The Portland daily press., 1884-11-22
stealing q ID. S. Senator.
The IIlinois LegisInture Made Democrats
by Forgery.

The alleged discrepancy" reported to have
been discovered by the Cook County Board Of
Canvassers, electng Mr.. Brand, instead Of Mr..
Lsman to tho Illiaois Senate, turns out to be o
clumsy bat audacious Democratic fraud. The
Democrats arc playing for high stakes, because
il they can get Mr.. Brand into the Senats they
will break the tie in the legislature, and open
the way to the election of Democratic sena-
tor in place Of Gen. Logan. As soon as it was
perceived that the legislature was going to be
very close, the Cook county Democrats hezan
claiming that DolaD, Democrat, had been
elected to the House from the FIRST District,
aud that Brand had been elected to the Senate
in the Sixth District. AS Dolan was nearly
seven hundred votes behind the lowest Repcb-
lican in his district, the claim made for him
was soon given up. All endeavor5 were then
concentrated upon counting in Brand, who, ac-
cording to the returns made on election night,
was nearly 400 votes behind Lemau, his Re-
publican competitor.
The disclosure was resched on Tuesday
when the vote Of the Second Precinct was
read, giving the vote OF that precinct for Ls-
man as go, and for Brand as 474. This was
almost an exact reversal OF the retarns as
made by the precinct judges to police head
Qnarters, and also Of the returns made by tho
Supervisors, both OF which agreed 10 giving
LemaA 420 and Brand 274. The change, It
will be seen, had been brought about by
transfer Of the first figures. An examination
of the poll book shows that there has been an
erssure in each place, and that the figures as
returned by the County Board have been
written in over the old. AT the same tine, a
false tally-sheet was prepared 70 bring the vote
intO accord with the doctored poll-book. The
ink used in writing in the doctored figures on
the poli-hook is uolike the ink used ia the re-
mainder Of the book, bat is identical with that
a. FL H..
in the two words written in is unlike that OF
the rest Of the pollbook, but is like that OF the
false tally ly-sheet. Never was daring fraud
more bunglinglg accomplished. The result
of it, If is were allowed, would be to seat Brand
by a majority OF tan. But the Republicans OF
Chicago, who have given a splendid demon.
stration of their pluck and intelligence at the
recent election, are not 10 be so easily tricked.
The Chicago Tribune says Of the fraud:
There is every reason to believe that this forgery
was committed in bold and defiant spirit with the
full knowledge that it must eventually be defeated
but with purpose to brazen the matter out until
the sta e Senate can be organized and United
Stafes Senator be chosen. The idea Of the
knaves who have attempted this fraud on the pe0-
pie manifesty that the Senator could be elect
ed first aud the wrong be corrected afterwards But
they have reckoned without proper appreciation
Of the facts, and they have msconceived the spirit
Of the Republicans OF Limos II they suppose that
any such outrage be carried out No organic siOn
OF tho Legislature through return 50 palpably
fraudulent can be accomplished If the county can
YassinS board shall be so derelici in its DUTY ahd
eitherso compaisant ar so sordd as to admit these
forged returns and so give Brand a certificate, we
believe the Republican Secretary OF state vii ex-
hiblt more hrmness and courage. II there shall be
auy failure at this point imagine the Democrats
viii have difficulty in obtaining quorum in either
house Of the Legislature with which to carry out
tbis hold and dssnerafe scheme Of villainv And if
all these resources shall fail. and
Harrison or any other Democrat
Senate with certificate Of election obtained
through burglary Of the ballot box so patent and
SO nearly confessed this s be will be back to
his constituents in disgrace BY majority vote Of
the Senate.
LATER.
CTo the Associated PressJ
CHICAGO Nov. 21.-A few days ago It was
announced in these dispatches that Brand,
Democrat, according to returns to the canvass
ing board, was elected to the State Senate
froa the sixth district, instead Of Lsman,
Republican, who had a Majority according to
the police returns, thus giving tie Democrats
majority in the legislature on joint ballot
and power to elect United States Senator to
succeed Logan. The difference was found to
be 10 tho second precinct OF the 6sh ward,
where the police returns gavo Ieman 40, and
Brand ga; and tho returns to the canvassing
board gave Leman go and Brand 474, thus
making a change of 400 votes in favor OF
Brand and giving him majority of 10. The
figures on the tally sheet seemed to be
original figures showing no signs OF erasure,
but the figures in the poll book appeared to
have originally stood as in the police return,
bat to have been subsequently erased aud
made TO correspond with the tally sheet. This
afternoon the district attorney presented the
matter to the United States grand Jury, and
the Republican judge in the precinct, the 8 T.
pervlsor of election, and members OF the can
wasting board were summoned TO appear forth
with. The board was also ordered to bring the
balloG-box and returns for that precinct.
The county clerk in whose charge tho ballot
box is appeared with the others aud stated
that by the advice of counsel he declined to
bring the ballot box, aud that part OF tho order
was waived for the time being, aud the clerk
was sent for the returns. Rs did not come
back and the grand Jury finally adjourned
with orders that all the parties DO brought be-
fore that body tomorrow morning. In the
meantime squad Of police is guarding the
ballot box.