The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-03-13
NEW HAMPSHI RE.
Democratic Frauds i'm Manches-
ter.
The Governor Asked to Call Out
Troops to Preserve Order.
Both Parties Sanguine OF Carry
ing the State.

MANCHESTER, March 1.-THE following Pc
tition is published in the Daily Mirror this af-
ternoon, and is signed by large number of
the leading Republican politicians of ward
five:
To His ErceAency, Person c. Cheney, Governor
of the State of Neao Hampshire:
The undersigned respectfully represent that
they are Inhabitants and legal voters in ward 5
in this city; that the last annual meeting in
said ward, in March 1875, was scene of great
turbulence fraud and violence; that persons
having no legal right to vote in said ward were
suffered to vote therein; that others were suf-
fered to repeat their votes, and vote more than
once, and some many times, and still others
personated other persons and voted on fictitious
names; that said frauds were committed, as
your petitioners believe, with the full knowl-
edge of the officers of said meeting, and that
the check lists were prepared for that purpose,
and the meeting kept open till nearly or quite
midnight to enable designing persons to cast
fraudulent votes enough in said ward to con.
troll the election of said city, and deprive the
legal majority of the voters thereof of their
just rights in the city government, and of the
election of State Senator in district No. 8 in
said state; that at said meeting various persons
were assaulted and driven by violence from the
ward room, and the city authorities at said
meeting in said ward wholly failed to protect
the voters in said ward in the just exercise of
the electoral franchise, and in the security of
their persons from violence; that they have
reason to fear; and do believe, that similar
scenes of fraud turbulence and violence will
be attempted at the coming election, and the
city authorities will again fail to afford the ad-
equate protection either for the security of their
persons from violence or for the enjoyment of
their just rights, and in the execution of the
law,-wherefore they pray that your Excellency
will take the necessary steps, by calling out
wise. to prevent riot and for aiding the civil
officers in the execution of the law,
Another petition, fully endorsing the forego-
ing, is also published in the Mirror. signed by
e. A. Straw and large number of prominent
Republican politicians residing outside the
ward
The following are some of the comments by
Democrats on the streets: One prominent
Democrat remarked that he proposed to keep
the document for further reference, as the
signers were liable to be ashamed CT them
selves before many months. Another whose
reputation is not confined to the state, express
ed the opinion that the first appearance of the
militia would be the sowing of the whrlwind
which no power could control. An eminent
lawyer said the Mayor was the person charged
with preserving order, and any interference by
the Governor, without the request of the civil
authorities here, would be revolutionary. 9th
ers profess to believe that the whole proceed
ing is designed for political effect in other parts
of the state, but the immediate effect here has
been to infame the public to an unusual de-
gree. The civil authorities say they did not
anticipate any trouble in ward 5, but in any
event they are fully competent to keep the
peace without resort to arms.
The more prudent of both parties seem to
be making an effort to allay the excitement
which prevails in all quarters. 1t is under
stood this evening on perfectly reliable author
ity that ex-Gov. Straw and Gov. Cheney sought
an interview with Mayor Gay this afternoon
with reference to the petition for military in
reference, which was published in the Mirror
f0 -6aU n the intprviaw CIV Ghanov inf
the Mayor that he did not propose to resort to
the military unless in case of absolute neces-
sity. The Mayor was notified, however, that
leading Republicans would request him to see
that the ward rooms be closed simultaneously
throughout the city on next Tuesday, or there
would be trouble. This call upon the Mayor
will probably be in the form of a petition
which will be published in Mondays papers.
The Mayor will probably issue proclamation
setting forth that threats have been made in
high places to interfere with the local manage
ment of the election. and exhorting all we'll
minded citizens to abstain from every act of
violence and disorder. 1t is said that corpora
tons propose granting an extra hour gu cleo
ton day to enable every mau to vote. Two
prominent citizens whose names appear on the
military petition publicly denyi having signed
the same, this evening.
CONCORD, March 1.-THE political situation
has not materially changed within the past few
days. There is little or no outside excitement,
but the state committees of each party are hard
at work, and no efforts are being spared by
either party to secure the success of their re-
spective tickets on Tuesday next. The officers
of each committee, as well as prominent men
oniboth sides, still profess confidence in sue
cessful result of the campaign. and each claims
that they shall carry the Legislature and elect
Governor by the people. Canvasses have
been made and returned to the committees and
are claimed by each to be very favorable, but
they are never infallible indications of the
suit. The great efforts of both parties have
been directed towards securing majority of
the legislature. for the reason that United
States Senator is to be elected by it, and al
though no prediction can safely be ventured
be no election of Governor by the people. Both
parties concede that the temperance vote will
lxo 49,