Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 57, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 March 1916 — SMALL PER CENT OF VOTE BEING CAST [ARTICLE]

SMALL PER CENT OF VOTE BEING CAST

Probable That Entire Vote Will Not Exceed 50 or 55 Per Cent of the Total—'Republicans Cast Moat. Up until 2:30 this Tuesday afternoon but approximately 40 per cent of the Marion township vote had been cast. This being the first primary ever held, the small vote cast is a big surprise. The Republicans had cast the most vote during the fore part of the day and it is probable that they will finish the day far in the lead of the other parties in total vote oast. The democrats came second and the progressives were trailing with but a very few votes cast. In Union township but thirty-five per cent of the vote had been cast at the same hour and it is probable that throughout the rural districts that from 35 to 40 per cent of the total vote would be a fair estimate of the vote cast for the day. The primary reason for the lack of interest shown is the fact that *are practically no contests in the county offices. Many of the voters were surprised upon being asked their politics when they went to the polls and refused to state than, leaving the polling stations without casting a vote. Another thing creating a great deal of surprise was the fact that they could not vote a mixed ticket. At 3 o'clock the East Barkley precinct reported but 44 votes cast out of a registration of 263.