New-York tribune., 1872-04-02

CLAN-OUTRAGEOUS ELECTION FRAUDS.
IrBoM THB REGULAB CORRESPONDENT oP ThR TRIBrNBl
HARRISBURG, April 1.--When, in November,
is7 the Speaker of tho Senate issued warrant for an
election fill vacancy in the WITH District, many lead
Ing citizens OF that district united in letter to Col A. n
Mcclure requesting him TO be the Republican candidate
While the matter before Col Mcclure. strong
pressure brought to bear upon certain OF
tho sgners who subject 10 influence from
Washington, and these asked TO have their names
withdrawn from The letter. Understanding very
we'll that his known hostility TO tho Cameron in
terest tho occasion OF this backward movement and
apprehcndinc contest that might niure the party Col
Mcclure put the letter into the fire and considered that
end OF the matter But many Of his friends were
solved different conclusion. and determined he
should be nominated. either in the party out of It,
He also waited upon by the leaders Of the Reform
movement. but declined a nomination from them. The
result was. however that he beoaIuc independent
candidate pledged to party policy except Reform
In to inquiries made by the press, he published
letter which be called the platform OF the campaign
the character OF which indicated by the following ex
tracts:
cannot controvert the statement that
the people OF the " Il District overwhelmingly in
Thus far believe they have given no expression OF their
choice. II were called upon to represent them In
wishes or return tie trust to them but as an humble
tn Se apprdva ef Of e%en so psro,a and enlightened
constituency the people OF the WITH District III not
me ridiculous as Senatorial candidate. inerpose
difficulties in the way" then am not eligible.
The Republican party mas been III power IN the nation,
State. and city tor many years. We had faithoss,
ocrstic Executive. but the practical power OF the
Government has been uninterruptedly , Republ-
6n oGse Why IS the STy cr
Rcform not siencedi IT comes mp 10 Congress from
taxation. from pcculation and defacahon and from
swarms OF useless onicchOders. whose chief employ
ment seems to be instrucng the party as TO VINO ~
accept for every place OF trust or profit ro treS
a parties in Ito state ana demands fundamental lin
itations the only source Of public safety
l. will come through the Republican pSr ss
cease TO be a virtue.
On the publication of this letter. the contest which Col
Mcclure had foreseen began in earnest. The wnoie
power Of the Cameron faction, backed by National ana
state patronage was turned against him. and from that
mohcni until now neither any nor any means have
been too high or too low TO lie used for his defeat.
Though not formally their candidate it was understood
early in the campaign that tho Reform party would
support Col. Mcclure, and that support added
10 his known strength III Inc
district his election. 1t was then determnedby
the mysterious authority that decides such questions
that Gray should be returned by fraud and necessary
by force 1t due Col Gray to say 1t appears In evil
dence that these designs were set on foot aud executed
without his knowledge or counteDance, and that the
sO which he contributed went to pay legitimate cleo
tion expenses.
Fraud and force were both required election day,
and being freely used successful Gray being re-
turned by small majority But the necessary violation
of all law and iecency too garng to be tolerated
contesting petition Immediately went to the Legis-
Iature signed by the best citizens OF the district COL
Mcclure himself, certain Of his lawful election
and determined not to succumD 10 such an
outrage with the advice and consent Of his
friends. took the management OF the contest into
his own hands Rightly Judging where the fight must be
made he Harrisburg. and, in spite OF all me
mcron ring could do prevent it, he secured fair
committee in the seuate; committee posspH nenned I
the sitting member nut honorable ana
men From hour the Cameronian powers deserted
MIR Gray and abandoned the contest Ii Is sald tat Mr
evidence should be takon but So he declined the soil
The Investigation held at the Washington Hotel in
PHILADELPHIA and occupied Just one h9nn T ron an
hst showed how money was procured % uH & SHP9s,Rs SaR
the ou,rhgeons system W1s W WSre T called ron the
Mayors ofcc the Controllers Office, the Fire Depart
nent si1cris Cficc and indeed, nearly every branch
OF tho City Government; every one telling the same
story from the policeman with his dollar 10 MS dOnOr
viii The unknown which he refused TO name.
Iat not S rSSTeG host % Of Witnesses Established
The police especially made off, AS officers they
three instances without pretext.and dechne @ & TO
arrest roundr 2ter ana dotis uuef ece any c o
personstc voters to vouc for repeaters and N four IN
stances to repeat themselves The conduct OF the ponce
on election day is shown 10y than 90 witnesses.
The other departments OF the City Government also
oGrers personaor and repeaters. Mr.. Street Commis
enuer EtfenhOusc leads and inStruct gang OF repeat
ers: Mr Robert Ttemary. OF the AUDITORS DeBartment,
qvs repeacis: Mir. Fields OF the Registers ONCE votes
In tho name of Wm Perch; and dozens OF other frauds
OF the same character are proVen-in'oi'lng nearly
In tbiswo TOO the Navy-Yard. Custom-house, and
Post-OHoe are called upon to assist: Mr. Didier from
No. acts as Judge OF election and carries off
The box 10 party headquarters The Customhouse sup
es pS Rang Icing specially active The PosOnce
c"nyiItes Mr. Geisse, who acts inspector and slips
in votes GRAY ao MI L brand a%d TU scs as DH
TO bo In the votes agran Isise e0unng bTrhs
clearly proved in fifteen different voting DISTRICTS Inc
brctr and extent Of these iniquities is illustrated by
the following extracts from inc report VI 'ne 'oD'
"EfGHrH DIVISION OF THE NIsETEENTH WARD
(speci1catiOn s.)-Return, Gray H5 McSufe ~ STAT STAT
tcrine a The evidence relating TO this division com
, nroves the fasehood the return, and an inten-
tonai fraud by the officers wno inade IT. IN she foioS
compared With the hourly returns makes UP inc i0no"
' Mcclure Returned Heclur' Io's' Ret111sd
iSsSei - 5SSlSGE X election officers
voted for Mcclure the window inspector and hls
clerk return Inspector II VIII Dc Opseivea taar a
Mcclure SO that the majority election officers cheated
their own colleagues out OF their votes US wei as OUT
eide aide GSens sone from Snu the score Of Col Mcclure to
the score Of Col Gray fraudulent change change
Of esS by ns PSy and the Of
repeaers by another witness named Raierty. Henry
ton ia violation OF law proved TO have handled
the ticketbox enptied the tickets for the o'clock
count The DrnDer o. @ 9 pNSYe W omnston ~
the hourly returns witt the voting iists u Is demon,
strated that than 20 0I ther NOes were returned
for Col Gray The retur! OF TINS DIVISION
"Tho presence of repe aters outside is proved Police
man Arnold among and at the close OF the poll Elk
or eight repeaers cr-le up Finally there is also eY-
dence Of intimidation at the polls and that Mcclure ~
poyanoe the Judge and that persons not registered
voters were not relued ~ p1ouuee % 90 ~ ne @