New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-11-16
THE FRAUDS At BUFF4LO.

Lieutenant Governor Shcehan is unwilling to
talk about the crimes committed by party man
ayers and election officers under his control at
Buffalo to secure the return as elected OF two
of his friends who were clearly defeated last
week. The evidence already brought out in
the courts has closed Sheehans mouth and made
him wary. 1t is proved by the confessions OF
nearly dozen different inspectors and poll
clerks that, acting under instructions from
Augustus f. Scheu, sheehan's State Committee
man, they altered the returns, transforming
maiorties for the Republican candidates for
District Attorney and Superintendent OF Edu-
cation into majoritie5 for their Democratic
competitors, Sheehan's close friends. These
witnesses declare that Scheu promised them
protection in case their fraudulent conduct got
them into trouble Sheehan is now at Buffalo
comforting with his lieutenants, and we shall
be gravely curious to see in what form Scheus
knavish promises are redeemed.
The Buffalo frauds are even more fragrant if
less important in their political bearings, than
those bv which Senator Deane's seat in the State
Senate was stolen year ago. In that case
there was at least pretence OF Justhca'ion.
The Republican ballots that we're thrown ont
by the Board of Canvassers were alleged to be
marked for identification. and the canvassers
claimed that their proceedings, however irre8u-
lar, wero taken in good faith to prevent the
consummaton of Republican wIone-doing
Those charges and claims the courts have one
and all condemned as wholly dishonest IN both
motive and matter. but they served the pur-
pose of supplying q case for Democratic par
tiSans to use in operating on public opinion
The Buffalo frauds, however, arc as open as
thoy are wantOn. Warned by the reiterated
declarations Of the courts that boards OF can
vassers have no power Of discretion, but must
make out certificates of election in literal and
exact accord with the returns Us submitted by
the polling officers, the Sheehan gang per-
ceived the necessity of creating set of frandu-
lent returns and they set about their task with
an audacity and reckless disregard OF law
worthy of their leader,
In one case, it appears, where votes cast FOR
the Prohibition candidates were counted for
the Democrats, the changes were made under
lock and key at Democratic headquarters. Scheu
was present and personally directed the shame
full business. 1t was done boldly and without
the slightest suggestion Of right and enough
to give them plurality on the face Of the re-
turns. If the Supreme Court in Erie County
does not punish these abominablc crimes 1t
will deliver blow at FREQ government which
will be profoundly hurtfr and far-reaching.
We have had 50 much Of this sort OF thing in
this State since the Hill Sheehan outfit became
powerful and it has been done 80 often in
defiance of the courts, that the people are
beginning to wonder what the courts are for.
Hills friend Rockwell sits to-day in the Lid
Congress- despite the judgment OF the Court
of Appeals that he was not elected and obtained
his celtiiiC ate illegally. Osborne, the wrcichcd
fraud from Duchess County, sits in the State
Senate with decree OF the same court on
file declaring that he has no right there and
that the ballots thrown out in his interest
were lawfully cast and returned. Walker of
Steuben, is in the same body, despite the courts
declaration that the Stcuben canyassers had
no earthly right - return him. These are
awful scandals and admonitions. If the courts
arc poverless, if the protection OF such as
Shcchan and Scheu extended TO Office robbers
amounts to more than the authority of the
coults, it is time the people understood it,