Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-09-18
MANY WOMEN ARE
QUALIFYING TODAY
FOR THE ELECTION
This is Their First Opportunity to
Register in Delaware So
As to Vote.
RUSH AT SOME OF
THE POLLING PLACES

Today being the first opportunity 70
Delaware women To register, so that they
can vote at the election on November 2
many are taking advantage of the OPP
portunty to do so. The registration
places in the city opened at s clock this
morning. and at some women were waiting
for the doors 10 open.
In some of the heavy Negro districts
colored women are among the early
callers, most of them evidently having
been urged to be on hand rs soon as
possible so as 10 avoid the expected rush
later.
In the case Of most Of the white women
II seemed as If they called at the reglstra-
tion places on their way TO market, for
many had their market baskets and
seemed in a hurry 10 do what had to be
done and get away. Many seemed TO
have been drilled as 10 the method of
proc edure, and In all such cases the regis
fraiion officers had little difficulty In dis
posing of them. Where ignorance was
shown, however, matters were different.
At many Of the registration places the
officers had their hands fun.
At noon recess was taken until i
o'clock The registration places will be
opened until Z o'clock this evening, stand
ard time. Those who are not registered
by that time will have one more opportu-
ity on Saturday, October l6.
APATHY IN HEAVY NEGRO DISTRICTS.
The fact that the registration Of Ne
gro women in the heavy Negro districts
was noticcably light during the morning
could not be accounted for. OF course,
many were at work and count on regis
tcring during the afternoon, but there
are many who have better opportunities
than white women To take the time, who
held off this morning. In the eastern
and of the Seventh ward, where there is a
large Negro population, a tour of the regis
tration places was made between | and
IL O'Clock, and the result was as follows;
First district, 9O7 Orange street, Is
white women and two white men had
registered up to III o'clock. There were
no Negro registrations there up to that
time.
WRITE WOMEN MORE EAGER.
Early indications today were that white
women were more eager than colored wo-
men To register, especially in Wilmington.
While many had registered up Ia noon a
very large proportion were white, even IN
the heavy Negro districts. Registration
officers reported that the work was pro-
fsNNiUI WIFI IttfnfNt titit tufN GNBNultN
hcing 10 familiarixe themselves with
womcn's first names, which they have not
been accustomed 10 writing
Reporters Of Every Evening visited q
large number of registration places during
the morning. At none was there con-
rcstion or confusion, though at most of
the places the officers were busy. Where
everything worked smoothly about one
minute was required 10 register 81 voter
man or woman. OF course, where there
were foreigners who did not understand
the language. or ignorant persons, more
time WAS required and there was confu-
SION Following are the observations of
the reporters who visited registration
districts all over the city this morning:
RESUME or MORNING RERIsTRATroN.
Registration IN the First and Third
wards WAS light. IL is generally the case
that several times as many persons come
20 the polling places In the afternoon as
IN the mornings and this was looked Tor
there.
In the First district Of the Third ward.
GA West Second street, there were 04
registrants before 90 o'clock, eight of
these being white women, and SIX colored
women. Women IN. general seem TO be
coming TO the polling places faster than
the men, basIng a comparison upon the
first day for men registrants, officials in |
charge Of the polls declare
At the Third district of the Third ward, /
220 jefferson street, half dozen women |
were waiting for the registration booth /
60 open at clock this morning. Sixteen
W omen were registered here at an early 4
hour in the morning, fifteen OF them being l
white.
Registrars in the third district of the (
first ward at 404 West Second street. /
numbered seven, including one colored
woman.
Seventeen had registered at the second /
district OF the First ward, Third and Orange
streets, at ii O'Clock. Ten of this number
were women and seven men 1t was stated
nj this polling place that the number of
colored women registered could not be
made public" This is a Negro district.
The total at the first district of the First
Ward, POS West Fourth street, numbered
less than 20 persons. The number of
rolored women registered here would not
be divulged.
The work of registering women has
ihus far proceeded with difficulties.
In stating their ages. the women general
" say they are over 2l, and in reply
10 the question regardin glength OF resi-
ience, say they have lived in Wilmington
Continued on page IL