should then get its election figures even more
quickly than ut present. TO equip the city with
Aich machines, ii is estimated will cost posi-
bly, S1OO0yUo0
Whether New York does or does not use voting
machines in the future one phase of the problem
of giving New Workers quick returns will remain
the same; namely, the task Of putting together
the figures as they are reported from the polling
places. Here lies the big job in election returns,
particularly in New York city. which now has
exactly 2.O79 polling places. This Is almost as
many ms are found in the rest Of the State, big
as 1t is, and Is more than most States have. As
n matter Of fact 1t would he difficult to fnd In
any land ruled by the ballot exactly the counter
,art Of the problem which lies back of the figures
which, dashed on the bulletin boards IN hour
after the polls have closed, tell how New York
has voted.
"IIey. that's what l call quick work" remarked
a man who stood before TIE SUNS bulletin
board at Nassau and Spruce streets election
night, wherein were figures showing how every
thorough in the big city had voted. His com.
ianion agreed with him, though neither had the
least idea Of just where the figures were coming
from or OF the system employed In collecting
and consolidating them. built up through many
weeks OF labor by experts ut this sort Of thing.
Under the election laws no official machinery
exists for any such lightninglike compile ton OF