Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-10-28
RETURNS.

Following its usual custom, The Herald will
present to its readers at the earliest possible mo-
ment full and accurate returns from today's cleo
ton. With representative papers in the larger cit
les of the state, it has arranged for a system of col
lection and compilation Of the returns which, it is
believed, will be more thorough and prove more
satisfactory than anything yet attempted.
In the handling Of election returns The Herald
follows but one rule. That rule is to present to its
readers the ascertaired facts as those facts are
a~~a1lablc, and to keep entirely separate those facts
and whatever estimates may be made with them
as a basis.
Arrangements have been made for the for
Warding Of the returns from each county b select
ed assembling points as fast as reports are made
by the precinct officers, and for the further assem-
bling OF these figures at one central point and their
subsequent distribution, In this work the volunteer
work Of the county auditors will, as in the past, be
o1 the greatest value. With scarcely any exceptions
the county auditors OF the state have in years past
co-operated sp!endid]y with the newspapers in the
handling Of election returns. They have realized
that in doing this they are performing a public ser
vice, and they have given that service freely and
gladly.
Election returns on election night are neces-
sarlly fragmcratary and incomplete. This condition
is more pronounced since the law requiring that the
polls be kept open until 9 O'Clock went into effect.
With the polls closing at 5 it was possible, when
conditions We're favorable, to get a very fair resume
Of the result by midnight. Now, with the count
not beginning until after 8, it is possible to obtain
figures from only a small fraction Of the precincts
on election night.
While this condition operates against early
returns, the count ia this election should be com
Pleted very quickly, because Of the ~stottncss Of the
ballot. There are but three Offices to be filled, and
only six candidates in all to be voted for. The ballot
on the laws IS Of rather imposing appearance, but
the count will merely be that Of a yes or no vote
On nine propositions: This is vastly different from
the array Of ballots, big and little, at a general cleo
ton. with the LITTLE army OF candidates to be voted
for.
On Saturday morning The Herald will give ali
the votes of which it has been possible to obtain 4
record up to the time Of going to press. Those car
" tlg1res. viii Of them selves mean nothing. But,
read in respect to the localities where those partic-
u!ar votes have been cast, compared with votes cast
IN the same localities in 4 former election, and ia
ken into consideration with the probabilities i1
districts which have not yet reported, they serve
as a basis for estimates which will vary with the
Information and the te1nperameat Of the estimator
Making election estimates is a sport in which any
one can engage, and it is rather fascinating while
lt~lasts. But readers Of The Herald may rely on
the tact that what it presents as election returns
are the record Of votes actually cast and counted.
and not the estimates OF ANYBODY.