Evening star., 1938-04-30
THOUSANDSCAST
SUFFRAGE VOTES;
POLLS CLOSE AT 9
Turnout Is So Heavy Order
for Additional Ballots
Is Sent to Printer.
RESULTS TO BE KNOWN
AT MIDNIGHT OR LATER
First Election Day Since 1874
Lures Young and Old-Extra
Officials Required.

Early reports from most of the SO
precincts throughout the voteless
District Of Columbia pointed to the
rolling up by nightfall of a heavy
vote in today's unofficial referendum
on the question of suffrage for Wash
ington
As thousands Of men and women
from all walks of life marched to the
polls beneath favorable skies. urgent
appeals went out to plebiscite head
quarters, in the Denrike Building, fol-
more ballots to meet unexpected
demands.
The supply Of ballots was exhausted
quickly, for example, at the Grant
School, Twenty-first and G streets
NV. headquarters of the twenty
fourth precinct, and shortly after the
polls opened at am. precinct Off
cials sent a hurry call to headquarters
for an extra allotment.
More Ballots Printed.
So far beyond expectations was
the turnout of vote-hungry citizens
In all parts of the city that election
authorities before noon dispatched
orders to a printer for more ballots
and presses began humming to take
care of the emergency.
A particularly heavy vote was being
polled In the Northeast section of
Washington. according to reports
reaching headquarters early this after
noon.
Fleets Of automobiles and troops of
Boy Scouts aided in marshaling the
voters In the various precincts.
William H. Mondell, chairman Of
the Election Committee, after a per-
sonal survey of many precincts and
after receiving reports from others
throughout the city, announced just
before noon that the size of the vote
necessitated a reinforcement of the
election machinery.
More Election Officials.
Not only has the printer been or
dered to run off large supply of ad-
ditional ballots, but plans were being
made to place more election officials
at the polls, he said.
Reports from the various precincts
show, Mr.. Mondell said. that they
were averaging around 200 votes each
during the first hour or hour and q
half In most elections throughout
the country the early hours turn in
. light vote, he said.
I'VE are more than gratified," de-
clared Mr. Mondell. I'VE are over
whelned with the early trend. When
the Government Offices close at pm,
1t looks like the election machinery
may be swamped. I am now on a
hunt for volunteer workers to REIN
force the polling personnel during the
afternoon and evening.
The polls will remain open for IL
hours. For the benefit of those who
must work all day we are keeping
them open until 9 o'clock tonight.
After dinner we are looking for a tre-
mendous VOTE
Policemen Ordered to Aid.
Inspector Edwards of the Police De-
partment shortly before noon reported
to Chairman Mondell he had notified
all precinct policemen to give particu-
lar attention to school houses where
the voting is taking place They have
been ordered to watch the situation
and look out for and help control all
crowds which may gather.
Three organizations were assisting
voters at the Shepherd School. Four
teenth and Kalmia streets NV. CEN
ter OF the f1fty-third precinct. They
were the Boy Scouts, the Parent
Teacher Association and the Citizens
Association. Mrs. R. D. Rands. chair
man OF the precinct, said $50 votes
mad been cast in the first several
hours, but that much heavier turn
out OF voters was expected this after
noon.
At the Bunker Hill School. Varnum
street and South Dakota avenue NE.
the thirty-thi precinct-Boy Scout
Preston Smith stood in the middle of
South Dakota avenue ringing a school
bell and shouting vote here" On
each side of the corners of the inter-
section outside the school boys carried
signs bearing the advice, "Vote Just
Ahead"
Recalls 1874 Bonfire.
Charles H. Keller, rs, of 4313 Thir-
teenth street NE. said as he cast his
vote. that he remembered the big bon
nres OF 1874. when the city turned out
to elect Alexander Shepherd as Gov
(see SUFFRAGE, Page A-3.)
aEh q DsI nS