Abendblatt., 1894-11-16
Stdott1bes.
(@us ber Wtor9enous9obe.l
Examine the Ballots.

WV W. "hN@SS"NNSS~"SJ
Examine the Ballots.
The further the official count pro-
ceeds and the more the vote cast on
Tuesday of last week is examined
into, the more is the proof conclusive,
that great frauds were perpetrated.
Our editorial of some days ago on
honest elections only in a general way
called the attention of the election
commissioners to the need Of a more
strict scrutiny and careful watching
of the work done on election day.
Our editorial of yesterday on false
registration must convince everybody,
that that phase of the election needs
careful watching. To-day it is very
evident that the only way to secure
an absolutely honest election, and that
all other safeguards will not suffice, is
for the election board to do more than
merely verify the official returns Of
the judges. They must examine the
ballots, and until the ballots are ex-
amined in three or four particular
cases, the enormity of frauds prac-
ticed, not by voters but by the sworn
officials, namely: h ejudges and clerks
of election, can never be ~unearthed.
It is very easy under our Australian
system to commit fraud. In fact it
almost appears as though when the
Judges are dishonest to be the easiest
method in the world, and the only
way to prove that fraud has been com
mitted is to examine the ballots.
This, we demand.
We hope that Judge Carter, as soon
as he takes his seat, will Immediately
order an examination of the ballots,
at least in three cases. First place,
in the congressional district, where
Mr.. Lawler was defeated for congress;
in the second place, in the senatorial
district, where Mr.. Cannon was de-
feated; and in the third place, in the
senatorial district, where Mr.. Meier
was defeated. It is only too plain to
any one in any manner posted about
election methods and who has a per-
sOnal acquaintance of the districts, in
which these gentlemen ran, thatfrauds.
have been committed. The offer of
Mr.. Lawler to defray all expense if a
recount were made, should be accep-
ted by Mr.. Woodman, so that there
cannot be the slightest cloud upon his
title to the office. Mr.. Lawler makes
bold statements about fraud having
been committed in precincts where
he did not have any personal watch
ers, and where he has the names of
citizens who voted for himin numbers
larger than the vote given him by the
judges. In adjoining precincts in the
same ward where he had personal
watchers to look after his interests,
he everywhere received about as many
votes as Mr.. Ryan, thus showing that
no fraud was committed where his
interests were protected.
In the district where Mr.. Lyman
was elected, Mr.. Cannon, defeated
candidate, makes bold statements that
the judges placed in front of the name
OF Mr.. Lyman, his opponent, the figure
49," thus giving Mr.. Lyman all the
votes and him none. lie mentions
one precinct where in this manner he
claims to have been deprived of at
least 900 votes. Certain it is that the
vote recorded for Mr.. Lyman in that
precinct IS out of all proportion to the
vote recorded any where else.
In the district where Mr.. Meier was
a candidate, the official count shows
that he, although personally the most
popular, received about $500 votes less
than the head of the ticket. Now, it
is not a ~supposable case that $500
voters in that district voted for the
rest OF the ticket and not for Mr..
Meier. These votes have in some man
ner been made to disappearance that
they have been given to another can
didate, but simply have not been
counted. We believe that an examin-
alton of the ballots made by the
election commissioners, where the
parties in interest are represented,
will show a most d~eplorable and dis
honest condition of things.
. A thorough Investigation in these
three cases will no doubt develop a
condition of things that would lead to
the Indictment and conviction of some
election officials. They must be
prosecuted to the fullest extent of
the law no mercy must be shown
them. Better not have any election
at all than to have an election that is
controlled by dishonest officials who
steal the sovereign will of the people.
No honest man under such a condition
OF things can run for office, for he
never could be elected. Honesty must
npnUoil Tboroforo oyopo;oo H. bo1