The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-11-17
FRAUD WITHOUT END.

Whatever may be the ultimate result of
the summing up Of the ballots Of the recent
city election we 10 not think there can be the
least difference Of opinion As to the efforts
which were made by the bosses and their
assistants to retain the important city Offices.
There has been such an abuse in the asst in
the County Clerks Office, in the Sherifps
office and in the Board OF Supervisors. by
which just enough members were secured to
carry any proposition through that body in
spite of veto Of the Mayor, that all realized
what was wanted. From the commence
ment Of the canvass 1t WAS apparent that
the purpose OF certain men was 10 carry the
election, by fraud If necessary. Names
were placed upon the polling lists which
cur citizens generally realized were there
for tie purpose of securing fraudulent
votes. Next an effort was made to deprive
the NOn-Partisans from obtaining a fair
position for their candidates upon the
ballot. Nearly every step taken prior to
the day Of election was for the purpose OF
enrolling a class OF men, many OF whom
ought to be in the penitentiary, TO place
their instruments in Office. By looking over
the list Of Supervisors and judges Of cleo
,t0n 1t will be seen that nearly half of
the men were not fis TO have been en-
plOyed. 1t could not have been by mere ac-
cident that so many unworthy persons were
selected for such important positions. Men,
many Of whom would not be trusted by any
business man in San Francisco, were thrust
into the most important positions. They
were evidently placed there la order to cheat
the public. Every Intelligent man in San
Francisco knows that what we have stated
is strictly true. What thenP We are now
49,
and the ballots have scarcely begun to be
counted. Some thirty of the polling places
were so managed that the public could
obtain only partial Information as to who
were voted for. 1t could not have been by
accident that the ballots OF SO many of the
precincts were kept from the people for
more than an entire week. The object was
undoubtedly TO confuse the public and to
wait for an opportunity 70 announce
fraudulent votes for important city Offices.
The election was held in which it was
understood that frauds would be CON-
mitted If an opportunity offered. THE
CALL believes the Non-Partisans carried
nearly every important Office in San Fran
cisco. and that rascally efforts have been
and are being made by disreputable men to
cheat them out OF the result Of their labors.
II is not probable, when prior TO the
election il WAS in every mans mouth that
more than one-haf of cur citizens were adj
vocates of the Non Partisan candidates, that
the vote should have fallen away so that
they were behind other candidates. Elec-
tions do cot 60 by eontFaIies When nearly
everybody is in favor OF candidates and
expresses his intention openly to vote for
them il is not usual for such candidates to
be defeated. Here was an election where
nearly every person demanded reform,
where all of the machinery OF the election
was in the hands Of men who showed a
disposition TO cheat, the ballots Of which
should have been kept in such a way
that the public could have had some reliable
information without waiting for weeks
for the result. Polling places Were
so numerous that but few ballots had to be
counted, yet these ballots were studiously
kept from the public. The conclusions are
nearly universal that there must be change
In the control of the polling places-in the
men who have the handling Of the votes.
We do not wish to 60 back to the times in
San Francisco when men were counted as
elected TO important offices who were not
known to be even candidates prior to the
day OF election. We do not remember hav-
ing previously witnessed such total dis
regard Of public opinion as was manifested
in the recent contest in this city. Many OF
the movements OF the parties concerned
were totally devoid of shame. The public
are waiting with much anxiety to see what
will next transpire.