The Portland daily press., 1893-03-07
FRAUDULENT PRACTICES By
THE WARDEN IN ONE.
'Hs Turned Republican Clerks Out
And Then Counted.
ENOUGH VOTES CHANGED TO BEAT
BAXTER BY IS MAJORITY.

In Ward 8 An Attempt is Made to Steal
City Council-No Choice for Alderman
In Ward 8, but Republicans Elect
Three CounciImen-The City Govern
ment is Republican Anyway, and MIR.
Baxter was Elected Mayor Ward
/. Ones Ballots Burned at Once.
The election in this city yesterday was
a fitting close to the system of Demo-
cratic politics which has been carried on
in Portland of late. Previous to the cleo
ton the Republican managers tried to
come to some understanding with the
Democrats as to the method of counting.
Under the new ballot law there is some
doubt about the duties of the several
ward officers. It has been claimed that
the warden alone does the counting,
although the practice has generally been
to have ward clerks Of the opposite party
assist the warden. The Republicans
wished to have an arrangement whereby
Democratic clerks should assist where
the warden is Republican, and the Re-
publicans where the warden is Demo-
cratic. To this the Democratic managers
would not consent. From that time the
Republicans began to have fears that
there was deliberate intention on the
part of the Democrats to tamper with
the vote. The results of yesterday show
that there was ground for these appre-
tensions. In portion of the wards the
Democrats acted fairly and allowed Re-
publicans to be present at the count.
This was the case in Wards 2 and a,
where the large Democratic vote needed
no bolstering. In the doubtful wards of
one and three it was different
No more scandalous election was ever
held than that in Ward / yesterday. The
Democratic election officers so defiantly
outraged deeency that members of their
own party denounced them, and the lead
ing Democrat Of the ward protested in
good set terms. Some of the incidents
of Ward election follow.
1t is not necessary to waste space upon
the fact that Democratic heelers with
liberal supplies of rum lowered continu-
ally around the polls. In that Ward l
was not different fromsssome of the 9TH
ers. The conduct of the election officers
affords much more significant theme.
Throughout the day Democratic Ward
Clerk Butler acted most yiciously. He
insisted on helping voters who did not
want assistance, and said so. He fol-
lowed such voters to the booths and
looked over their shoulders while they
were marking. He was seen to do this
by citizens who can vouch for it if nee
essary.
But the most outrageous performances
were on the part of the warden, Thomas
r. Harper. When the time came to close
the polls, Mr.. V. Richard Foss, a promi-
nent Republican, stepped forward and
stated that he wished to make motion.
We are informed that he intended to
move that the Republican ward clerks be
allowed to assist the warden in making
the count. But the warden in loud
voice, as if he had been schooled, said,
'sNo motion will be entertained"
sThat's the stuffr' yelled voice in
the crowd.
81 appeal from the decision," said Mr..
Foss.
But considerable disturbance prevent
ed this appeal from having force, and
the warden at once shouted:
''Everyo' aside this enclosure but
the warden and his clerk will please va
cate"
One of the Republican wardens re-
mained on the inside Of the guard rail,
but Harper and his assistant. a Demo-
--s