New-York tribune., 1876-01-25

reneaters were sent about the city In wagons,
and at the different precincts they reported 10
certain tricky Democratic workers, VINO gave
them little slips of paper bearing the names
and residences of the voters they werc TO per-
senate. JTpon these names they voted, and
then moved off to some other precinct to re-
neat the operation. Sometimes the names
given were those Of persons who had no e4-
istence-names which had been frauduientiy
registered in order to prepare the way 1or
fraudulent votes. In other cases, the names
given were those of real voters who bad not
vet voted, and in many instances the reai
owners of names, upon reaching the poiS'
were told that they could not vote again
somebody had voted for them already. one
Democratic manager testities with charm
ing franl,ness to his own doings. lie
stated that no stood nearly all day at
the polls, and gave out slips bearing the
"name of person and residhce; living
"men's names among them" He was
faithful worker after his kind, for no says:
81 told them to boz. very careful to give the
name and number that gave them. Some
81 times | would repeat il to them three or
I" four timesn He thought he got in about
seyenty-fye of these votes at one precinct
and before trusting men with names, ho says,
81 gave them a pledge that will go to the
"p grave with me.n OF the standard of moral
ity among Democratic workers in that city he
gives rather startling glimpse when he says;
81 thought it was all right to elect my man
"by any means ; | saw other people doing the
"same thing
OF what consequence was mere city elec-
ton in St. Louisf 1t is not easy to say what
the results of this infamous piece OF work
have been. Two years ago the Germans
throughout the West were tending strongly
toward hearty union with the Democratic
party. Obviously something has changed theli
disposition. They were independents ana zeal
Gus for political reforms; to their credit 1t
NAV be said that no other class OF citizens
showed moro earnestness or sincerity. III Is
barely possible that when they saw reform
candidate for Mayor, who happened also to be
n German, beaten in st. Louis by such Demo-
cratic workers rs the One just mentioned, they
began to doubt whether the path to reform
and politcal publication led through the Demo-
cratic camp. No man can say how far the
union of repeaters and whisky thieves TO de-
feat an independent candidate in May, 1873,
contributed TO cause Democratic defeats III
October and November, 1879.
The case has not yet been decided, and 1t Is
ouite possible that the Council III which the
Democratic majority is large, may not embrace
enough members Of that party who dare to do
Justice regardless of partisan feeling The
candidate who was not legally elected, 1t seems,
has been kept in Office nearly year already
by decision of n Democratic court, which
held that the Council had no right to count
the ballots and ascertain who was elected
until November, after six months had elapsed
Possibly some other legal preteXt may be
found for holding in Office to the end OF his
term a Mayor who, according to the recount
made by the Council, had minority OF the
LEGAL votes. But tho Democratic party, though
it may have gained Mayor for one year OF
two, has sustained loss in reputation and
public confidence far more important than It's