Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1889-10-31
DANGER!
Gigantic Frauds
Proposed.
A Word of Warning to Repub-
licans and Democrats Alike. =.


of the election, on his guard. Good
laws can not enforce themselves. Regis
tration laws have been and may be made
a means of the most gigantic and whole
sale frauds evercommitted on the ballot
box in Ohio! The Foraker-strangler
Third Term Pirates are a desperate
crowd, and do not propose to loose this
election if brazen fraud can defeat the
aim of the people. Already the honest
men of Cincinnati are organizing to
capture and punish the rascals, If dirty
work is done. Let this plan be followed
in every city in ohio:]
The electors of Hamilton County and
the citizens of Cincinnati must arouse
themselves if they would prevent one OF
the most rascally, brazen schemes to de-
feat the will of the people at the polls
that has ever been concocted by gang
of political desperadoes, who fear moth
ing but defeat. For a 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
disgraced by the armed bullies, black
and white, under the infamous Lot
Wright. In 1885 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 powerless to protect
themselves. The agitation led to the
enactment of laws to protect decent peo-
pie from the bullies, toughs, and profess
sional political rascals. A registration
law was passed; men were prevented
from going within one hundred feet OF
the polls; an election board 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-
tenn. 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
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 StrangleYs. 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 cleverly, so fairly,
that it leaves no trail, and deceives the
most honest and unsuspecting. Let us
illustrate. At the Presidential election
in 1884, there were wonderful and unac-
countable gains in number Of Repub-
lican wards of this city. Hon. Dan Nc
cutive Committee, came to Cincinnati to
make an investigation. A precinct in
: the Twelfth Ward showing the largest
: Republican gain was selected for inves-
tigation. The precinct was polled,
and the voters could not be
found. The poll books were ex-
aimed at the County Clerks office, and
lie names were found on the list in a
strange handwriting. Mike Ryan was
one of theDemocratic judges of election.
, He Is now fugitive from justice, a
thief, and embezzler, 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 11e
names on the poll pook, and put that
number of Republican ballots in the box
for Blaine, Butterworth and reform!
, Will Taft, now Common Pleas Judge,
was then United States Supervisor OF
Elections. He issued printed instruc-
tions 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
duty to be present during the balloting
and counting of the votes; but under nc
circumstances was he to interfere
with the election officers, or to
assume or discharge any of their
duties. In violation of the plain letter
J Of the law, this supervisor took entire