The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1869-10-21
Election Frauds In E.hiIn ndeIphIa.

4
The following is from the Philadelphia
Erening Telegraph. radical journal:
THE Row AT THE MEETING OF RETURN
JGDGEs.-The scene at the meeting of the
return judges yesterday was exceedingly dis
graceful. Desperate Philadelphia politicians
have unfortunately acquired reputation for
doctoring up returns which is only too well
deserved. Not satisfied with cheering at the
polls and manipulating the first count oc
votes, they sometimes resort to the still more
Infamous device of distUrting or falsifying
what should be deemed sacred record of
public opinion. The rascals Of this stripe
are not all confined to the democratic party.
for some skilful adopts cling to the skirts of
the republican organization, and they are
ready, when occasion requires, for achieve
ments in political arithmetic which would
even add new laurels to the famous statist
clan of the New York World. 1t is alleged
that yesterday two such frauds were perpe-
trated, enc affecting the result in the Thir-
teenth Legislative District, and electing a
republican instead of democrat by forged
return, and the other electing Watt. a re-
publican Senator, instead of Diamond, a
democrat, by false or imperfect statement
of the votes cast in the Senatorial district
the records cannot be too severely punished.
Their crime should be made penitentiary
offense. Instead of being petted and reward
ed by leading partisans for their wickedness.
they should be not only forever disfranchised
but treated as the lowest and most danger
Gus class of villains. The democrats were
naturally indignant at the rumors of the
attempted frauds, and properly appealed to
the court of common pleas TO prevent their
cOnsummation.
Judge Allison promptly issued writ sus-
pending proceedings until the whole matter
could be iuGiciously investigated. The depu-
ty sheriff who served the writ, however,
acted more in the spirit of partisan than
an emissary of the law. He obtained his
first entrance to the room in which the re-
turn judges were in session under circum-
stances well calculated to inspire doubt of
the genuine character of his writ The
door r-keepers allege that he falsely claimed
to be a return judge. and. once there, the
reporters allege that he trumphanty ex-
claimed that he had writ from the Supreme
Court, which was not then in session. The
conclusion was hastily drawn from this mis-
statement that he had no business in the
room, and he was summarily elected under
the belief that he was an unauthorized in
truder. Reinforced by new order from the
court and by the aid of host of stalwart
policemen, he returned to the charge. effect
ed a forcible entrance, and the policemen not
only arrested the door-keepers who had per-
formed what they believed to be their duty,
but shamefully maltreated one of the most
unoffenGiDg of reporters. The whole diff
Guilty arose from the indiscreet manner in
which the first attempt to serve the writ of
the court was made; and tie evil results of
this blunder were intensified by the super
serviceable zeal of the policemen in assault
ing men who were, of all present, most in
nocent of wrong-doing of any description.
subsequently the disputed points were con>
sidered by the court. and its directions were
followed, but as various questions were raised
which can only be legitmately decided by
the legislature, the certificates of election
were given TO the parties who would have
received them i no appeal 20 a judicial tri-
bunal had been made, aud il remains for the
State Senate to dispose of the claims of Watt
and Diamond. with the former as the sitting
member and for the Assembly to decide be-
tween GeSz, Mullen and Forsythe, with the
former as the holder of the certificate Of cleo
tion. We trust that exact justice will lie
done at Harrisburg, without partisan predi-
lections, as the the republicans of Philadel-
phia will lose infinitely more than they will
gain by endorsing official pretensions based
on fraud, and Just decision should be
promptly made.
The whole transastion brings into promi-
renee the readiness of a certain class of des-
perate partisans TO peril their salvation for
feeting ard despicable triumph while it dis
plays wonderfully inefficient and rude
method of enforcing the law by deputy
sheriff and the policemen. 1t is evident
that among the many other things needed
10 improve the municipal government, SUI
perior method of punishment of manipula-
tors of election returns should be devised;
that the necessity of having police force
free from partisan influences constantly in
creases and that it would be well if the
wIits of the courts affecting election returns
could be served by officers appointed by the
judges, instead of partisan sherifs.