New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-04-09
FRAUD IN CHICAGO.
DEMOCRATS TRYING TO COUNT IN CREGIER.
RETURNS FROM SEVERAL PRECINCTS MISSING
-wAsHBURNE'S PLURALITY 1900
TuwARTING THE RoGUEs.
IBY IELEGHAPH TO Tile TKIRuNE.I
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE rKIBuSEI

uouDteNly elected 1iempStcau WaSnDurne Mayor
of Chicago, in spite of the defections to the as
sstant Democrat ticket, otherwise styled "Citi-
zens'," and the desperate tactics of the Cregier
gang at the City Hall. The Republicans have
also succeeded in electng City Attorney and
Clerk, and probably the Treasurer More bare
faced manipulation of the returns have never
been known than those practised last night and
to-day by the desperate Cregier family trust
gang Returns from number of strong Re-
publican precincts are still missing this evening,
although it is certain that they have been brought
into the City Hall, and the Democratic organs,
after conceding all day that Washburne was
elected came out this evening with extras crying
that fraud" has been discovered, and that Mr..
Cregier is elected by "a very slight plurality"
They fail to explain that the fraud is in the
office where the returns have been secluded from
view ever since they were brought in.
Last night, when the returns compiled by ex-
pert accountants of the City Press showed
Washburnes plurality to he over 5000,
the City Hall people, who had been much
alarmed since early in the evening, suddenly
sent out word from the Controllers office that
Washburnes plurality at that time was only
S25. At 80 a. m Controller Onahan announced
that Cregier was elected by a plurality of 466,
while the City Press returns showed Washburne's
plurality to be 1,704. At 80. however, Onahan
suddenly discovered mistake, and hurriedly
gathering up the tally sheets, he and his hcnch.
men retired to q private room announcing that
mo more returns will be given out tonight"
The Democratic newspapers, tired Of this attempt
to stave off the inevitable, made investigation
on their own account and came out with extras
accepting the correct figures, and conccding the
election to Washburne This afternoon. after
hard work over the tally-shcets, including the
missing" precincts, which are probably locked
up in the Mayors office, Controller Onahan an
nounced to Cregier's organs that they had dis
covered that many votes cast for Elmer Washburn
had been counted for Hampstead Washburne, and
that these errors would probably elect Mr.. Cregicr
by 235 plurality. They do not explain how they
made this remarkable discovery, since they sup
posed to have access whatever to the ballots. In
fact, it is last desperate effort to falsify the
turns and count Cregier in by hook crook.
He is credited with having said to one Of his
henchmen this afternoon: "If the Republicans
succeed in getting me out of the City Hall for
two years TO come they are daisies"
There is no doubt that scheme is on foot to
doctor the returns before the Election Commits
sioners begin their official count, and the Repub
licans are straining every nerve to defeat the
ringsters. Chairman Nye, of the Republican Cam
paign Committee, went before the Election Com
mission this afternoon, after ascertaining that
several ballot-boxes had not been received, and
asked that two guards representing the Republican
marty be ollowed to remain in the Office and watch
these b. when they were brought in, to pre-
clude the possibility Of any one tampering with
them. Commissioner Healy thought the idea
good. but the Democratic Commissioners objected
~. In TO baf County
Judge Scales
With seven precincts to hear from, The Daily
News (Ind) prints the following: II. Wash
burne RepJ, 4s,25s; Creger DEM. 44,S9l;
Harrison Ind. Dem.). Al ago; L. Washburn ICLtJ'
23,o75: Morgan (Soc), 2,126.
The above figures show Hampstead WASH
burnes election by over 1900 plurality.
The Tribune" Rep in itS latest edition says; says;
Had there been an honest ballot Cregicr would
have been third in the race. But there was not
honest ballot or a fair vote This is demonstrated
by the returns from the First Ward, and by the
proceedings at the polls III the iodging-nTusc pre-
cncts along the river. and the turbulent and
brutal behavior of the Cregier mobs at the Stock
Yards and in the Eighteenth, Nineteenth ana
Twentyfourth Wards The police GiGers g.; s,.,n IN
pathy with the bulldozers; Creglers vote w0uld
have fallen 5000 short of Harrison had there been
no ballc5boN stung or 3nlIdozng & IN h ms tbnr lMr
party, and Mr.. Washburne's election is mainly due
to their loyalty. .
In the Aldermanic contests the probabilities are
that 1 Republicans and % Democrats have been
chosen Under these conditions the Council will
stand 43 Democrats and 25 Republicans
Ex-Mayor Carter H. Harrison announces his
permanent retirement from political life. He says
he proposes to leave Chicago for good and either
travel or 90 on farm. Concerning the tactics
of the Cregier wing of the Democrats, Mr.. Harrl-
son said to-day in an interview: 1t was In
line with its action for the last two months
fraudulent intimidating, corrupting and disgrace
full. 1t was revelation 20 me, for had never
before attended the polls in the hoodlum districts
Wilder and more dsgraceful orgies more besotted
savaCery and open appeals to buyers of votes could
not exist in the most ignorant of Southern panta-
tion districts.
The Election Commissioners finally agreed that
two men should be permitted to remain in the
vault-rOom until the official canvass begins to-
morrow As an additional prccaution the com
bination was changed on the safe containing the
official returns.
Subsequently Chairman Nye asked that the
Judges of the Fifteenth Precinct of the Twenty
ninth Ward be prosecuted for refusing to admit
Anton Pophal, the challenger Of the Republican
and Citizens parties to the polling-rOom. Mr..
Nye stated that Of the 565 registered voters In
that precinct. 5G4 are shown to have vOted-a
strangely large proDoriOn-and that of these SAP
are recorded for CreGier and only for HEMP
stead Washburne and 6 for the other three can
djdates.
HoNORs ABOUT EASY IN WISCONSIN.
L1TI