Southern Illinois Record

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The Southern Ilunois Record
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VOLUME V.
FLORA, ILLINOIS, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9,  1916
NUMBER 7
Both Parties
Claim Victory
BUT LOOKS LIKE
WILSON NOW
BIGGEST    ELECTION   EVER   HELD
Ladies   Cast  Their  First  Ballot
for President of U. S. and
Poll Big Vote
The presidential election held Tues¬ tiay was the biggest ever held In the rnlted States, as It was the tlrst time In history that women were allowed to cast their ballot for president. The weather man was good and gave us an Ideal day for the occasion which was the means of bringing out the large.st vote ever polled in the country. The ladies were out bright and early to cast their initial ballot for the chief executive. The event was bigger than a circus day In Flora, as the streets were thronged with people from early morning until late at night. Returns of the election for the Demo¬ crats were taken at the Casino theatre while the Republicans received theirs at the old Kratxi Hall.
Reports Tuesday nlgbt were rather conflicting, each party, however, being sure of victory. Such was the case all night and It looked like the wires must have been tangled. Kut early yesterday morning the reports were more authentic and showed that Wilson was gaining ground. Later returns in the day gave President Wilson "2.12 electoral voles with 8" in doubtful list. There being a steady trend toward Wilson all through the
west.
As we go to press the St. Louis Re¬ public contains the following:
"At an early hour this morning Woodrow Wilson was virtually con¬ ceded 254 votes In the electoral col¬ lege, or 12 short of the necessary •2(5(1. Ilughes was credited with '2.'14, with 43 In doubt.
Minnesota—A Wilson lead of 6,(X)0 was cut during the day to less than 400. This was due to returns from rural Republican districts. At mid¬ night Wilson had increased that lead to N12 with 627 precincts out of .1,024 to hear from.
California- A Hughes lead melted away In tbe early evening and de¬ veloped Into a plurality of approxi¬ mately 1,500. Democratic leaders predict the President would carry the State by from 10,000 to 15,000
North Dakota—The two candidates are running neck and neck. With two-thirds of the precincts In, Hughes has a lead of 1,081).
Oregon -The five electoral votes of Oregon were claimed by both jiartics. with returns meager.
West Virginia—Wltli less than rm precincts misslngout of 1,7U Hughes led by hut 1,96';. Senator Chilton. Democrat, declared the State was safe for Wilson.
Close observers, watching the drift of the returns, believed that Minne¬ sota and Wisconsin would be linal battlegrounds. In the former the drift seems to be to Hughes: In the latter to Wilson. The vote of either State would elect Wilson.
Frank Lowden is eleoted governor of Illinois, tbe Republicans claiming for him a majority of 100,000. Hon. Thomas Williams, of Louisville, was re-elected to congress by tjie Republi¬ cans by a good majority, thus defeat¬ ing Louis W, G