New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-09-28
GOVERyOR BROWNS OPPORTUNITY.

The action of Governor Brown, of Maryland,
upon the petition Of the Reform League of Balti-
more praying for the removal OF the Democratic
members of the Board Of Election Supervisors
Of that city OH account Of official misconduct will
be awaited with keen interest and anxiety not
only by the friends Of fair and honest elections,
irrespective of party, but also by the Regular
Democratic leaders, who, upon the face of things,
appear to be engaged in a conspiracy TO en-
courage and promote fraud and crime at the
coming State election. If the allegations made
by the Reform League are shown TO be true,
there will be only one honorable and honest
course for Governor Brown TO pursue, and that
will be promptly to remove the offending officers,
regardless Of the fact that they are members OF
the party to which he belongs. Indeed, In view
of the aroused sentiment in favor OF fair cleo
tons, as well as the Indignation caused by some
of the acts OF the election supervisors ana me
registration officers appointed by them In Balti-
more, the Governor would probably do his party
q service by removing them and appointing to
their places conservative, law-abding Democrats
who enjoy the public confidence
Fortunately for him and unfortunately for the
accused officials, the fact that the registration
law of the State has been openly, repeatedly and
wantonly violated by those officials is easily srs
ceptible of proof and 1t Is also alleged In the
petition upon which the Governor Is called to
act that the law providing for the appointment
Of Judges and clerks of election has been and Is
being violated by them The local columns Of
the Baltimore newspapers day after day contain
specific statements. supported by testimony that
seems to be overwhelming, showing that persons
! civ
although they are not qualified voters; that the
names Of persons, real or fictitious, have been
registered from houses that have been vacant
for months, and so on. in one case the names
Of four persons were placed on the registration
list and their residence given as certain num-
| Der in a certain street. The house bearing that
number is owned by minister who, with his
family, occupied It until few months ago, when
he accepted a call TO church in another city
and advertised his house for sale, since which
time ii has been unoccupled. 1t was In order TO
make such fraudulent registrations possible and
easy and to hinder the detection OF them, that
the Democratic registration officers, in obedience
to the orders Of the Democratic supervisors and
their general counsel'-one Of whom was the
Democratic Speaker Of the last House Of Dele
gates of the Maryland Legislature forcibly eject
ed from the places Of registration respectable
citizens, who there, as they had a lawful
right TO be, to observe the proceedings. When
complaints made TO the supervisors Of these
unlawful acts, and the removal Of the rcgistra-
| ton officers who had committed them was urged.
the Democratic majority Of the Board Of Super
vlsOrs refused to remove the offenders on the
ground that they We're known II the Board 10
"be wellknown, reputable citizens whose char
"acters are above reproach, and who would
"spurn the wilful commital Of an act in viola.
"tion Of the law
All judges and clerks Of election in Baltimore
are appointed by the Board Of Election Super
visors and according to the petition filed with
Governor Brown by the Reform League no fewer
than seventy four such judges and clerks have
already been appointed as representatives, Of the
| Republican party In some forty election pre-
cincts, despite the fact that the appointments of
the men selected were not recommended or de-
sired by the Republican party organization. OF
course there could have been only one motive
for such selections by the Democratic Super
visors OF Election. II Is expected that Governor
Brown VIII grant hearing To the petitioners and
the counsel for the minority Of the Board OF
Supervisors early next week. and he has prom
Used that he will act promptly. Inasmuch ms Mr.
Hurst the German Rnsin candidate for Gov