St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-04-25
First Precinct. First 1ynrd.

First Precinct, First Ward.
In this precinct there was really no serious
trouble though around the polls was gathered
one of the toughest, most unprincipalled,
drunken, reckless crowds that ever assem-
bled on any similar occasion. 1t was evident
that the gang numbering not less than zoe
had gathered for the purpose of carrying the
matter of nominating the candidate for al
derman through without any regard whatev-
er to right and in spite of anything re-
spectacle. The gang was disgraceful mob,
ready for any violent proceedings that might
appear necessary to carry its point. The
shouider-hitters, and the scum of all the
groggeries in lower town were represented
The rowdies assembled early and took
possession of everything outside
and inside of the voting place at the engine
house, on Wacouta street, and were open
and outspoken as to what they proposed tc
do. 1t was no place for a respe ctable citizen
and no such person had any chance what
ever. The crowd surged around on the side
walk, before the polls were opened, and
extended out half way across the street.
brawling, cursing and swearing, like sc
many lunatics The gang had evidently
been keyed up to the fighting point with the
principles for which it was fghting-pool
whisky and worse beer-and more lawless
desperate collection of roughs has not been
seen in this city. There was no place there
for respectable voter. That there was not
a serious disturbance and a bloody row
was owing to the GOODNESS and
| judicious conduct of Col. Allen, who was in
tending to be a candidate, but who withdrew
rather than to be miXedu in such a shameful,
disorderly, and mobilize proceeding as was
witnessed on this occasion. There is ne ex-
cuse to be offered for such a wanton disre-
gard for the decencies of civilized society as
was witnessed on this occasion 1t was repre-
hensible to the last degree and caused re-
spectacle citizens who stood on the outskirts
and witnessed what transpired to hang their
heads in shame. Shoulder-hitters were walk
ing through the crowd anxious for fight,
and acting in very insolent manner, and
iostling and jamming people around, appar-
emily anxious to have some one demonstrate.
THE VOTING.
The above is a moderately drawn picture
of the bullying crowd before the polls were
opened, and for about twenty minutes OF
half an hour afterwards. After the crowd
had been surging around for ten or fifteen
minutes, and the time for opening the polls
had arrived, the engine house was cleared of
people in order to give the judges full pos
session of the room. The judges of the
election, that is, the men who received and
counted the votes, were Plus Reide, who
keeps beer saloon and kind Of boarding
house on lower Third street, near Siblev:
| Charles Lundeen, runner for hotels and
railroads, and Dave Grammar, who keeps a
little saloon on lower Seventh street, and
runs scalping place on Sibley street, below
jackson. This was the make up of the
judges of election.
About ten minutes before the polls were
opened, Col. Allen, who was intending tc
| be candidate for reelection as alderman,
drove up and went into the engine house,
where he proposed to have the judges select
some person that should be satisfactory to all
parties, to stand at the window and receive
the votes. None of the judges appeared tc
take kindly to this and Lundeen at once
proceeded to the window where the votes
were to be received and took his seat, evil
IDENTITY with the intention of indicating there
by that he would occupy the position of re-
ceiving the tickets and depositing them in
the box. The little table upon which was the
| box for the votes, was by that time drawn ur
| bah mn md fha tIyr Of ind
Grammar and Reide-seated themselves close
to it and near TO the voting window Dur
ing all this changing of positions no notice
was taken of Col. Aliens proposition and
the whole transaction had the appearance OF
saying to the Colonel that the judges were
| for Charles S. Cummings for alderman, and
not for Col. Allen and that they had nothing
| to do with any other proposition in regard tc
selecting any one to take the lticllets, as that
was already fixed. This was new phase OF
| the matter and was evidently a surprise to
! Col. Allen, who stood a minute or so ap
| parently to see if he was not mistaken, and
to ascertain whether there was any hope OF
| fair play. 1t did not require long to con-
vince him that there was no chance for him
in that contest. He and his friends there
| fore withdrew and went outside. There he
met the crowd and made his way through to
his carriage, which he entered The crowd
all this time was surging around and like SC
many hungry wolves, were almost
ready to make break for the carriage There
were five policemen at the polls to keep order,
and they had all they wanted to do to keep
the crowd from making break at the car
! riage. Seeing that all efforts to get anything
/ like a fair show at the voting window. he
| called aloud upon all his friends to retire with
him, for the reason that there was no chance
to get justice, and by remaining disturb
ance would undoubtedly be caused. Saying
this, he threw all his votes away, and again
called upon his friends to withdraw In say
| ing this he announced that he would meet