The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-11-05
THIRTY-FIRST DISTRICT.

Open urcbase of Votes the Water
Front.
The Thirty-first Assembly District was
the scene of many disgraceful proceedings
in that portion which is situated along the
water front. Men who have been connected
with hot political fights for years declared
that they had never witnessed such exhibit
tons Of hoodlumism and such open pur-
chase of votes within a few feet of the polls.
The Democratic boss had evidently pre-
pared his plans for wholesale onslaught on
the voters of the water front, for his hench-
men and heelers were out in force from the
opening to the close OF the polls. Liquor
was easily obtainable from adjoining sal
looms, and before noon, and more desper-
ate crowd of diSreputable characters could
not be got together, Under the influence of
bad whisky the maudin desperadoes sur
rounded the polls and intimidated the small
percentage of respectable voters who ap-
preached the ballot-bOx.
Fights were frequent. and many of the
roughs did not hesitate to- let those around
them know that they were armed. The
first general row took place in the Third
Precinct of the district on Clay and Front
streets. One of the United States Marshals
challenged man and arrested him, but
gang gathered about him and rescued the
prisoner. after the Marshal had received
severe treatment.
An Alaskan fisherman who had resided at
Bill Bendt's lodging house attempted to cast
his vote, and was set upon by number of
Buckley's gang. Bendt interfered on behalf
OF his lodger and Tor his pains received
blow over the eye which temporarily
closed it. Shortly after this row, Al
White, who was looking after the interests
of his dodgers, was attacked and severely
beaten. Some of his friends attempted to
assist him, and the result was general me-
lee. Soon four men were laid in the gutter.
The news of the hard character of Precinct
8 soon reached Captain Dunleavy of the
Harbor Police and he stationed four officers
at that place. wEo succeeded in the latter
part Of the afternoon in preserving order.
AT Precinct The firemen cOngregated in
numbers under the leadership of Buckley's
Fire Commissioner, Maurice Schmidt.
Schmidt was at this precinct all day. 1t was
the headquarters Of Buckley's sack. No at
tempts were made to conceal the purchase
of votes, which was done within ten feet of
the polls. Around the corner from the pre-
cinct is clearinghouse with small stair
way, and whenever q voter approached he
was seized bodily by one Of the heelers and
steered upstairs Somebody would then
whisper in Schmidt'S ear and he would rush
up the stairway.
Soon the voter would come up to the polls
with ballot in his hand, carefully fold and
deposit it in the box. Most of the men who
had registered from temporary quarters,
where they had not lived two days before,
ana WHO are huUWU dS SlOWdNdyS, Hdu
their votes purchased. The majority of
them consisted of drunken sailors, who
were very pliable material in the hands of
the Fire commissioner and his heelers.
Harbor Commissioner Alexander was at
the precinct in the interests of the Republi-
can party, and was disgusted at the intimi-
dation of voters and the open purchase of
votes. Many prominent politicians called
at the precinct during the day, and some of
them said they had never before seen such
disgraceful proceedings.
a significant fact which will throw some
light on the character of the voters of Pre-
cinct is that at the close of the polls
there were forty who had not voted, having
probably been too drunk to put in an APP
pearance. In most Of the upper precincts
of the district the voting was quiet and
orderly.
When James Downey, porter, living at
All Davis street, and James MuldowDey, a
laborer, of 11SR Washington street, went to
cast their ballots at noon at the Second Pre-
cinct, they found that some one had already
voted in their names Captain Leale, who
was WORKING at the polls in the interests of
the Republican party, sent word to the
State Central Committee. An attorney was
sent down, and under his instructions the
officers of election allowed the two men to
deposit their ballots. 1t is understood that
the police have a clew to the men who
fraudulently represented them.
In the Second Precinct of the Thirty-frst
District, at the corner of Oregon and DR. umm
streets. a young man also attempted to vote
in the name of man named Holmes. 1t
was known that he was not the man he rep
resented himself to be. but, ON account of his
youth, he was allowed to depart with eau
ton.
In the Third Precinct, at the corner of
Clay and Davis streets, John Brown was ar
rested by Sergeant Nash for attempting to
vote Illegally, and was taken to the United
States Marshaps office.
In the Fourth Precinct Joseph E. Howe
was arrested by officer Charles Hall, and
charged at the North Harbor Station with
attempting to vote Illegally. He tried to
vote under the name Of John p. Tomly, and
Tomly will appear as witness against him.
THIRTY-sECOND DISTRICT.