The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1916-11-25
THREE DAY BATTLE
AROUND CHIHUAHUA
Renewed BY VILLA
VOTERS STAYING
AWAY, CHARTER
ISN'T ADOPTED
Commission Plan Leaders
Admit Defeat When Mid
day Figure is Obtained.

Thanks to a concerted effort of the
Republican administration leaders tc
kill the Commission Government
charter, to the compilation of which
prominent citizens have given months
Of their time, it became apparent this
afternoon that the electorate had not
turned out in sufficient numbers to
adopt the charter.
Leaders of the Commission Govern
ment union at noon checked up the
number voting in each district and
found that 5000 votes had been cast
this morning. They were sanguine
Of success early today but they found
no rush Of voters to the polls.
AS an evidence of the treachery
to the electorate, it was learned that
many city officials hadn't left their Of
fees to vote today. Whether any OF
the Republican Office holders did vote
could not be learned.
- There are 21,687 voters in the city
and under the Home Rue act a 60
per cent. vote is necessary at an cleo
toon for a change in city govern
ment. This would require 1903 bal
lots registered before the vote would
be valid.
AT press hour although willing to
admit that the charter would not
pass, workers at the headquarters of
the Commission Government union
said fully 5000 would be polled. Re-
ports from different districts at 2
O'Clock indicated that q few more
than 5000 votes had been cast and
that the total vote for the day would
be in the neighborhood OF 5000. At
o'clock today the union hea aquar-
ters claimed 900 votes had been cast
in the Ninth district and 400 in the
Fourth district. -
The vote during the early forenoon
was unusually light and II o'clock it
was apparent that only about 5000
had gone to the polls. Members of
the Commission Government union,
still undismayed by the light vote,
then began making strenuous efforts
to get out the electorate. Committees
working in each district in the inter-
est Of the adoption OF the new char
ter were offered free use Of automo-
biles by leading citizens who have
endorsed the proposed new charter
but General Apathy, that old enemy
Of Good Government, seemed firmly
entrenched..
Behind the apparent Indifference of
the voters, however, there was evi-
dence OF an organized movement to
defeat the charter by keeping voters
away from the polls. Men who have
never been known to miss voting be-
fore except because of serious illness,
remained away from the polls, going
about their business as usual. When
asked why they would not vote they
simply shrugged their shoulders and
smiled.
Men who for years have been con-
spicuous figures about the polling
places on election day, no matter
what the election, were conspicuous
by their absence this time.
Inquiry about the men prominent
in the Republican clubs and their
lack of attraction, although the Re-
publican party has endorsed COM
mission form of government, brought
the information that these men were
working or had gone to the football
game or left town for other purposes
registered their votes. Mayor Wilson
and City Clerk Robinson left the city
early for the football game at New
Haven and it could not be ascertain
ed whether or not they voted. None
of the other Republican city officials
at city hall today voted nor did any
of the clerks who are known to be
Republicans.
In the Fifth district the committee
of the Commission Government league
was most active and got out the larg-
est vote In this district many of the
advocates of the measure reside. At
II O'Clock today, however, only 65s
of the 1858 voters of the district had
been to the polling place.
. At about the same hour the vote
in the other districts Of the city show
ed about as follows:
First district 189; Second, 1871;
Third, 1873; Fourth, 1853; Fifth, 659:
Sixth, 1870; Seventh, 225; Eighth, 100;
400; Tenth 1856; Eleventh, 1876;
Twelfth, First precinct, 1853; Second
precinct, 129.
When it became apparent today
that the voters were not coming out
and the charter would not be adopted,
leaders in the Commission Govern
ment union at once began making
plans for another campaign.
1--WE will take this to Hartford and
to the legislature" declared John
Flood, one of the most active of COM
mission government advocates. 1--WE
will have a special train the day this
charter is presented for action and we
will take 1000 or more there to march
to the capitol and protest against this
invisible government that is in force
now. I have broached this plan to
other members of the union and they
are enthusiastic over it.. One prom
inent manufacturer has told me to
come to him for his check for $500 to
defray expenses anytime we are
ready"