New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-11-06
ROUGH TIMES IN BALTIMORE.
A CARNIVAL OF DEMOCRATIC VIOLENCE
AND FRAUD.
PROMINENT MEMBERS or THE REFORM LEAGUE
BEATEN AND NEARLY KILLED BY THE
DRUNKEN HEELERs OF THE RING-THE
POLICE HELPLEss-CHAIRMAN VEL
ILNGTONs PROTEST IN
ley TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE
HEEDED.

Baltimore, Nov. b.-This has been the roughest
and most exciting election In Baltimore since the
time when the plug-uglies. Of whom Free"
Rasin. the Democratic city boss Of to-day. was
leader, Used to mob respectable citizens at the
polls. Similar scenes were enacted to-day in
the downtown wards. Free whiskey made the
rowdysm worse. Barrels of liquor on tap
in the cellars of the ward bosses and the Balti-
more roughs and the crooks brought here from
other places were piled with wh.skey. Hun
dreds OF ignorant voters made half drunk
and became pliable tools for the ring workers.
The Reform League did splendid work Prom.-
nent physicians. lawyers and merchants rsked
their lives 10 act as watchers at the polling
places in the crooked districts. A dozen or more Of
them were beaten and nearly killed, but the others
stuck bravely 10 their posts Among those
assaulted were Leigh Bonsal A. s. Niles, William
A. Peasants and Charles G. Baldwin. The po-
lice in the lower wards. with a few exceptions
failed to do their duty. About noon committee
from the Reform League called on the Police
Commissioners. told them OF the shameless at
tack Charles c. Baldwin and asked further
protection. TIE Commissioners and Marshal Frey
said that they were helpless. They had been told
for weeks that excitement would run high. Ev-
erybody expected trouble but only mild instruc
tions were issued. and no special officers
sworn in
Another interesting feature Of the day was
the appeal 10 Henry Williams, the Democratic
candidate for Mayor. to interfere In favor Of
suppressing the disturbances. Mr.. Williams re-
sponded readily TO the suggestion. He said that
he would not accept the office if he were elected
by fraud. He set out at once to find John f.
Hurst the Democratic candidate for Governor,
and make plans to use .heir combined infiu-
IN no
however incredulous as to the stories Of
assault and intimidation. and sneered at the
charges made by the Reform League. Chief-of
Police Frey admitted that the force at the polls
seemed too small, but said that he had no more
men to send, and that his calls the various
stations had been met with the response that
nothing further could be done.
About noon the situation was so critical that
the Reform League officer suggested TO the Po-
Ice Commissioners that perhaps the militia could
be called out for patrol service. but the Commits
sioners replied that they felt sure such course
would result In bloodshed. While they did not
have authority to call out the troops, said Mr..
Schryer the Board could not it's way clear
10 requesting Governor Brown to do so.
Late this afternoon Chairman Wellington. Of
the Republican State Committee. sent a letter
to Chief-of-Police Frey in which he said:
called o this Re 25ns TA w Dm
tee and informed you Of the troubles in the seventh
nesses were presented, and it was established be;
yond a doubt that the Republican challenger had
refused TO interfere You assured us that the Of
cs you'd be changed ne aa ha be the uS nee
then additional news has come from this ward
and others that your police are not n dong their b
Police Department to see that fair play |. given
or
viii be the consequences that will follow. In ad-
with you but You seem to be INCLINED to pass this
matter over without giving It due co ms Ton
form your duty will make It known 10 the PEG
PIE Of the STATE and pt you IN h the RO 81 peo
in preventing fair election.
The reply Mr.. Wellington received from the
chief was that he was doing all he could
Patrolman Lewis Cole shot. but not seri-
ously wounded. by mob at the City Han plaza
Harry Lee attempted TO vote in the Seventeenth
Precinct Of the Fourth Ward on name which
had previously been voted on. The Republican
election Judge ordered his arrest and when the
policeman started with the prisoner for the sta
ton a mob Of Democratic roughs followed. They
succeeded in getting Lee away from the police
man. He started on a run. but Policeman Cole
grabbed him. The next instant some one In the
mob fired. and bullet penetrated the Iolicemans
foot He held on TO his prisoner. however, and
landed him in the station
The same mob assaulted W. L. Hutchins. mer-
chant who went to the policemans assistance.
John Smith a Democratic worker, was shot In
the Ieft breast by Horace Van Sorrell, a Republi-
can who said that he fired In self-defence.
several roughs attacked him when he went 10
vote.
In Baltimore County the German men took pos
session of two election booths and drove awey
hundreds of colored voters. The Reform League
watchers saved numbers OF colored voters from
being disfranchised in this city.