The Cordova daily times., 1916-10-28

| of each state to work together on a cooperative basis under the super 1 vision of the established Associated Press bureaus. Thousands of special forms have been prepared for the systematic conduct of the service, thousands of typewriter sheets dis tributed listing candidates and show ing votes four years ago as a basis of comparison special correspondents appointed and special wire facilities arranged for this particular work In the collection of returns, the country Is everywhere made the unit, and it is the purpose of the system to hear definitely from every election district of the more important states. In New York alone these districts number 5,7O0 In Illinois there are over 5000 and in other states a pro l portionately large number of districts to be heard from. Taking New York state as typical of the system that will be followed in principle at least by other states. the service there is worked out broadly as follows:
 Having arranged for some compe- tent man to take charge of each coun- ty upstate and for cooperative effort with the New York City News Asso- citation for the collection of the metro politan returns, the New York head sOciated Press was only 79 votes at variance with the official count In Massachusetts state election last
 year the Boston bureau scored a re- cord by announcing the returns only three votes off from the official fig ures.
 The election machinery of the As sociated Press Is at work in all the states, but it is developed to its high est pitch of efficiency in the states having the largest electoral votes and the, smallest average of consistency in presidential years
 Given a definite line on New York
 state, on Massachusetts. which is in
 variably prompt. and reflection of the vote in the Central and Western
 states. where difference in time is
 a handicap to early returns, the result
 of the presidential election may be
 pretty definitely announced at an
 early hour and often the full extent
 of the victory indicated, 80 accurately
 has the guage of election figures been
 fixed by previous experience.
 Knowing with a near certainty whe-
 ther 1t Is Wilson or Hughes will be
 sufficient for the throngs at the bulle-
 tin boards on election night, but the
 Associated Press goes on to a still bigger task than the mere announce
 ment of the result That would not go far to complete the morning paper.
 There are columns to fill with state tabulations, with lists of governor s elected. the detailed constitution of l the next United States senate and the , house Of representatives, and similar e fohlae f,r aaoh sfata locally handfad on the constitution of the state legis } lature. There are comprehensive } leads" to write in summary of the figures, and contests in particular 5 states to be explained.
 3 There is one human cog in the cleo r tion machine that is even more in - teresting than the general manager oi l the Associated Press. He is the Pau { Revere of the baekwoods districts who r gallops his horse or drives his moror
 cycle on election night to the nearest - telegraph station. There are stii l some remote regions - great many '- Of then. - where the polling nf nre s sidential vote is almost game O n solitaire, and from some of them eour r. isrs must ride twenty miles before E they can release by wire to waiting @ nation the fact that plurality of on' s for -- Cit would be partisan to an