Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1918-09-03
COLLECTING THE RETURNS

The work Of collecting the returns
from a primary election is somewhat
different from what it used to be In the
old days: but even yet 1t is not rs SIM
plc n matter as it might look like TO
some.
Before the advent of the telephone
the collection Of the election results
from all the precincts of York county
during the afternoon and night follow
ing the election was the job Of cap
tain, at least, If not of a colonel. 1t
involved the organized assistance Of
fifteen or twenty reliable helpers-men
who could be depended upon to do
their work regardless of weather or
other conditions, and many Of them
were required to ride fifteen or twenty
miles.
On more than one occasion in the
old days The Yorkville Enquirer has
sI,nt as much as $50 or $15 in actual
cash in collecting the returns from an
election in York county, and even then
the greater part Of the work involved
was performed by friends who gave
Rut these old days in which the col
lection of election figures was such n
great feat have passed. Thanks to the
telephone, work Is now mainly mat
ter of organization. Reliable and in
telligent assistance Is as necessary as
ever: but there are few long rides or
other serious difficulties in the way.
4 There were not so many names on
the tickets last Tuesday as usual, the
count was completed without unneces-
sary delay, and with all correspondents
acting promptly all the returns were In
by 11.30. p. m. Thev would have been
in nearly an hour before except for the
time that was necessary in the count
ing Of the two large Rock Hill boxes.
hath Of which required a little more
Work than any OF the others.
Speaking from recollection, without
a careful inquirr into the records, we
will say that the facility with which
the returns from last Tuesdays cleo
ton were collected broke all records.
So far as we remember the complete
returns have never before been col
lectcd before II o'clock. and often II
has been daylight the next morning be-
fore the last box could be heard from.
Every box in the county was heard
from over the telephone with the ex-
ception of New Zion, and that was
brought to The Enquirer office by Mr..
NJ. S. Carroll, who made trip OF
about nine miles for the purpose. This
was in accordance with previous ar.
rangement, under which Mr.. Carroll
was selected because it was known that
there was no other certain way OF get
ting the box that night, and because 1t
was known that he realized how mnch
uncertainty and suspense could be oc-
casioned by the absence Of single
box.
There was trouble about getting the
Ogden box: but II was not due to any
fault of Mr. W. H. Dunlap, who SIM
Div could not get The Enquirer office
over the telephone. We know that he
made every effort: hut we have not
been able to learn why he failed. We
world like to know.
We have been badly served bv the
local telephone office here in two pre-
vious elections. We had information
that the messages of our correspond
ents were made free to others. and In
some cases we never got them direct.
They were "relayed" at the central Of
Ace and delivered secondhand, less
freely, perhaps, than they were deliv-
cred to others who had no right TO
them; but there was no way for US to
help ourselves, and we had to lump II.
There was apparently as little regard
OF the property rights Ia news at the
telegraph office; but there ts no COM
plant on that score now.
The service by the Yorkville Cen
trails" local and long distance, both
during the afternoon and night, was
simply perfect. The young ladies were
attentive, accommodating and efficient.
Instead Of having any complaints to
make we take pleasure in acknowledge
ing surprise at the expert manner In
which this business was handled. We
would have hardly thought such eff
cheney possible, regardless Of the most
admirable will to excel.
It has, Of course, been matter Il
regret that conditions were not such as
to warrant the holding back Of Tues
DAVIS edition Of the paper, or Of send
ing out an extra edition: but as that
was not practicable. the next best
thing was to assemble the returns on
A public bulletin board and telephone
the figures to whoever asked them,
which was done.