New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-04-27
THE LANSINGBURG STEAL.
MURPTY'S ELECTION METHODS Illus
TRATED.
HOW REPUBLICAN MAJORITY OF cs3 LAST
YEAR WAS CONVERTED INTO AN ALLEGED
DEMOCRATIC PLURALITY OF Is THIS
sPRIyG-LEAvE TO BEGIN oUo
wARRANTO PROCEEDINGS


GRANTED.
| trpou rrr prcrI Ar CORRESPONDENT OF The IRiDrHr;
Albany April 26.-The inlquity OF the late eiec"on
in Lanslncburc was laid bare before Acrney-Genera'
| Rosendale to-day in the course OF an argument OH
| an application for leave 10 begin quo warranto pro-
| cecdlngs to oust James H. ilollen. the Democrat
who was fraudulenily elected. Prosecutions Oh 'he
Democratic repeaters will also follow In the courts
OF Rensselaer, County. The Lansingburg suit should
be watched by tho voters OF the whole state. Tor II
Is an Illustration Of the methods OF Senator Edward
Murphy IT,, when he desires TO carry vllage or a
county and they methods which VIII probably
be followed n possible. in Buffalo In the coming
fail election
Ex-senator Albert c. Comsiock. Of Lansingburg
detailed TO the Attorney General the circumstances at
tending the fraudulent election. year ago the
Democratic Legislature empowered the president Of
the village to appoint a Board OF Police Commission
rrs For the first time since 1867 the president
happened TO be Democrat. Every year before his
election the Republicans had elected their candidate
BY majOrltles ranging from 500 10 1000. The
Democratic president Of the village appointed Police
Board consisting OF four Democrats and one Repubh
can. But the "meat" OF the act was the authority
given TO the board 10 appoint the election inspectors
When the charter election In Lansngburg. on
March 6, approached, Mr.. Comstock. as chairman OF
the Republican Town Committee. submitted TO the
Board OF Police Commissioners list Of the men
election They were men WHOM the Republican party
desired TO have appointed TO guard It's Interests
There was 10 be only one Republican inspector at
each polling place against two Democrats, a'hoheh
every knew that the majority OF the Inhabitants
OF the town Republicans. But the Democratic
Board OF Police Commissioners deisnily disregardcd
this request. and appointed alleged Republicans
In fact, Democrats we're appointed as election In
spccors in the gulse OF Republicans.
Upon election Gay the plot TO disfrnnchse the
Republicans further disclosed. The Republican
watchers excluded from the pOlline-places and
gangs OF Democratic rcpcatcrs from Troy and Albany
were employed. What planned was OF course
executed. a Republican majority OF SOB at the
village election OF 1852 was converted into an
alleged Democratic plurality OF 54o.
Mr.. Comsock read to tho Attorney General the
following interesting letter sent to one OF the
Democratic members OF the Board Of Police Com
missoners the day before the election:
Lansnburs. Marrh 4. 1898.
william OConnor Police Commissioner:
You have spent the greater part Of your lie in This
community, aud have by your upright and honorable
conduct earned for yourself the Ieect and connd nee
OF your people You have Just been appointed 10 the
OF Police Commissioner, ana Us such you have
voice in the appointment OF inspectors OF election and
poll clerks for next Tuesdays election.
The Republican Town Committee "Wednesday last
served Mr.. DENIM. the chairman u your board.
list Of the Republicans appointment inspectors
poll clerks urgently asked IN each district
The request thus far been ignored. and the Re-
publcans have 30 fear that there Is no innt on
grant same but that. the contrary. arrange.
have been made 10 appoint Other and entirely
different person., who objectionable In Re
publcans and very acceptable u Democrats We pro-
against this unfair and insist that Republicans
should the right Of selection. and IN any event.
should be appointed who are not known 10 BE-
outsndout Republicans.
There Is no occasion for the appointment OF obscure
and unknown This II full OF good business
men OF known integrity and farnef. who are mem.
bers OF party. and respectfully urae that you
your influence said board and with your sssociAes
TO accomplish this OF simple justice, an3 prcseht
the contamination Of wrong which is wholly uneallcd
for IL honest election is desired. A. c. cCMsToCk
Mr.. Comstock further made affidavit that the Board
Of Police Commissioners ignored this request ana II
secret session appointed Inspectors oil election ana
poll clerks at 10 o'clock the night before election
Bit by fur tho most interesting bit OF Mr.. Com
stocks evidence was his statement regarding the
voluntary andavits Of I.3T7 Republicans that they
voted tnat tckc, AT the Lansngburg election, and
vet the Democratic inspectors reported or!y i,o.o
Republican votes. Nor were these all the Republican
votes cast, bat merely ihos" which were traced.
There was no question that John Magee. the Rcpub-
can candidate for president Of the village. lad nj
least 500 plurality. The table below shows III"
Republican votes which cast. and those which
were allowed