Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-12-18
THE OUTRAGEOUS FRAUDS IN SAN
FRANCISCO.

EhhAO4oSO.
The astounding revelations of Traudu-
lent counting of the ballots of the recent
election in San Francisco have stirred the (
people of the metropolis more deeply than
any election frauds in the past. While /!
heretofore the belief that frauds were |
perpetuated was based largely upon con-
lecture, now the evidences of deliberate
corruption are made plain to view by re-
count of the ballots in open Court, and
are confessed to be .rndeniable be both
political parties. Since there was such
monstrous fraud in ealing off the ballots
against ODonnell, the independent candi-
date for Mayor, the conclusion is justified
that there were similar or greater frauds
in the counting out of the Republican
candidates for the Legislature. Assuming
that there was such fraud, for the motives
for corruption were greater in that case,
then the Legislature, on fair count Of the
San Francisco vote, would be Republican
instead of Democratic. For it is a sig
nifcant fact that in eight cases out CT ten
Of misrecorded votes, the 'errors" were
against Republican and in favor of Demo
cratic candidates. 1t has developed al
ready, by semi-oficial review IN Court,
that at least two Republican candidates
for the observation-disclosures and Cav
thorne-were counted out in San Fran
cisco. The Democratic County Committee
of that city has challenged the Republi-
can committee to general recount, and
insists that its skirts are clear of any
fraud, and that it is willing to trust to the
result of a general recount. The Repub-
lican leaders went into consultation upon
this proposition, but it was the prevailing
opinion that re-counts should be had in
personal contests only, under the law.
Whatever may be done in the matter of
re-counting, it is to be hoped that by some
process the frauds viii be as completely
exposed as is possible under human scru-
tiny; that done, attention must be turned
to advocating methods that win for the
future narrow the possibility for their
preparation. The RECORD UNION has in
dictated one method By which that end may
be accomplished-the counting of the bal
lots under Judicial process in the first in
stance. The more the idea is considered,
the stronger it presents itself 1t has been
replied that it would put undue labor upon
the Courts-but that is not worthy of con-
sideration in view of the absolute neces-
sity of preserving the purity of the count
of the ballots. 1t underlies the whole
system of selfgoyernment; destroy
confidence in the count of the ballots, as
means to the entertainment of the will of
the self-governed, and the whole super
structure of the Republic will come tum-
bling about our ears. The recount, when
demanded, must be made in Court; why
not go into the tribunal then at first d?
Why not put it out of the power of bosses
to name the men to handle or count the
ballots? for through that advantage leads
the avenue of fraud. 1t would be feasible
to have ballot boxes, so soon as the polling
hours end, transferred to the Courts, where,
with a Court Commissioner for every dis
triet, the count could proceed openly under
the eye of the Court and with the rights
of all parties preserved through repre-
sentatlon, even more conveniently than by
having the ballots overhauled in multi
tnda of precincts and by small army of
election officials. An advantage ct this
system would be that even if a presid-
ing Judge should fall under suspicion of
venality or susceptibility to boss control,
the count proceeding in the presence of
representatives of the candidates and the
political parties and conducted in open
Court, with full opportunity for inspection
# the ballots, efforts to falsify the verdict
of the ballot-box would be very nearly
truitless-at least far more dangerous, and
far less possible than now. In this State
We would then have but seventy return
ing boards, instead of twenty-five hundred
as at present. We would not kaow the
true result nearly 50 soon, but what COM
pletely overshadows that convenience is
the Knowledge that we would be
justified In placing reliance upon the
result when announced. But whether
this plan is adopted, or the
proposition to have the Courts name
an additional inspector Of elections fol
each precinct; or the plan Of having the
count for city or county proceed before
one election board in a large room open to
all or the idea eff the counting of the
votes hour by hour as the election pro-
ceeds, by board distinct from that pre-
siding at the polls; some reformation Of
our method must be had. In the light of
the revelations in San Francisco confidence
cannot any longer be placed upon the.
old system of counting. It is oumber-
some, and engages in large cities a class Of
intelligence not of an order equal to the
demand upon it. In fact, in majority Of
cases in great centers of population this
important work is intrusied to capacity
not fit by education or experience to make
up the account of so vitality important a,
transaction as The determination of the
policy and administration of the Govern
ment, by the expression of the Will of the
people through the ballot.
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