New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-02-15

NATION FOR THE PREI DENCY-THE DEMO
Gratis HAD THE PARTY MACHINERY To
STEAL WITH, so THY sToLE-wAs THERE
DEAL WITH FLOWER 2-wHIRIING
THE THING THROUGH THE BOARD
OF CANvASSERs-HoW THE LAW
WAS JUGGLED AND TIE
COURTS USED TO HELP ALONG
THE RECKLESS CRIME.
(yRoM A STAFF CORRESPONDENT TRBUyRJ
Poughkeepsie, Feb. 13.-When, on the night
of November 3, 1891, all the votes
cast to fiji the Office of State Senator in
the general election in New-York, held that
day, had been counted by the election inspectors
and declared in their sworn statement of returns,
seventeen Republicans, fourteen Democrats and
one Independent Republican had been elected
But when the Legislature met on January .,
500, the persons who appeared at Albany
equipped with certificates from the State board
of Canvassers emitting them to organize as a
Senate were sixteen Democrats, fourteen Repub-
licans and Independent Republican. In other
words the certificates belonging TO two Repu6ll
cans were given by the State Board of Can
vassers 10 tleir defeated opponents and the
certificate belonging to third Republican was
not awarded at all In his seat, however, the
Senate having organized, Democrat was promptly
Injected by the partisan vote of that body. SO
that the Senate, rs it stands to-day, is composed
of seventeen Democrats fourteen Republicans and
one Independent The proceedings by which this
result was reached constitute a crime against the
suffrage and an attack upon liberty and Ameri-
can institutions more audacious, more potent for
harm and more defiant of law than any that
have been recorded in the history of Northern
State.
In this correspondence l intend to tell as
clearly, fully and connectedly as l can, and with
absolute fidelity TO the truth, precisely how TINS
great crime was accomplished Nothing will be
asserted which has not been or cannot be SUD-
stsntially proved, nor will any inference be
suggested which is not logical and necessary
conclusion of demonstrated facts
FIRST HINTS OF FRAUD
1t was known 10 every newspaper ofice in the
State by 3 o'clock in the morning after election
that the lid, XIllth, XVth, XVlth. AElllth,
XIXth, XXth AXIst, XXI1d, AXilld, AAlNth,
XXvth, XXVIth XXVIlth, XXVI1Ith. AAlAth
and XXXth Senate Districts-seventeen i'll all
had been carried by the Republicans. The Asso-
ciated Press Is the agency through winch the
newspapers collect the official returns after an
the very instant they counted, and in It's
office the computations made that show the
results by towns, counties and districts Inc
Associated Press dispatches left no reasonable
donbt ON the night of November that these
seventeen districts according to the 0thcal re-
farms had elected Repu blicans. And yet that
very night messages flew over the wires INTO ohe
offices of the Democratic papeJs declaring thaI
Governor Hill and Ed Murphy, the chairman
of the Democratic Campaign Committee, were
claiming the Senate What these Claims were
based on did not appear, but they were vociler-
ously repeated the next day, and In the rsce Vi
positive assurances from the Associated
Press that its figures official and cor
rect. That night the claims of the Democrats
began 10 grow little more SPECIFIC III was
limited that Edward Z. Osborne. the Democratic
candidate and not Gilbert A. Deane, had oeen
elected in the XVIII District: that Charles T.
Walker Democrat. and not Franklin ID. Sherwood
Republican. had been elected in the AAVllth
District: that Michael Collins Democrat and
not John H. Derby Republican. had been elected
in the XvIth District and that John II Nichols
Democrat and not Rufus T. Peck, Republican.
had been elected in the XVIII District. IL Is
biahly significant that these reports did not al
first come from the districts themselves. In Pougi-
keepsie the very rascals who afterward stole MI
Deane's seat by acts Of reckless and bareiaced
robbery frankly acknowledged his election when
the returns were filed. In Elmira no one queS
toned Mr. Shcrwoels large plurality. In SYN
cuSe Mr. Peck receiving the congratulations
Of his friends without the smallest hint that they
were not his due, and in Troy Mr.. Deroys TUE
WAS nowhere disputed All the rumors throwing
doubt on these elections first came from the
Executive Chamber at Albany and the Democratic
HEADQUARTERS in the Hoffman House. New-iork
I1IA. WE Stiles UP HIS MEN.
Telegrams of inquiry sent out into the districts
mentioned from the New-YOrk newspaper onces
elected 10 evidence in support Of the rumors Du'
only repeated assurances that the count wae COM
pcted and TIE Republican Calculates surely
elected The next day, however. the local Demo-
cratic managers In the districts began TO sustain
the claims that had been put forward by the
State bosses All that day political messengers
were nying between Albany and Syracuse, Troy
Elmira. Poughkcepsle and New-YOrk, and If the
files of the Western Union Offices in those cites
could be produced they would show some re-
markabe sllmnonses and directions. The Demo
cratic politicians were everywhere ADVISED 10 se-
cure "evdence," no matter how 1lnsy or absurd
that would serve the immediate purpose oil email
,.py;nO the iuspectors' count, and of creating a
popular impression that the result as 10 o'ae
Senators WAS in doubt Governor Hill gave TO
the Associated Press remarkable interview.
wherein Ia boldly declared that :" the Democrats
had carried a majority OF TIE Senate districts,
that they did not intend to be cheated out OF
their rights" and that IL was incumbent upon
avery Democrat who valued his party and lis
,,;ctories 10 watch the count as it was now pro-
ceeding throughout the State. Governor
Hi of course. perfectly aware oh"'
tho count had been completed within ten hours
after the polls closed The proceeding to WHICH
his remarks were intended 10 direct attention was
,ho canvass of the precinct returns before ue