The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-02-06
As BAD As N MONTANA.
Desperate and Dfsreputabls Tactics
Employed BY Republicans in
NSN eeAs
Connecticut.
Trickery Very Clearly Shown III
Methods Of Arranging
the Ballots,
Four Weeks OF the Session Of the L.eris-
latnre Misunderstanding from
No Plot,

HARTFORD, Feb. 6.-In the -four weeks that
the two houses have been in session not
piece Of public business has been transact
cd. The responsibility rests wholly with
the republicans, whose course from tho out
set has been in defiance of the constitution
and the honest results of the election.
The facts concerning the Bridgeport bal
lots, which have constituted one Of the main
issues in the controversy, was presented for
the first time in the house in their correct
light this afternoon. The sworn statement
Of the democratic moderator, James Cassin,
was given by Representative Callahan, of
New Haven. The moderator's statement
shows that the rejected ballots were
marked in different places some between
the letters in the word governor
some in ''lieutenant- governor" The marks
were crosses, periods and open periods.
The tickets were not marked alike. There
was ono democratic ticket marked with a
wavering, horizontal line below the word
acknowledgements" 1t was not counted,
When the count was nearly finished on
the state ticket. w. L. Disbrow came in
and looked at the ballots claimed to be
marked and said: ''These are undoubtedly
marked, but l I'M not prepared to state
how.'' Then Mr.. Disbrow brought MIR.
Whitney in, and Mr.. Whitney took a mag
nifying glass, looked at the tickets, and
said the marks were made with n printing
press, and that such marks made with
printers ink could not be rubbed out.
Mr.. Marigold, chairman of the republican
town committee came in and looked
at the tickets claimed to be marked. He
produced several tickets, which he said
were similarly marked. Counter Mullins
asked him if he would agree that the
tickets were marked by a pencil if the
marks could be erased. 10 this Mr.. Mari
gold agreed.
Mullins then borrowed a rubber from
some n in. the room and proceeded to
erase the marks. All agreed haiti marks
were erased. The ticket. both in printing
and paper, was uninjured by the erasure.
Then Mr.. Marigold declared that printers
could be rubbed out. Up to this time
Counter Buckingham had not objected,
protested, or suggested anything contrary
objection until so advised by Lawyer Con-
ley. Mr.. Mar:gold then proposed to
send for a democratic printer and
leave it to him to say whether the tick
cts were marked with a pencil or not.
Mr.. Marigold suggested it be left to Mr..
Sbll06, VI uAO l. 0AlAOA Vi AL oOAAA u ANOhIS J
and finally, insisting on sending for Mr..
Near, said he would abide by his decision.
Mr.. Near was sent for. He came and
gave the tickets a very careful examination
by the eye, with spectacles, and finally with
the aid of a magnifying glass. After his
reputation as a printer of thirty-five years
experience that the marks were made after
the ballots were printed.
This affidavit of Moderator Cassin settles
the case with regard to the Bridgeport ball
lots. Not a member of the Bridgeport in
vestigating committee has had access to
the rejected votes, and the report is based
wholly on hearsay evidence. The partisanf
dishonesty of the committee's report. which
is to furnish reason for keeping the
democratic state officers out of their rights,
will appear from the attitude which is taken
the 42S rejected double ballots
throughout the state. These ballots were :
each case appearing in an official envelope
was counted. 1t is the boldest trickery to
insist upon the counting of these votes in
order to wipe out the democratic majority.
the associate ballots were counted under
the secret ballot law, and the votes thrown
out we're returned by the moderators as re-
jected. /
The desperation of the republican scheme
is such that the leaders have shrunk from
no plot that may promise to give them
help. TIL alleged fraud in the returns in
this city will not amount to anything. The
discrepancy arises from the fact that the
total vote for governor is not as large as the
whole number of votes polled. This is
easy enough to explain when the returns
are inspected. In the republican wards
there was a widespread detection from Mer-
win, and the voters refused to support HIM.
scratching his name from the ticket. The
matter will not be pressed, as it shows the
weakness of the republicans in this city.