The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1869-10-01
Guard the Ballot BOX!

ONafO tAe bdlAOI bOAt
1t is the duty of every good citizen to see
that there is an honest vote at the election
held two weeks from to-day. The result
announced should represent the fair and
honest expression of the political opinions
of the lawful voters of Ohio. Heretofore
there have been fraudulent voting, fraudu-
lent counting of the vote, and false and
fraudulent return of the vote in many voting
precints. Let US take one case for illustra-
tion. At the Spring election of 1868, in
one of the townships of Belmont county, the
Democratic Judges of election so manipulated
the vote in countiog it out, that they eerti-
fed that a majority of the votes were cast
for Democratic candidates and that these
candidates were duly elected But enough
was known to justify the the belief that the
Union candidates. including the Township
Trustees, were 10 point of fact elected by
the ballots cast. Proceedings were Accord
ingly entered in the District Court sitting
in Belmont county, aud that Court unsnim-
ously decided, alter hearing all the evidence
in the case, that the Republican candidates
were duly elected, there having been a
fraudulent count and false return by the
Judges of election. The New York City
plan of counting votes was adopted, as it ap-
peared from the evidence. a Republican
ticket was taken up by judge and then the
names of the Democratic candidates read off
in the same way aa if it were Democratic
ticket. This case is sufficient to show. that
there is scarcely limit to the frauds that
may he committed where Democratic Judges
are allowed unrestricted control of all that
pertains to the deposit aud counting of votes.
One section of the general election laws
now in force reads as follows.
The Judges of the election shall, if re.
quested, permit the respective candidates,
or one or more, not exceeding three of their
friends, to be present in the room where the
judges are, during the time OF receiving and
counting out the ballots gs.p Il,
We now ard here desire to call the par
ticular attention of Republicans throughout
the State to this most important duty
namely, the duty Of haGing Republican can
diddt0s or one or moro political friends of
those candidates present at eUeyu 1,otipg
precinct IN Ohio, from tie time that the first
ballot is deposited unth the ti- j.; - 80,
Uote is counted o,a Under the law which
we have cited each candidate, whether on
the State or County ticket, has the right to
be present in person, or to be represented by
three of his political friends, within the
room where the judges of election are seated.
Where written prexy has been given to
another by candidate who cannot be pres
ent in person, it is not within the power of
any judges to exclude these friends of cam
dldates from the room where the ballot box
is kept, or prevent them from scrutinizing
everything that is done by them. Now, It
IS but The cOmmonest and 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 DEM
Ocratic judges TO preserve the purity of the
ballot box indicates ignorance Of the prin-
ciples of the managers of that party that is
stupid and deplorable. More than i've
hundred fraudulent votes were cast at the
October election last year in Columbus,
through the cOntrivauce and with the as
sistanee of Democratic judges of election.
The returns in three or the wards were
notOriously false and fraudulent. No Repub-
ican was present at the counting of the
votes in three of the wards. If this thing
occurs again, the Republicans of Franklin
county may be set down as pre- eminent in
stupidity over all their party in Ohio. But
it viii not occur again, Once more We say,