The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-11-03
RAIN PUTS DAMPER
ON ELECTION NOISES
Big Crowds Around Bulletin
Screens Shrink as DriZzle
Turns Into DownpOur.


The usual ear splitting features OF an
election night on Broadway were con-
spicuous last night by their absence.
Except at two or three places along the
thoroughfare where election returns were
flashed on screens the crowds were
smaller, If anything, than usual. The
rain, which began with a drizzle around
6 o'clock and broke into torrents an
hour and half later, was too much for
many of the would be celebrants and they
scurried to the theatres and restaurants.
Only at Herald square, where the
EUe,ting Telegram, bulletin was In oper-
alton. and at Times square was there
any unusual Broadway gathering. At
these two places there was more enthu-
siasm and more pep than at any other
along Broadway, and cheers which from
time to time greeted announcements OF
pluralities received by this or that cam
didate, while not so loud as on some
other election nights, were given with
such a will as could leave no doubt OF
their sincerity. But the blare of horns
and the carefree yells from thousands
which have marked Broadway from one
end to the other on election night in the
past We're missing.
In the early hours of the evening
crowds began to gather before the bull
letin boards and the drizzle made little
impression upon them. When the driz-
zle became a downpour. however, there
was rush for cover. The more for
tunate ones found inches from which
they could watch the bulletins.
Extra policemen, ordered out by the
hundreds to keep the sidewalks free
"A
Times square a dozen or more police
men huddled in n subway kiosk. There
was no work for them. Vendors OF
horns and other noise producing instru-
ments folded their satchels and de-
parted early in the evening. The only
profits accruing from the crowds around
the bulletin boards fell to the stores
where umbrellas were sold and 10
| drivers of taxicabs. The heavy demand
| for taxicabs caused some confusion and
not a few arguments. On several occa-
! sions when a car drew up before a door
| way in which n crowd was sheltered,
| there was n mad rush for the vehicle.
Once or twice 1t became necessary Tor
policeman to interfere.
BY 8 o'clock the crowds had grown
larger. Many who earlier had given UP
and gone TO moving picture show. re-
turned for another look at the bulletins.
At Herald Square the crowd had
reached such proportions that the po-
llcemen at last found work TO do More
enthusiasm began to develop and cheers
for the various candidates. as their
pictures or reports of their election
were thrown on the screen. became
/ louder.
Outside of the mid-evcning crowds at
Herald Square and Times Square the
largest gathering reported was in front
of the Eroning Telegram bulletin at
Willis avenue and listh street. The
Bronx. Ii was estimated that the early
crowd there numbered more than 15.0o.
In l25th street there was good-sized
crowd but not the usual Presidential
election night mob. Policemen there
had no trouble keeping traffic on the
move.
The thea res in that section were filled
and many amusement places remained
open until long after midnight. Other
bulletin boards in The Bronx. Mt Ford
nam road and Grand Concourse, South
ern boulevard and 163d street and al
! fremont and Third avenues, attracted
small crowds.
In front Of the New York Can Office,
| Fourth avenue and Twelfth street. there
| was n small gathering of Socialists,
/ largely men. who cheered loud and long
I
heir candidate for President; was
!. thrown on the screen.
Patrons OF hotels restaurants and
treatres were favored with the returns
/ from time TO time. At the Ansonin
I Hotel. Broadway and Seventy-third
street. the returns were received by tele-
grams which were read in the lobby
At Breton Hail. Broadway and Eighty
sixth street. the returns were obtained
/ by special wires and were readsin tho
| dining rooms and lobby. At the Bit
moro. where Gov. Smith had his head
quarters, the returns were announced by
'el-autosraph in the supper room. which
was crowded with guests. NJ the theatres
' ind cabarets. from time to time the re-
turns were read from the stage, whilo
in the moving picture theatres the pic
turcs were broken now and then to make
\ way for some new bit of Information or
I the outcome of the election.
Z Members of the Ohio Society of New
I York and their friends. numbering about
/ zoo. received returns In the Aston Gal
/ lery at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel. They
cheered repeatedly the growing indica'
/ tions OF the election of Senator Harding
one OF their members for sixteen years
Between bulletins the members of tn,
party were entertained with Vaude'
/ willie and motion picture programme and
/ supper was served at 10 30 On the
I floor below the Aston Gallery 200 mem
/ hers OF the International Sporting Clul
gathered 10 receive the returns.
\ Although few people probably have
any recollection of Il, the United States
weather Bureau office reported that las
years election night throrgs underwent
a slight sprinkling between the hours
of and 8 o'clock and again between
II O'Clock and midnight
| The records for tho election night Of
! 1918 also Indicate n slight rainfall bu
/ the two years Immediately preceding
registered none.
| The weather sharps said that last
/ nights showers broke all records foi
/ recent years on election nights.