Evening journal., 1892-02-26
BACHS CONFIDENTIAL"
Republican Block Book in Directory
Form.

The Post ONCE Ignores Civil Service
Rules-Postmaste Stewart the Servant
of Corruption Hali-Let,er Carriers Help
Make the Block-Fun OF Inaccuracies.
Since Yesterdays expose OF solomon
Hersey's stupidity in making groundless
charges against Assessor O'Harra in rela
tion to fictitious names, and the further
stupidity Of the Republicans who made
false copies Of 0'Harra's lists and swore
to their correctness, it would be well to
say something 20 show what led up TO the
assumption that the names were fictitious.
"To FACILITATE DELIVERY OF THE
NAILS
For several months the Republicans
have been busily engaged in blocking the
city. II is estimated that the canvass of
the wards cost them between $500 and
81 600. The block book, as designed,
was to be the most perfect one ever made
In the city but Democrats who have ex-
amined it, say that, taken as a whole, IL
is very inaccurate.
The ca lvass WAS made, the returns
were handed In and the work Of the can
vasser wac completed.
Bach Billany, Mshaffy & Co. we're not
satisfied There must be verifcation
OF these returns But how was it to be
doneH It was decided TO call.the post Office
facilities into requisition. The de-
cision was carried out
Postmaster Stewart was consulted, and
a doubly-sure plan WAS the result Of the
conference. Letter carriers were de-
tailed to make an additional can
vass, and small printed blank circulars
1aNH q a
in the city by these servants
Of the Federal government. These cir
culsrs asked the head Of the house TO
enter in the blank spaces the names of
all persons in the house, Sin order to in
sure prompt delivery of mail matter.
Every body will remember these circulars
They we're simply part Of the block
system. They we're to be used for com
parison with the "house- to- house can
vass" Every person who was foolish
enough to pay any attention TO the cir
culsrs was the unwilling servant Of the
Republican party.
THE DEMOCRATS Caught on"
These circulars were not all delivered
when the Democrats saw through the
scheme. The word WAS quietly passed
along the line, aud but little attention
was paid to them. Few were returned
from houses in which there was DEM
ocrat. The subterfuge was too apparent
The plan fell through Letter carriers
proved more useful They were we'll
acquainted with the names and addresses
OF voters on their routes, and this
knowledge was put to good &C.
count What they did not know
they found out by quizzlcal
investigation. They made their returns
and they we're compared with the
original canvass. Corrections and add.
tions were made, and the copy was placed
in the hands Of City Auditor Billany to
be by him printed in directory form.
The idea was TO have the book issued in
twelve volumes. one for each ward. The
edition was to be. limited. Every book was
to be numbered, aud the number and the
recipient was to be entered l., register
kept for that purpose.
BmLANY ENJoINED TO SECRECY
The Republican managers epjoinec
City Auditor Billany to be very circum
spsct and not let the block get into tn,
hands OF the Democrats. He tried q
prevent it, but. like his efforts in regard
to BRch's confidential" circulars, his
circumspection was without avail
he warned the employees Of the print
ing Office not to tell that the book wal
being put in type. and threatened to dis
charge any man who divulged information
to any one.
The Democrats knew it in a day or tw,
and, feeling curious to know what thu
book looked like, thought It would b.
well to have a copy This desire has beer
grati6ed, and the following extracts from
the block of the First and Fifth ward
will show how systematic the Republi
cans went about their work: