The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1918-08-06
System of Vote Counting
Proves to Be
Tedious.
WORKING FOR WATS5L
Friends Are Willing to Con-
cede Only a Few to
Chiffon.

Surprisingly light Is the vot. which
.s being east today al the primary
election. the chief interest Of which
ccnters in the fight for the lomina-
ton for United States senate on the
Republican and Democratic tickets.
The polls opened az $50 O'Clock and
Will continue 10 remain open until
$50 o'clock this evening.
Bright and early the Democratic
workers were on the job and had their
sleeves rolled up 10 bring down a
heavy majority for Senator Watson
over his opponent. Chiffon. The or
gaai1atiOn is well creased here and Is
extending itself TO get a big vote out
today. but even with al the machin-
cry IL is found difficult 90 get tho yot-
crs out The town was dead as a
door nail today, so TO speak. and few
people were on the streets unless they
had to be. The vast majority OF the
stay-ins are nursing a crouch AT the
board Of affairs OF Fairmont for the
grievance over the water shortage.
while those who are lcnient on the
city fathers are balling out "Old Sol"
for dishins out 100 degree tempcra-
, lures.
Few II any Of the city precincts are
mp 10 the notch in the vote getting
game unles il is the Seventh, which
has its voting place at the Hamilton
warehouse. There early this morn
ing the vote ran well and from all ac-
counts this was the banner precinct
of the city in this regard. The work
ing people voted before they went to
the mines and factories.
Politicians in touch with Senator
/ WatsOn's fight say that he will carry
the county by from $500 TO 5000.
. depending Of course on the per cent
Of the vote got OUT. They do figure
that Chiffon can induce ESQ people in
Marion county to vote for him. Chill
ton has no organization in this
county.
Col. Watson was in town yesterday.
wearing his army uniform. and today
he cast his ballot at the Fleming
school at Tenth street and Virginia
avenue.
The new system OF using two ballot
boxes Is in vogue today and every
time nifty ballots are deposited in the
box one board counts them while a
second board takes care Of the incom-
ing voters. The system is tedious and
requires much extra work and more
records to keep tab on the voting. No
trouble was experienced among dec
/ ton officers apparently, because so
far as the county clerks office heard
everyone was on the job. One dis
triCt, EldOra. got its ballot box after
the various officers had depend ri on
the other fellow. or as il is popularity
put, let George do it,"
At las o'clock this afternoon at
the first preGinct which votes at the
court house 90 votes were cast In
this precinct SIS voters are registered
The vast majority Of the votes cast are
the green tickets" Attorney Charles
Powell. the recognized leader OF the
Democratic party in the county. is on
the job there.
This afternoon al 1870 O'Clock 60
votes were cast in the Sixth precinct
az the old Normal school Here 2J6
voters are registered. After four hours
the officers opened the ballot box and
counted the vote. It was found that
Col Watson had received every one
Of the q Democratic ballots cast.
Highland led the Republican ticket
with Q. Elkins had 8; Hughes and
Gaines, l.
Shortly before o'clock this after.
noon IN the second district. which vot.
ing ppce IS az the Miller school, Sc
votes were cast Col. Watson secured
al lof the Democratic votes cast in this
precinct. Highland appears TO be lead.
Ing bya shade in this precinct There
are 34l voters registered in this pre-.
cinct.