The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-11-07

Scratching of Ballots
is General

Indications point to the fact that
light vote will be cast in Richmond
Tuesday. During the first six hours
of the balloting only little more than
of the registered vote in
% of the 81 city precincts had been
cast. The registered vote in these
precincts, including nearly all east OF
the river, numbers S.525. Reports re-
ceiVed from these same precincts be-
tween IL o'clock Tuesday morning and
in the afternoon showed that only a
little more than $500 ballots had been
cast.
Scattered reports from precincts in
the county outside of Richmond indi-
cate that the county vote will more
nearly approximate normal than the
Richmond vote. Clear, brisk weather
was factor in bringing out an early
country vote.
Men Vote in the Morning.
In the large majority of the city
precincts more men voted in the fore
noon than women. This is accounted
for because most women devote the
Political workers believe there will
be brisk balloting on the part of the
women throughout the afternoon.
In several city precincts so few
votes were cast during the forenoon
that it would be impossible to cast the
entire vote during the afternoon
should every belated voter decide to
exercise his right of citizenship, be-
cause these polls are equipped to pro-
vide for an average of only 80 votes
per hour
At practically every voting place ey-
perienced election officials reported
that there was much scratching of
ballots, which conclusion they reached
by the length of time the voters spent
over their ballots in the booths.
IF it takes us as long to count the
vote as it does for the average voter
to prepare his ballot it will be long
time after the polls close before the
results of the various contests will be
known remarked veteran politician
working at an East End polling place.
The forenoon balloting in the city
was without particular incident. At
North End polling place election of
ficials engaged in such a lively dis
pute over the recent railroad strike
that a woman notified Sheriff Wad.
man. He pacified the dsputants with
a warning.
Early Vote Light
| In the 25th precinct, where the poll.
ing place is located on North G street.
between Thirteenth and Fourteenth
streets, the residents of which are
mostly foreign-born or colored, only Al
of the $50 registered voters had cast
| their ballots up to noon. AS a rule,
however, the vote in that precinct
comes in late.
The voting in West Richmond up to
l o'clock in the afternoon was some
what heavier than recorded east of
the river In the 31st precinct third
of the vote was in; in the 32nd pre-
cinct, about half the vote; in the 33r'1
precinct, over a half of the vote; in
| the Gath precinct, over half the vote.
and in the 35th precinct, little less
| than a third of the vote.
Four townships have reported that
/ the election is one of the most spirited
ones held in many years, princfpall.'
due to contests over the offices oi
township trustee. The townships in
question are Washington, Jackson
Webster and Perry. The trustee
/ fights in Washington and Webster
townships are particularly strenuous
ones and will result in bringing out
a full vote.
Try to Get Out Vote.
It was not long after the polls in
the city opened before Republican and
Democratic organization leaders real
/ lied that it was going TO take hard
work on their part to get out their
vote. Each organization modified a
fleet of automobiles in charge of party
workers and these cars will be kept
busy hauling indifferent voters to and
from the voting places until the polls
close.
At each organization headquarter:
il was not difficult to discern that the
4 attitude of the voters had experienced
political workers mystified. While re
ports were coming into Republican
headquarters that many Republicans
were scratching similar reports con
cerning Democratic voters were beinf
received at Democratic headquarters
So party managers were wearing wor
ried looks and confidentially informing
each other that this was the first elec
ton in their experience where it haC
been impossible to get correct line
On the trend of the balloting six hour:
after the polls opened.
Predict G. o. p. Victory
Republican leaders still stuck II
their prediction predictions that tn,
, county tickets would be elected b,
: substantial majorities, while Demo
| cratic managers were still firm in thei
belief that the normally strong Repub
: lican majority might be overturned il
favor of Ralston, for senator, and 70
I. Clifton, candidate for Representative,
: in congress. They were more conf
: dent. however, in the success OF Ger
/ tain Democratic candidates for count,
offices
At 2 o'clock Tuesday afternoon vet
eran Republican and Democratic lead
| ers were of the opinion that not NOR
/ than SO per cent of the registers
vote would be cast
| Early in the afternoon the 9th pre-
cinct, at Middleboro, reported that 5
| of 110 registered voters had voted, tn
I lf.-.- s-..s sA.~ - 4.