The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1916-05-16
In the Vermont Republican
Preference as Determined
at the Polls To-day
WILSON FAR AHEAD
AMONG DEMOCRATS
Vermont's First Trial of the
Primary Does Not Prom
Use a Large Vote

!. Voting began at noon throughout Yer
mont and will continue until O'CLOCK
this evening to determine the preference
of the voters in three political parties
for presidential nominees in 1916 The
three parties named on the official ballot
are Republican, Democratic and National
Progressive; and only a single name
appeared in print, that being Woodrow
Wilson. Princeton, N j." under the col
umn labeled Democratic. Secretary OF
State Guy w Bailey gave official notice
that the conditions of the filing of names
had been complied with by no other can
didste.
Therefore. the voters went to the polls
with their own work in view, providing
| they were not Democrats and supporters
of Woodrow Wilson, because it became
| incumbent upon them to write in the
name of their choice for president or TO
insert sticker bearing that name, to-
gether with the further requirement OF
marking a cross after the name whether
the name was written, printed or affixed
by sticker Failure to mark the cross in
validated the ballot.
As this was Nermont's first presiden-
tial preference primary and the voters
had not become accustomed to the new
practice, there was not large turnout
of people. Moreover the wet weather
conditions served to cut down the voting
II was not expected in consequence, that
more tnan a minor fraction of each party
would participate in the primary.
As to the results, IL was foregone
conclusion that Woodrow Wilson would
be the choice of the Democratic voters
for denomination. The Republican pref
erenee was somewhat in doubt, but all
signs early this afternoon pointed to the
selection of Charles f. Hughes OF New
York, Justice of the United States SUI
preme court. During the past few weeks
there has been growing Hughes senti-
ment all through the state despite the
efforts Of workers for New England men
to develop strength for their candidates
and. too. despite the fact that Hughes
has been decidedly recalcitrant as a can
didate, having refused 10 permit the use
OF his name, as had Theodore Roosevelt.
The Progressive party selection was
even more uncertain than the Republi
can; and indeed it was doubtful whether
a very large number OF Progressive votes
would be cast. Roosevelt, who might be
considered the logical candidate of that
party, was Just as likely to receive as
many votes under the Republican column |
as under the Progressive. But as far as
the two leading parties in the state are
the result of the preference |
is almost certain to be Wilson |
VS.. Hughes.
Just what effect that expression OF |
preference will have on the state eonven-
lions to be held later in the month is un-
certain. In conjunction with the pri
mary, caucuses are being held to-day to
,lect delegates to the state conventions,
he Republican to be held at Montpelier
Nay 26 and the Democratic at Burling
on on the day preceding the Republican
assembly. The choice of the voters to-
lay might be expected to have consider
BILE influence on the action of the con
,entions. but it is not obligatory.
The Primary in Barre.
Apart from the lethargy that has
marked the general feeling toward the
primary, the unpropitious
seather conditions probably inveighed
gainst the election in Barre o-day. The
ix polling places one in each ward. were
pened promptly at noon, but the influx
{ voters was not large enough in any
Instance to tax the election officers.
Iooths for the balloting were erected
and this forenoon Alderman
iossi. chairman of the elections commit
ee, distributed to each polling place a ,
undle of ballots sealed and secured by a
adlock. With one or two exceptions the !
lection officers who served in the March
lections were at the polls to-day.
Fewer than a dozen votes had been
oiled in the ward booths at city hall
hen an hour had passed. Shortly after
O'Clock only few more than a dozen T
ad been polled at Spaulding school in
ard and the number of ward | voters
no had elected to register their prefer
ace was not large at o'clock The pre- d
ction was made that more votes will q
2 poled from 4 o'clock until the polls !
ose at S o'clock than from noon until o
clock The boxes will be turned at G
clock as required by statute and the d
.turns will be registered at the city Ct
erk's office. a
Two csueuses in Barre Tonight .
Two party caueuses will be in progress n
lis evening while the tellers are count n
g the ballots in Bsrre's. first preferen-
II primary The city council having
ranged to hold its regular session In
2 Office Of the water department. the =.
spublicsns will convene in the council "
amber at city hall! az the court room
being used as q polling place for TIE
9TH ward. Delegates and alternates 60 N
e state convention in Montpelier May i,
and city committee for the ensuing N
10 wears are 10 be elected. The Demo -
ats are % meet in the Pavilion theatre 3.
5 o'clock 10 elect delegates and alter :;
tes % the state and district oonven- =,
n to be held in Burlington May 25. y.