New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-02-21
THE PBILADELPHIA ELECTION CARRIED
BY FRAUD.

PFpEATERs POLICEMEN, AND ELECTION OFFICERS
PREVENT AN HONEST ELECTIoN-THE RINGS
SCHEME EXPOSED By TIE CHAIRMAN OF TIE
CITIZENS, INVESTIGATING COMMITTEE.
Although many persons feared that the mu-
nlcpa Government of Philadelphia would DO reelected
by fraud there nevertheless great deal OF aston.
ishment among the people of that when they learned
tho result Of W. b. Hazleton, Chairman
of the Citizens investigating Committee. in letter 10
The rss says this astonsbment "bas yielded 70 gen.
era belief vctors majority sprang from fraud,
organized and carried out IN accordance With compre-
hensive plot perfected the eve Of the election He
says "evidence Of the existence of such scheme Is
10 DO found In the universally OF intimidation
repeating, false personang, bribery. and fraudulent
voting Of all descriptions" The Committee he says,
has collected sufficient facts 10 show not only the ex-
act course pursued the Ring to perpetuae s power
also TO prove indsputaby that Senator Mcclure IN
reality elected by ahandsome majority" For the pres
emit gMr Hazelton confines his disclosures general
statements, but promises that "the people Of Phadel
pha may rest assured that the boased triumph Of the
ofce-hoders will prove the dearest victory money
purchased He gives details OF several representative
cases Of fraudulent voting the principal points OF
which are given below: Large bodies OF repeaters
from NewYork Baltimore and other places, marshaled
by prominent local politicians, did their work efec-
lively in the First Tenth, Nineteenth and Twenty
sixth Wards In the First Ward they voted without op-
pOsitiOp.
heavily bribed and the police instructed TO cover their
operations. In one division OF the ward board Sae
nailed M at the polling as to efectuay con-
ceaI the voters from the scrutiny Of the minority
olcers and it kept IN place despite the earnest pro-
tests of the inspector and oversee In one instance the
window-book men, both OF them brbed put the votes
in themselves for the repeaers as often as they ap
peared.
At the Sixth Division OF the Tenth Ward the polls
der the efficient protection OF three policemen, more
than half the entire vote cast poled by repeators
The same state Of affairs existed In other divisions OF
the same ward careful estimate from the detectives
and the manner Of distribution indicates that nearly
600 votes were poed in this way. 10 one instance
man was dressed in full naval uniform at district
satonhouse and voted IN the name Of captain In the
navy who was out Of town. The minority
inspector, an intimate acquaintance and neighOor
~ the CAPTAIN challenged the voter, but was
oyerruled by the judges who allowed 1.-THE fraudulent
vote TO be cast The Issue OF fraudulent tax receipts
amounted Alto thousands, and nearly II not quite all
ed the purposes OF the Ring With scarcely an e1
ceptiOn the police force active duty c0operRted With
the and roundsmen, TO ntmdate vot0rs and
compel the option OF ballots openly acknowledged TO
be fraudulent many instances they not only refused
10 arrest gal at the call OF the Inside officers
but assaulted wndowbOok men and innocent by stand
ers The ruling of Judge Finetter that no policeman
unless engaged making arrest should stand nearer
In several cases those who challenged repeaers
arrested and brutay treated by the police Frauds in
side the polls II not quite Rlarng outside,
sadly conspicuous. Mr. Hszleton relates some instances
ia which election officers were guilty OF frauds, bat
enough has already been given TO show that the ng
has not yet forgotten Its old ways or neglected i op
portuultiea.