The Indianapolis journal., 1891-04-09
Democrats Resort to Outrageous Frauds
t0Keep Cregier in the Mayors Chair.
Over 100 Votes Cast in One Precinct in Ficti-
tious or Dead Mems Names - Returns Ma
nipulated in the Interest Of Gamblers.
Hampstead Washburne to Be Kept Out of
Off ce if Foul Means Can Do 1t.
Ballots Under Guard-Carter Harrison Dis.
gusted with the Place-Michigan Safely
Republican-In Other States.
FRAUD AT CHICAGO.


Democrats Attempt to Steal the Election
Fraud at the Stockyards.
CHICAGO, April Sat midnight tonight
both Republicans and Democrats were
claiming to be victorious in the exciting
election for the may yoralty. Each side. how
ever, had practically minimized its claims
to plurality of 200 or 800. The official
count, to begin tomorrow, was being
awaited with imDatience. the narrow
party, and the charges and coun-
ter-charges of fraud making the
suspense almost distracting. The Demo-
Gratis put forward the assertion that in
scores of instances the votes for Elmer
Washburn, the citizens candidate. were
deliberately counted for Hampstead Wash
burne. the Republican nominee, such sub
stitution being facilitated by the similarity
of names. On the other hand. the Repub-
licans protest that in one precinct alone at
the stock-yards over one hundred
votes were deposited for names
that were refused registration, and
that some of the names are those of persons
who have been dead for weeks or months.
In this particular precinct. it is charged,
affairs were so manipulated that every
judge and clerk, without exception. were
Democrats, and the plurality for Cregier
was something abnormal. Not few peo-
pie tonight were inclined to believe that
the many alleged mistakes and changes
In estimates were III the interest of the
gambling fraternity. and were designed to
give certain big book-makers q chance to
hedge out on their bets.
GUARDING AGAINST FRAUD.
Colonel Nye, chairman of the Republican
campaign committee. went before the elec-
tion commissioners this morning. and re-
quested that two members of his committee
be permitted to remain on guard over the
, vault in which the returns and documents
are preserved night and day until the Of
fetal canvass has taken place. After q
consultation with Judge Scales, the cleo
tion commissioners agreed that two men
should be permitted to remain in the vault
room until the official canvass commences
tomorrow. AS an additional precaution,
the combination of the safe containing the
official returns was changed. Subsequent
ly. Chairman Nye asked that the judges of
the fifteenth precinct of the Twenty ninth
ward be prosecuted for refusing to admit
Anton Popham, the challenger of the Re-
publican and Citizens parties, to the poll
ing-room. Mr.. Nye stated that, of the 565
registered voters in that precinct, 564 are
shown to have vOted-a strangely large
proportion-and that of these. 542 are re-
corded for Cregier, and only for Hemp
stead Washburne and 10 for the other three
candidates. He said that he had strong
suspicious that fraud had been resorted to
In ferreting out the perpetrators.
EX-Mayor Carter II. Harrison announces
his permanent retirement from political
life. He says he proposes to leave Chicago
for good and either travel or 60 on q farm.
Concerning the tactics of the Cregier wing
of the Democracy Mr.. Harr Ison said to-day
in an interview: 1T was in line with its
action for the last two mOnths-fraudu-
lent, 1ntimidating, cOrruDting and dis
graceful. 1t was q revelation to me, for
had never before attended the polls in the
hOodlum districts Wilder and more dis
graceful orgies, more besotted savagery
and open appeals to buyers of votes could
not exist in the most ignorant of Southern
plantation districts"
A typical incident of the red-ho mayor
atty election had q tragic ending. All day
William III. Braniff peddled Harrison tick
cts. After the polls closed, last night he
went into a saloon. He was very happy,
and called for drinks Afterwards he be-
gan dancing and singing until he was out
of breath. Look out, Henry, you'll hurt
yourself" called the bartender. but Braniff
continued his dancing. He weighed more
than two hundred pounds and before long
he dropped to the floor. He soon became
unconscious. Physlcians were called but
the man died, worn out by his own p0lit-
ical exuberauce.