The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-08-01
Registration, Too, Is Greatest
in History Here.
NO TROUBLE AT THE POLLS
City Clerk Has Not Heard of a
Single Challenge.
Count VIII Be SIOW-LikeWiSe
Returns Tonight.


total than in any previous primary in
Topeka and Shawnee county if there
is no slackening in the vote later in
the day. Judges and clerks over the
city said today that the number of
votes cast during the morning hours
was greater than at any previous pri-
mary election at which they had
served.
The registration in Topeka is
greater than ever before. the tempera-
ture ladled out by the weather de-
partment extends an invitation to
women to get out of doors, and the
county candidates are using every fa-
ciliry for getting voters to the polls.
Everything points to an exceptionally
heavy vote. The total registration in
Topeka is 23,004.
The polls opened over the city at
o'clock this morning and will remain
open until o'clock this evening. I'm
der this arrangement voters who work
in the shops and elsewhere have an
opportunity to cast their ballots before
or after their days work, without TAX
ing time off.
In the country the polls did not open
until z o'clock and they will close at
6 o'clock. an hour earlier than in the
city. There was no rain IN Shawnee
county curing the nlgnI TO Cneor In0
farmers but the cooler weather today
is promising and candidates believe it
will have a tendency to increase the
rural vote.
So far nothing has occurred to mar
the election in Topeka. There has
been no trouble at any of the polls and
no word has been received at the Of
flee of the city clerk of even a single
challenge. There was much early vot-
ing. Men voted on their way to work
| and many women. fearing the cool
| wind would not last. dressed early and
cast their ballots with their husbands.
In the second precinct of the Sixth
ward IA ballots had been cast at 8
o'clock.
A House Divided.
A peculiar situation developed early
today in the south part of the city.
Mr.. and Mrs p. g; Devon live at 142s
ond precinct of the Third ward from
the second precinct of the Fifth ward
passes through their house. Mrs. De-
Won and her husband registered at diff
ferent times and Mrs. Devon registered
from the second of the Third while
Mr.. Devon registered from the second
of the Fifth. Today they thought they
would vote together and the tar gle
was discovered One of them called
Commissioner w. L. Porter by tcle-
phone and the matter was looked up
| in the office of the city clerk All
that was necessary was for the hus-
band to go to another polling place
and cast his vote.
Because of the numerous candidates
on the Republican ticket. it is expected
that the counting tonight will be slow
and that complete returns will be late.
County candidates began making the
rounds of the polls as soon as they
opened this morning. One automobile
| has followed another from one poll
ing place to another all day Some of
the candidates have gone out into the
country to see that their farmer
! friends do not fail to cast their bal
| lots.
| With all the interest the flock of
county candidates has stirred up there
is little election talk heard on the
streets today except around the polls.
He Talked Too Much.
If you are a Democrat, and so an
nounce to the election judges, but ask
| for a Republican ballot, the judges can
not refuse it-that is, unless someone
challenges your vote. But if you state
flat-footedly that you do not intend to
support the Republican candidates
nominated, you are not entitled TO a
Republican primary ballot.
That question came up in one city
precinct today and was referred to Os-
car Swayze, county clerk. Some
voter told the judges he was a Demo-
| crat, wanted a Republican ballot and
said he wouldn't support the Repubsi-
can candidates nominated. He was
refused a Republican ballot.
But said Swayze. eff he had
| merely announced that he was a Dem
ocrat but wanted to vote a Republi-
can primary ballot the judges would
have had no right to refuse him.
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