The evening world., 1919-11-15
American ViscounteSs' Hailed
by Crowds as Her Carriage
Proceeds to Polls.

a
PLYMOUTH. Nov. 15.-The .baiiot-
Ing whioh will decide whether Lady
Astor is to succeed her husband IN
the House OF Commons and as the
American wife of a British peer be-
come the first active woman member
OF Parliament began in the sutton
constituency OF Plymouth early To-
day. .-a
The serious business OF marking
the ballots came after a fortnight OF
intense electioneering in the constitu-
ency, but II will be nearly a fortnight
more before II becomes possible for
those to-day claiming the victory for
their respective favorites among the
three candidates to. be sure OF the
outcome. as the mi ! will not be an
nounced until N6RtAs. The delay is
necessary because OF the considerable
number OF absent voters, largely men
serving with the coiors abroad. p
Lady Astor was one OF the. first
women 10 vote after the opening OF
the polls here. Throughout the, divi-
sion the early activity was pro-
nounced, and the clear, crisp weather
which prevailed augured a heavy
ballot.
Lady Astor went to the polls to-day
a 20 to favorite, with no takers. She
declares-and her hackers believe IL
that she will have a plurality Of
10000, so per cent. more than her
husband had in the last election.
Lady Astor's coachman. Church,
wood, a veteran OF three Astor cam
paigns. cast the first vote IN his dis
trict shortly after the polls. opened.
He then hitched a team to ihe car
riage Lady Astor calls her "eampaign
chariot" and was in front OF the 'Astor
home at s.l5 o'clock. Her Ladyship,
seemingly as fresh and energetic as
at the beginning OF her arduous cleo
tioneering campaign. stepped briskly
into the carriage, accompanied by
Lord Astor.
Really feel better than did a
fortnight ago" Lady Astor remarked.
This has been a. great tonic" She
drove away calling: X am going to
vote proper now" Jtt '..,ls s.s'...
Her ballot was cast In a school
house. Lord Astor, although disqual-
ined through his elevation to the
peerage. was technically entitled to
vote because his name had not been
removed from the register. He was
informed to this effect this morning.
but he declined to vote. saying he did
not desire to take advantage Of q
technicality. .~, ,..,,. %.
Lady Astor made a tour of the
streets OF Plymouth In her carriage
gayly bedecked with red. white and
blue. the coalition colors, visiting the
rooms OF the conservative committee
and the vicinity OF each of the four
teen polling stations. She completed
the tour during the morning and
planned another similar trip in the
course of the afternoon.
She charged during the morning
that there was a plot on the part OF
the labor men to rush" the polls
late in the afternoon and block on
the opposition voters. She said pre-
cautions had been taken, however, to
, prevent the execution OF suoh, a plan
Isaac Foot, the Liberal candidate
and w. T. Gay. the Labor nominee
also were early voters and duplicate
= Lady AstoTs visits to the pollinl
stations. 1t was commented that few
! persons greeted them as they ap
peared in their motor cars. but tina
the appearance OF the woman can
didate's carriage invariably occasion
d ed cries OF good luck. Lady Astor.
: or -you win, Nancy"