The Marlin Democrat
Marlin, Texas, Thursday, April 7, 1904

A BIG VOTE CONTEST
~~~~~
Late Returns Show Big Gains For
Public Library
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     The returns for the second week in the voting contest for the Merchant's Library shows a tremendous vote all along the line. This evidences that interest is advancing and that the desire for some favorite institution to possess this handsome collection of valuable books is growing.
     The feature of the week was the heavy voting done by the supporters of the Marlin Public Library. The campaign managers for this organization have evidently gotten busy. Nearly 16,000 votes were polled for their candidate during the week and as a result they have secured a good lead over the next highest candidate, the Marlin Public School Library. However, the latter doubled its vote during the week and its supporters have not lost interest by any means. The fact that they polled no more votes than they did is probably due to over confidence, seeing that they had secured such a good lead the first week. Now that they know something of the opposition they may be expected to do some sprinting on their own account. 
     No institution has an "immortal cinch" on the situation. The candidate that leads one week may follow the next.  Again, the nominations are not closed yet and a dark horse may give some candidate trouble before it is over. First of the week it was hinted that the W. C. T. U. was preparing to play this coup, but this supposition was dispelled when its supporters, ill this contest placed an announcement in the paper that the W. C. T. U. was an open, full fledged candidate, with all the rights and titles that go with the same.
     The vote of the present week may surprise a good many people. It is collection week and all who pay their accounts are entitled to one vote for each ten cents of the amount they pay to the merchants in the gift library contest. Pay your account and get your votes counted for your favorite.
     Any number of votes, from one up can nominate but after this issue all candidates having less than 100 votes will not be published more than one time. However, their votes will be counted along with the others at the close of the contest.
     Another feature of the past week's voting is the number of DEMOCRAT coupons voted. About 2000 votes were clipped and mailed to this office during the week. This indicates that the paper's readers are getting interested and will take a hand in the game. Parties will do well to remember that each coupon clipped and mailed to this office counts for two votes.

HOW THE VOTE STANDS.

The vote reported to this office stands as follows:

Public Library     17,377
Public School Library     8,988
Marlin M. E. Church     1,817
Marlin 1st Baptist church     716
Perry German M E church     620
County Teachers Library     497
Fire department     496
Hot Air Club     485
Marlin Colored school     365
Marlin Bap church (col)     351
Marlin A. M. E. church     333
Chilton school     321
W.O.W.     183
Lutheran church     175
Reagan Baptist church     132
Rosebud school     125
Mar. Presbyterian church     96
Grady school     88
Locust Grove school     65
Shields academy     59
Stranger school     53
Live Oak St. Bap. Church     49
Center S. S.     46
Viesca M. E. church.     35
Riesel school     35
W. C. T. U.     35
Catholic church     33
Christian church     30
Mooreville school     25
Ladies Social Club     23
Pilgrim Fathers     22
Reagan M. E. church     17
Perry school     15
German M. E. church     13
Guadalupe College     5
Business League     4
Center school     2                                                                                                                           

Copyright Permission granted to Theresa Carhart and her volunteers for printing by The Democrat, Marlin, Falls Co., Texas.