The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-08-23
RAKING UP 2HE PAST:
The Potter Committee Still InveStigat-
ing "the Great Fraud"
MAJOR BURKE LIFTS THE VEIL.
How the Wires Were Pulled in
Louisiana in 1875.

How the Wires We're Pulled in
Louisiana in 1875.
The Potter Committee yesterday concluded IT'S ex-
animation OF Major Burke and OF Mr. W. K. Horne
began Major Burke principal testimony related to the
Cameron interview. in which the then Secretary OF
War expressed his willingness to lot the Nichols gov
eminent stand II tho Nichols Legislature would elect
two republican Senators TO tho Uoted States Senate.
This arrangement, witness said. relaIed to Mr..
Hayes but no refused 10 have timing TO do with IT,
and the matter was bold In abcyancc.
Mr. Potter asked the witness how long he had been
connected with the Registration Committee Of the
democratic party In Louisiana A. Stnce 1872
Q. Az Tho election OF 1876 In whose hands was the
election machinery Of tho Satei A. In the hands Of
tho Republican Committee.
In reply to further questions, the witness testified
that what purported to be q census OF bis State
made by the republicans In 1875; in tho minds Of
the republicans the political divisions Stale
that time corrcsponded the color lines that census
protested against and tho Legislature declined TO
abide by It in making tho opportonmcnt there was
fraud vote of 25 900 based on that census tho
revision Of the previous each election
under the entire control Of the registrars who were
ton OF 1874 also made ny the republicans, and
complaint against It's character followed at the time
by tho census 1875 the total coored registration
OF the parish OF Orleans was 81, CAT, which on basis
OF one voter in overy i've persons would give
total vote in that parish Of IL 529 but In 1876 the
registered coorcd vote OF tho parish "a 800 show
ing fraudulent registration OF over $4,000 votes; OF
that number ample evidence was collected In over
5000 cases fraudulent registration and forwarded
TO tho Governor aud tho republican committee; we
were laughed at for our pains, ana correction
made; there were however, some three thousand
registered white stricken from the rolls ,hero
were nifty parishes in the State 800 polling
places. Witness could remember but single instance
during tue election Of 1875 where afidavits In re-
gard TO riots Came up IN proper shape required Nv
law, and thus wasa protest oy republican from the
Q. VIVA. became Of that protest. A. There Lo
taken upon II tho whole vote OF that parish
was counted by the Returning Board.
q. You spoke nj having obtained copies Of tho re-
turns Of 1875; how did you accomplish that9 A. We
had very complete organization throughout the
State, aud as election blanks were printed Tor the
government We had duplicates printoa for ourselves
tions that they ned out Ike the others, certified
by the clerks Of tho district courts and
me as chairman OF tho Registration Committee IN
New Orleans,
Q. You were thus in possession OF the complete
vOtc OF the state? A. was 10 possession OF cor.
rect returns four live days before the republican
committee; l mad tue complete returns with the
single exception OF the parish OF st. Martins
O. When the Returning Board mot II consisted OF
four republicans and one vacancy, ana application
was made to I'LL the vacancy A. Repeatedly una re-
fused
Tho witness hero submitted in evidence pamphlet
covering THIS entire subject aud taken from the pro-
cecdings OF the Returning Board.
MAJOR BURKE's INTERVIEW WITH ANDERSON.
Witness remembered meeting Anderson Tor mo-
ment III MoreAu's restaurant. but had no particular
conversation with him at that time; Sherman and
Stoughton were citing on the other side Oi the
taurant; witness could not state whether they had
Major Burke had with Anderson the latter, said the
witness, ''too me that he had s'gncd something IN
rS .so out d no s'u%
liquor " the timc he signed it. Ho said
INA. If he would let ,ns returns stand
that ne would have the Now Orleans Naval Office"
Witness was asked 10 detail the circumstances VI the
interview continued as follows --'Coionei Pat
ton, chairman oil the democratic Stale Central Com
mttce, informed me that he had been visited oy Mr.
Anderson and Anderson had certain information
that would he valuable 10 our party, suggested
Yves chairman OF the Committee on R~gistra-
ton and Election familiar with all tho details OF
registration and clectiou that had better have an
interview with Mr. Anderson; l consented and met
MI anderson at Den,zots rosiaurant on CaroudcIet
street, Mr. Anderson there stated " that be could
place party In possession oil documentary
aud other evidence that woud clearly establish the
lican party 10 throw cut what was then termed tho
nve buil-aoxed par,shes-West Felciana, East Baton
Rouge. OuaChts, Mvrshouse ana Richland, aud could
place Ia our Possession documentary ana other svr
uence that would save the parish Of East Felioiana
party beyond peradvonture: that II he should
DO he would be pcrsecuted By the republican
authorities, doubtless urrss,ed upon trumpcd-up
charges thrown into jail or sent 10 the Penitenary,
they mad full contro OF the police and courts
that he was poor, had family, was not a
diton TO make the sacrifices that such action would
entail upon him. Mr.. Anderson finally informed
that II We wond pay HIM 81, 900 when the documcn-
tary and other evidence should be placed in
possession and 81, 600 when the elec.Io was com
pieted il would enable MIN 10 provide Tor his family
and he would place that evidence In our possession;
the matter was taken IN consultation, and IL was de-
hW mn Wnxn fhnrs,
wrong in awaiting ourselves OF that evidence Than
there had been III the past expenditures that had
against republican frauds and IN exposing their
caty generally, and AS IL was simply effort upon
tho republican party not requiring him to do any
thing wrong or IN violation Of law, We would accept
his propositon We did accept It and would have
II out but ior the fact that wo did have the
money
THE CAMERON INTERVIEW.
Ar. Stonger hero took up the thread of examination
and gong back 10 tho time cf tho Wormley confer.
sDse asked the witness II no had mad interviews with
any other prominent republicans upon the subject Of
Louisiana affairs bcsdos those present confer
ence? Major Burke replied that he had mad con-
sultaiions WITH Representatives wadiolgh OF New
Hampshire; Howe, Of Wisconsin, and Frye, OF Name;
Senator West, oil LOUISIANA, and secretary Cameron
q Wcro thcre NO other terms insisted upon than
those which were finally agreed upon ~ the W0rmloy
conference TO what should be dono the part Of
tho state OF louisiana A. viii try TO give
limo tho In that connection, but tho details
beyond tho 17th OF February you Will havo 10
ascertain from other sources; thcre was deter
mination 10 exact from the NicnOls Legislature
Two republican Senator'S as the price OF Yielding up
tho State my Instructions were TO ascertain fully the
situation OF affairs In Washington had no authority
TO make bargain concerning the United States Sena
tors IRON LOUISIANA; tho members OF the Senate and
Hsuss Vi Louisiana were the only parties who could
have actod upon such proposition; areprcscntative
from Louisiana had learned That the Leading rcpub
cans nearest the administrator tbon In power had
como conclusion that Dayone rule could 10
porpctuated IN Louisiana, AMI tnat MS only bayonet
ruio could place tho Packard government IN power
they Wiling and disposed to abandon him II
they could strengthen tneir waning power In tho
Unitoa states Senate; gentleman was indicated who
would DO willing 10 enter into an arrangement Of that
kind
q ana A L II S.as