Year: 1876

To vote or not to vote, that's the ques-
tion, and this question is being decided
in the affirmative to-day "by a large
majority" 1t is doubtful whether in
the whole history of the Queen City
there was more interest taken in an
election than the one that is passing of
quietly at this time.


The large amount Of electioneering
stump speaking and grand rallies has
had the desired effect, and the interest
and enthusiasm of both parties has cul-
minated in the biggest vote that has
been polIed tor years.


The voters have all been impressed
with the duty they owe to their country
and themselves, to walk up to the ballot
box and deposit their ticket, and so
this beautiful Indian summer day, with
the balmy air and warm sun lending
their influence to bring them out, no one
seems to be able 10 withstand the
pressure, and they roll up bV battalions.
A noticeable circumstance around the
polls visited by the STAR reporters is
the quiet which prevails. The authori-
ties, well knowing the heat of the CAM
paign. have been fearful that rows and
disorder would prevail; but in this they
have been mistaken.


10 guard against the expected un-
pleas santness, The police are distributed
thickly in every ward and precinct; but
their position is a sinecure in most
places, as there has been, with few ex-
ceptions, nothing Tor them to do. Again
one can not help but notice the respect
able element that to-day seem TO be
determined that the gathering at the
polls shall not be made up exclusively
OF the hummer element, so they put in
their vote, and, instead of retiring from
the scene, they stand around discussing
the situation and manifest healthy i'll
terest in the business that is refreshing.
This is true of both parties.


The tales which the morning papers,
both Republican and Democratic, had to
scare the public with i'll reference to the
repeaters, plug-uglies and sh0ulder-hit-
ters, which they said had swarmed Into
the city to get in their work for bDth or
ganizations must have frightened them
away, as none of them up 10 the present
writing have been heard from.


1t is morally impossible to give the
reader any indications as to how the re-
suit will turn out, for as matter Of
course, each side is claiming the victory,
and each reporting large gains on their
respective sides. And In view Of the
fact that in few hours, at the furthest,
the truth telling figures will give the
necessary and official returns, the best
way 1s TO possess your SOUPS impatience
and wait for the figures.


One popularity which deserves espe-
cial mention is the fact that an unprece-
dentedly heavy vote was polled this
morning. If the voters did not vote Oft
en-, they made good time In getting their
ballots deposited, and in some precincts
nearly the full vote was polled before
noon. This Is healthy symptom. and
of course each side claims that it is a
sure indication Of victory for them.


A STAR reporters observations, as he
circulated among some of the voting
places, is given below; and they viii
serve to show about how the day Is be-
ing observed all over the county. A
more earnest, determined election has
never been held than this one Of to-
day:


The only violence that has 80 far been
heard Of comes to US from the First Pre-
cinct of the Fourth Ward, where in a
heated discussion as to the relative
merits of the different candidates quite
o lively little breeze was inaugurated,
but which was quickly squelohed by the
vigilance of the police - who, let
1t be understood, are and have been
doing their duty the whole day. In the
melee which ensued, which was early
tais morning, DR.. VIM, s. Jones, of the
Gazette, candidate for County Coroner
on the Republican ticket, received
blow on the head from boWlder thrown
by some rufttan.


The Doctors new silk tile saved his
head from being njured-breaking the
force of the blow. He was not incapaci-
tated in the least from it, and was able
to labor with his accustomed earnest
ness the balance Of the day.


The first visit OF the reporter this NOR
ming was to the First Precinct OF the
Ninth Ward, where he was informed that
226 votes had been polled up to haifpast
8. Their whole vote will 20 a little less
than 800.


Az the Second Precinct of the & ght.
eenth Ward the colored element was out
In all its strength, as usual. BY 9 o'clock
three hundred ana fifty votes had been
cast. One Of the workers there informed
the rep3fter that he had been informed
that EX-Detective Jim White,
with posse of illegal voters,
were momentarily expected. This, the
reporter made bold to inform the terri
fed gentleman, was not likely to occur,





The First Precinct of the Sixteenth
Ward had been doing still better. Here
40 tickets had been cast by 10 minutes
past 9 O'clock.


Quite early this morning the action of
the Challenging Committee OF the First
Precinct of the Thirteenth Ward
had been so strenuous, and Com.
mitteemen manifesting disposition to
doubt almost everybody, that many
laboring men who had TO be at their
places Of work by 7 o'clock were
driven away, not wishing to waste
the time necessary to prove themselves
entitled 10 vote. Rather than lose
an hour they preferred to lose their
vote.


The Second Precinct of the Sixteenth |
Ward showed up greater number of
ballots cast at half-past O'Clock than |
ever was known there before-the num- |
ber being 4S0. An inquiry iu ref |
erence as to how General Banning was
holding his own, elected the reply that
he was doing as well as he did two
years ago, if not better. This is Demo.
cratic stronghold.


Here, as everywhere else, the Cha!-
lenglng Committee was doing its level |
best, and were even questioning the |
right of old Mr.. FOote to exer- |
else the privilege of an American