Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1874-03-11
THE PHILADELPHIA ELECTION.

But few persons in the rural por-
tions of the State are aware of the
gross frauds practiced in Philadelphia
for number of years past. For the
purpose of giving an inside view OF
this great and growing evil, we pub
lish the report of committee of citi-
zens who were appointed to look up
the Irregularities at the recent elec-
tion in that city for Mayor. We hope
all will read this report, which is
made by Republicans who favor fair
elections. IL is not Democratic clap
trap, but the truth, told by loyal men
In the investigation of the frauds
which carried the late election against
the people the committee has conduct.
ed its inquiry on three important
premises, viz: That the Ring would
naturally, so far as possible, repeat
the successful frauds, In kind, of pre-
vious years; that it would choose fa-
miliar scenes for its operations, and
that tho management would be en-
trusted TO veterans.
The modes Of procedure under the
"Ring' have been essentially of two
kinds-the accomplishment of fraud
outside the polls and the vitiating OF
returns within them. The latter has,
however, always been the main reli-
ance Of the managers, because it was in
the first place, easy of consnmmation
Under the old constitution it tool.
place by the direct supervision of the
"Ring" and in the manner disclosed
by the events OF December 10th at the
Mayors Office. The hourly count
facilitated the scheme TO a great ex-
tent. Take the Hartranft election as
an example. Upon that occasion the
most notorious politicians of the party
were gathered at tho Mayors Office,
and the sbrcwdest of their numb bor, q
man who is directly implicated in the
last manipulation of received
the division returns as they came from
the telegraph operator below, aver
aged them according TO a well.defned
scheme, and furnished them to the
public. At the close of that day tho
majority figured up by the manipula-
tors fell short of that upon which the
"Ring" had laid its wagers, and tho
same olear-headed politicion during
the succeeding night reviewed the re-
turns Of each division, determined the
necessary vote for each one, and in
structed the officers accordingly, so
that upon the meeting of the Return
Judges the desired majority was re-
turned. Tho alteration of that day
and night amounted to moro than ten
thousand votes.
In this case, Of course, the manipu-
lation did not touch the ballot boxes
themselves, but concerned merely the
"Ring" judges in whose hands were
the tally lists, hence the alteration was
made with perfect safety. Last Octo-
Der the same operation was gone
through with, not because it was nee.
essary to tho election of the "Ring''
ticket, but in order TO return inspiring
majorities and parade an unreal
strength of party. And again in De-
ccmber similar"gag' was attempted,
but abandoned when it was discovered
that no falsifying of the vote in this
city would change the result In The
State.
On the opening of the late campaign
dating from the nomination of Sena-
tor Mcclure at horticultural Hall
the chiefs Of the "Ring" were fearful
that, under the new constitution, thoy
would have TO depend for their ma
jority entirely upon the unanimity
with which tho Republicans of Phila-
delpbia--confessedly Republican city
--polled their vote for the regular
candidates, and it soon became appar-
ent, from the enthusiasm which Sena-
tor McClure's candidacy awakened,
that this support would be insufficient.
The necessity increased with every
hour of the canvass, but IL quickcned
the fertile invention Of the managers
to an important purpose. Before the
second week OF the canvass had passed,
tho scheme was perfected, the details
arranged, and the managers appointed
by which the result Of the election was
made n certainty. The vote to be
! polled--which the assessment indica-
ted would not be more than D5 O0O---