New-York tribune., 1889-11-05
WATCHING FOR BALTIMORE REPEATEkS
MIR. cowEN's VIGOROUS LETTER TO THE DEMO

MIR. COWEN'S NlOOKOUS LElIfrs ~ AiAH |-O
CRATIC STATE CHAIRMAN
Baltimore Nov (speciaD.-A hundred detectives
in the service of the Citizens Reform Committee are
stationed at the railroad depots and steamboat wharVes
tonight on the outlook for suspicious characters
Former Democratic ward workers, who have turned
against the machine are stationed with the deecuVes
10 point out any "toughsH from New-fork Phiiadei-
pha and Washington whom they have known IN the
past and who may be coming here 10 assist the Cor
man crowd tomorrow. The Republicans and lnde-
pendent Democrats have also had placards posted all
over the city offering rewards for any information con-
earning repeaters 1t is reported that gangs OF re-
peaters are kept in hiding in Howard and Baltimore
Counties and will be brought into town IN wagons
during the night, arriving here singy or In pairs 10
avoid suspicion.
The Citizens Committee has information that the
police have been instructed TO work in the interest OF
the machine. This means the wholesale arrest oi
negroes and white men as well, and their detention
until after the polls closed As soon as THIS lhIor-
nation was received, John X. Cowen issued an open
letter to Stevenson Archer chairman of the Democratic
State Central Committee copies of which tonight arc
being circulated all over the city. Mr. Cowen uses
plain language Among other things he sald 10 Char
man Archer;
In the election of 1897 you issued a manifesto
stating that repeaters were being brought from Pha
to arrest them The Chief of Police and OF his
subornates arrested at Union station some nifty inno
Their the privilege of getting bail or OF senu
ing for counsel relatives, and when the eiecun was
they discharged, as there was no eNiuuioo
nor protence of evidence against them Your cSuiar ia,
and the arrest was TO misIead the public, and the
Police Department, which had never been Known 10 10
arrest repeates any one who had committed eccuO
to jail at your command. You are again calling upon
that department TO aid you I'm another nciarlous
scheme. You allege In substance, that was lncluhg
riot and for that reason, together with some oher al
legged information you claim 70 nave you asA ,no
police TO arrest and disarm meh on electOn uay, sIaI
ing OF course, that you want both Fusionists ana
Democrats TO be arrested. You knew DOth your
statements were false; and knowing them 10 be hes,
you ask the police to do for you In 1850 Substantially
what they did In 1887. Under the pretence OF KephS
peace at the polls you willing to have the police
arrest Republicans and Independents who are 10 guard
the polls.
Mr.. Cowen speaking for the Reform League which
has already prosecuted and convicted number OF
persons connected with election frauds, thus warns
Chairman Archer and the entire Democratic Com
mittee:
You are now engaged in the old game OF importing
and employ the police 10 do your Wrecheu worn
| assert the fact, because know it, that while
George Mantz is now In Jail In Washington Tor assauit
with intent TO KILL yet OF his lieuienants Is al
work getting fepeaters for the ring you represent 10
vote here on election day. And yet you pretend 10
want Z fair election, and at1buting, under ms
cloak, TO me purpose TO lnclte MsOrder ate aShl
he police arrest the callengers and watchers at
| the polls. This proceeding of yours is the most
openly criminal aot that has been done yet in any
| OF our elections. In case any action Is taken ON
viii easily be proven before the Grand jury of tie
| Criminal Court The glass boxes and The right
10 have watches inside and out have diminished The
amount of fraud that you and your associates can
effect II has become necessary that you got rid OF
these wscbers and piece out your ordinary methods by
| pOlice intimidation.