The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1875-10-25
PHILADELPHIA REPEATERS
PREPARING ron COLOSSAL ELEC-
TION FRA UDS.
City In which Repeating has been Reduced
TO Systcm-How Geary was Elected In
1S60-A Talk with a loss RepeRter.


A City in which Repeating has been Reduced
to n systcm-How Geary was Elected In
1904 Talk with n Boss Repeater.
PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 2.-The Quaker
City has enjoyed for many years the unenviablc
reputation Of producing the adrotest repeaters,
the boldest ballot-box Suffers and the most skill
full lightning election return calculators in the
United States. Election frauds have been the
special study Of tho men who manage the Re-
publican party 10 this city, and they have per-
fected a system which has hitherto dened all
efforts to overthrow and destroy II. Prior to
the adoption OF the new Constitution in 1873,
various attempts were made by amending the
election laws to render the accomplishment Of
frauds Of every description more difficult and
dangerous; but all these legislative remedies
proved Ineffective.
One great object Of the Convention which
framed the Constitution OF 1873 was 10 incorpo-
rate In this instrument provisions which would
make repeating and all kindred frauds in cleo
tions exceedingly difficult. There MAORI
ty OF honest men In that distinguished body, and
all the efforts of the philadelphia city Ring, the
Treasury Ring, and the railroad corporations to
control 1t were unavailing. Failing to buy up
enough members OF the Convention, the next
| move was TO deceive a sufficient number into
voting for a provision requiring some sort OF
| was also unsuccessful.
THE HONEST MEN IN THE CONVENTION
| determined to adopt the only efTectual remedy
scoundreis, which was to divide the election dis
| triCts up until there would not be more than
| MY voters IN each precinct. The moment this
| proposition made IL excited the utmost
| conservation In tho Ring circles. They saw u
would indeed be preventive against fraud,
because in division where there were only hfty
| voters there must be one or two honest men
who would know every man in 1t. Where every
| least, II would Of course be impossible TO prac
tisc repeating, and moreover, tho lightning cal
were to be empow cred TO subdivlde the divisions
| on the petition OF two or more electors, who
| could bring satisfactory proof to establish the
| fact that tho number OF voters exceeded the
| prescribed atty. The only difficulty IN the way
| OF limiting the electors In each division to this
small number was the trouble there would be to
| obtain election oiiicerr. This objection was,
| however, magn1ed greatly, and so successfully
| employed that the Convention was induced to
fix the maximum number OF electors in pre-
the evidence upon which to determine the ac-
ton OF the courts, which were empowered to
act in the premises.
TINS determination Of tho actual number Of
voters in precinct to parole evidence to be sub.
In the present situation. Last fall the vote cast
In this city, was very small one, especially In
selected as the Geld Of operations for the re-
peatets. IL the registration shows an excess
over the vote Of last fall, no action can be tsken
to determine the actual number Of electors 10 u
given division, because the increase IL natural
| 80 the hllg faSCdS VIII declare. Inc only LDluR
that can be done, therefore, is TO take each d.
vision In the suspected localities and canvass
them. and thus secure the proof to satisfy the
court that such and such names on the registry
lists are not properly there. THIS Is slow work,
and moreover, even II all the fictitious names
are struck OF. II does not prevent colonization
nor euectually provide against repeaters, be-
cause there VIII stu be chances for them TO per-
senate bona nde citizens who delay voting till a
late hour, or who may be absent from the city.
GREAT FRAUDS CONTEMPLATED.
That the most gigantic frauds are contem-
plated by the Ring r9gues this fali Is beyond
with fictitious names In order 70 prepare the
way for rspeaters: One OF the Judges Of the :,
satisfy him that thousands of these names
should be stricken on. Nearly Ave thousand oil
thousand more will follow before the "a OF No
yemter. But this will probably not be one
half OF the bogus voters registered.
In order TO get clear and perfectly accurate
understanding OF the, repeating business as
practised in this city. called upon late Re-
publican ofiicehoder. who a few years ago was
one Of the most influential men ~ his party In
| this city. l was advised by one Of tue leading
reformers that this gentleman could give me
more INFORMATION about repeaters, ballot-boS
stuncrs, and Lightning calculators, than any Other
man ~ Philadelphia.
Upon making known TO him the object Of
my visit, he replied that he was perfectly will
ing to tell all he know. and TO put me IN
communicable with some of the men who had
formerly been leaders OF the gangs Of repeaters
and from my talks with the late prominent poll
/ ticisn and two boss repeaters, the following in
teresting narrative Of election viuainy is mad,
up.
SYSTEMATIC REPEATING.
The first time that repeating was systematical
; ~ pracused upon grand scale was IN 1888, whei
? Gen. JOun W. Geary was "a candidate for Cover
, nor the second time, with Judge Asa Packer fol
his connection. Packers worth ten or fifteen mil
| hon, and IL WAS supposed that he would spenC
D a million TO secure his election, which was verl
violent sApposition. as all his friends very wei
know. The Republican politicians, however
really believed that the money would be spent
| and with the popular tide running against them
they had reason TO tremble In their boots. Tn,
Evans frauds, as well as Hartranft and hackey's
7 speCuiations with the public money through
| Nerkes, were certain to be uncovered In tn,
event Of PacKers election, and this stimulated
them to unusual eXertions. The city Ring haC
concocted plot to place the city OF Phadelphi,
In commission, and the bill had been preparcl
which was 10 give FIVE Commissioners nance
therein absolute power over all the administra
tive Departments OF the city government. The po
lice, the highways, the assessment ana collection
q OF taxes and every particle Of executive power
. were 10 be vested in their hands, and they were
] moreover authorized on the death or resiRna
| ton OF any OF their number TO oil the vacancy
sioners. II Geary and a majority of the Repub-
9 lican candidates for the Legs allure were not
would certainly be defeated, and here was !
, motive TO influence the city Ring TO work night
and day for the whole ticket.
, There had undoubtedly been repeating be-
| fore, said my informants, but never on such a
regular systematic plan as was determined upon
p this time. A confidential committee was APP
pointed by the Republican city Executive Com.
any amount of money that they deemed neces
sary, and were not required to render any ac.
| count OF It's disbursement. The organization OF
, the gangs Of repeaters was intrusted TO tive
= Tesolute, daring men, who understood thei
D business thoroughly. They did rot select low
/, ignorant rouchs and common thieves, but ole
members of the disbanded volunteer IRE com
panIes who still kept up their organizations FOL
| social purposes aud the most intelligent ant
D | INSCRIPTIONS OF the city othceholders IL wa
| agreed that $3.50 should be paid for every vote
deposited for the whole ticket, and the monel
| was to be paid TO the captains OF the gangs who
| were TO distribute II. Very prominent polIti
: clans, whose names have, and the most o
whom now hold responsible Offices, were put IL
| charge Of the various gangs OF repeaters, whI
| were voted early and often. In the FOuftl
? Ward one gang voted twenty-five times at thu
same polling place.
THESE BOSS REPEATERs,"
said my informants, "are elegant looking gen
V tleneu. They dress like gamblers, in the neigh
r OF the fashion, and live like hghting cocks
| Why, some of them are worth tens OF thou
sands, and hold Offices with piles OF money
| Don't you remember the dinner eX-Postmaste
. bingham gave to Speaker Blaine last spring -
s avery WELL l saw the names of some o
- these fellows among the guests who were IN
vlted and present to honor Simon Cameron
X candidate for the Presidency in 1876"
Q Certainly. They were all there, and man
more whose names have not mentioned. The
are the leaders of society here, that kind of so
cety which Mayor Stokley, Bi Kemble Bil