Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1869-10-02
Guard the Ballot Box?

1t is the duty of every good citizen to
see that there is an honest vote at the
election held two weeks hence.
The result announced should represent
the fair and honest expression of the po-
ltical opinions of the lawful voters OF
Ohio. Heretofore there have been fraud
uent voting, fraudulent counting of the
vote, and n false and fraudulent return of
the vote iii many voting precincts. Let
ms take one case for illustration. At the
Spring election of 1868, in one OF the
townships of Belmont county, the Demo
cratic Judges of election so MANIPULATED
the vote in counting it out, that they
certified that a majority of the votes
wero cast for the Democratic candidates
and that these candidates were duly
elected. But enough was known to JUS
tify the belief that the Union candidates,
including the Township Trustees, were
in point of fact elected by the ballots
cast. Proceedings were accordingly
entered in the District Court sitting in
Belmont county, and that Court unani.
mously decided, after hearing all the
evidence in the case, that tho Republican
candidates were duly elected, there hav-
ing been fraudulent count and false re-
turn by the judges of election. TIE
New York City plan of counting votes
was adopted, as it appeared from the
evidence A Republican ticket was
taken up by judge and then the names
of the Democratic candidates read of IN
the same way as il it were Democratic
ticket This case is sufficient to show
that there is scarcely a limit to the frauds
that may be committed where Democratic
judges are allowed unrestricted control
Of all that pertains to the deposit and
counting of votes.
One section of the general election
laws nav in force reads as follows:
The judges of the election shall, If requested,
permit the respective candidates, or one or
more, not exceeding three of their friends, to
during the TIME OF receiving and counting out
the ballots.
We now and here desire to call the
particular attention of Republicans
throughout the State to this most impor-
tant duty, namely, Tie duty of haUing
Republican cdHdie5dtes or one or more
political friends of those candidates pres.
eh at erery Uoting precinct in ohio,
from the time that tie first ballot is de.
posted, until the time that Me last cote is
counted om. Under the law which we
have cited each candidate, whether on
the State or County ticket, has the right
10 bo present in person, or TO be repre-
sented by tbne of his political friends,
within the room where the judges Of ele,
tion are seated Where written proxy
has been given to another by a candidate
who cannot be present in person, il is
not within the power Of any judges to
exclude these friends Of candidates from
the room " here the ballot box is kept, or
prevent them from scrutinising every
thing that is done by them. Now, it is
but the 0emmoncst aud most necessary
precaution against fraud to detail earnest
and fearless Republicans in every ward
and township for this duty of guarding
the ballot box, and watching closely the
counting Of every ballot. TO be willing
to trust Democratic judges to preserve
the purity of the ballet box, indicates
ignorance of the principles OF the man
ayers Of that party that is stupid and