The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1889-11-02

| feat the will of the people Mt the polls
that has ever been concouted by gang
of political desperadocs, who fear moth
ing but defeat. For long series OF
years the city of Cincinnati has suffered
in reputation, and great injury done her
business interests and prestige by cleo
tion frauds. This began in its most
| audacious form in the Presidential cleo
tion, when Eph Holland and his gang
got in their fine work, for which he was
sent to the Dayton Jail, from which he
was pardoned by President Hayes. For
years both parties imported black and
white repeaters. In 1884 the city was
disgraccd by the armed bullies, black
and white, under the infamous Lot
| Wright. In 1855 came the disgraceful
exposures of which the Precinct A.,
| Fourth Ward fraud was only an incident.
The shameful assaults upon the integ-
rity of the ballot-boX has not been con-
fined to either party. Both Re-
publican and Democratic politi-
clans of Cincinnati have been
shown themselves capable of any rascal
ity, and willing and anxious to commit
any crime that would defeat the will OF
the people as honestly expressed by the
ballot, and lead to the temporary sue
cess of their respective gangs and par
ties. So frequent did these outrages be-
come that they grew monotonous; and
while they excited the disgust OF honest
men, they seemed powcrless to protect
themselves. The agitation led to the
enactment Of laws to protect decent peo-
pie from the bullies. toughs, and profes-
sional political rascals. registration
law was passed: men were prevented
from going within one hundred feet OF
the polls; an election beard was created;
Judges and clerks of both parties were
selected from the best citizens. Good
results followed these laws, and for sew
eral years the people of this county and
State have been repeatedly told that the
elections in Cincinnati were absolutely
fair and honest under our present sys-
TEN. Good people have come to believe
this. That guardian of law and order
disbanded and vigilance sleeps. and the
citizens have been lulled to rest with
fancied security. Now, what are the
facts? There have been some of the
most daring frauds committed under this
so-called perfect system. Two years ago
the labor candidate for Mayor was hon
estly elected, but he was counted out
after the face of the returns at the Board
of Elections showed that he had several
hundred majority, and that fact was
sent broadcast all over the land. The
artists who committed this crime may
be found to-day holding publice offices,
and their names are enrolled on the ros-
ter of the oath-bound Strangers. From
information in the hands of the Porcu
pine, it is questionable whether Mayor
Mosby was honestly elected last spring.
Facts pointed with unerring accuracy to
the conclusion that he was counted in in
three wards over the Rhine. The Re
publicans do not select bunglers and
butchers to do their infamous work like
the Democrats have done. 1t is all done
so artistically, so clevorly, 30 fairly,
that it leaves no trail, and deceives the
most honest and unsuSpecting. Let lis
illustrate. At the Presidential election
in 1854, there were wonderful and unac-
gains in a number of Repub-
lican wards of this city. Hon. Dan Nc
on the Democratic State Exc
cutive Committee, came to Cincinnati to
make an investigation. A precinct in
the Twelfth Ward showing the largest
gain was selected for iEves-
tigation. The precinct was polled,
and the voters could not be
found. The poll books were ex-
aimed at the County Clerks Office, and
l1G names were found on the list in q
strange handwriting. jiike Ryan was
one of theDemocratic Judges of election.
He Is now fugitive from justice, a |
thief. and cmbezzier, and wanderer on |
the face of the earth. That day he per-
iured himself, and sold out his party. |
He, with all the other Judges and clerks,
left the polls for thirty minutes in the
hands OF the United States Supervisor, |
and while they were gone, he wrote 116 |
names on the poll pook. and put that !
number of Republican ballots in the box
for Blaine, Buttcrworth and reform! |
Will Taft, now Common Pleas Judge, |
was then United States Supervisor of |
Elections. He issued printed instruc-
lions to all his precinct supervisors, |
quoting the law and fixing the duties of |
each. Among other things, each super
visor was told that it was his right and
luty to be present during Tho balloting
md counting of the votes; but under no
was he to interfere
With the election officers, or to
assume or discharge any of their
lutics. In violation of the plain letter
Of the law, this supervisor took entire
charge of the polls, and stuffed the bal
ot-box, writing as many names as he
could in thirty minutes. The attention
Of Mr.. Taft was called to the violation
Of law by his deputy. as set forth in his
own letter Of instructions, and to the
peculiar acts and circumstances con-
nected with that unlawful proceeding.
He scornfully laughed, and brushed the
whole charge away with toss OF the
head, a wave of the hand, and the lofty
Information that that man belonged to
one Of the best families in Cincinnati,
and his character as citizen and law
yer was above reproach." That man of
such good family and such spotless
character has since proven one of the
most audacious rascals, forgers and
criminals ever known in the history of
Cincinnati. But no was respectable.
He sleeps in suicides grave. His namc
s Charles A. Kebler.
Some innocents will say that such an
vet can not be committed under the
present laws. No; but worse ones have
been committed, and are about to be
committed under the present laws, and
lided by all the machinery the law has