Evening star., 1896-10-29
THE CRY OF FRAUD
Gossip at Both Populist and Silver
Headquarters.
how TO MEET ATTEMPTED CORRUPTION
Republicans Laugh at the Idea Of
Using Money.
THE DEMOCRATIC CLUBS

At the headquarters of the >populists and
silver party in this city considerable atten-
ton is being given to considering ways for
meeting any attempt to give Mckinley an
advantage in the election over the demo-
cratic candidate by the wholesale use Of
money in the middle western states. 1t
may be that circular suggesting methods
that might be used to carry the election by
the use Of money will be issued in order to
have Bryan's supporters alert to possible
danger from that source.
How 1t May De Done.
Those who believe in the possibility Of
corruption are speculating on the form in
which money may be used. There Is little
fear expressed that the result will be
changed by any direct purchase of votes,
for 1t is argued that while a certain class
Of voters may be bought, 1t is difficult
thing to keep them bought, especially when
their ballots are marked within the seclu-
sion of an election booth. The possibility
Of the purchase of election judges is re-
garded as the most dangerous place for the
use of money by old politicians. and long
ago this danger was pointed out with
view of securing the best possible class of
citizens to act at voting precincts.
Some of the letters received at the head
quarters of the silver party during the past
few days indicate that there is a feeling
Of danger on election day If there Ia any
indication of a systematic plan for corrupt
Ing judges. If circular warning all pop
ulists and silver party men to be on the
lookout for fraud is gotten out it will be
mailed within day or two.
Republicans Laugh at the Idea.
On the other hand. the republicans laugh
at the idea of corruption by the use Of
money at the polls, and assert that such
an ante-election charge will be merely an
evidence OF weakening on the part of their
opponents. They say the cry Of fraud has
become so popular with beaten candidates
that it would have but little effect on the
people at large, except to indicate to them
that the opposition Is getting scaIed.
Both Sides Alert.
Politicians on both sides of the political
contest agree in saying that the people
who will fight a battle of ballots next
Tuesday are about equally divided in abil-
ity to take care of themselves, and that
neither side will be able to give their op-
poEents pointers" on watching out for
their interests on election day.
That the necessity for being alert next
Tuesday has taken possession of voters in
the west Is shown by the character of some
letters received at the democratic head
quarters during the past day OF two. Bryan
and Sewan clubs are writing of their in
tention to take the advice given by the
democratic leader at the great convention
Of democratic clubs at st. Louis. Mr.
Bryan advised these organizations to go to
the polls as a body, and to remain there
from sunrise to sunset, SO that they might
be on hand in any emergency. Mr.. W. S.
Mexican. in charge of the organization Of
democratic clubs, under the direction of
Secretary Gardner. in speaking of the work
of these clubs today, said:
Will Go In a Body.
Il believe that very generally the Bryan
and Sewall clubs will be represented by q
goodly number of members at election pre-
cincts on next Tuesday. The letters receiv-
ed from these clubs indicate that Mr. Bry-
ans advice to that effect will be very gen.
orally needed. Some of these clubs have
written us saying that while they were
composed OF poor men who could not con-
tribute to the campaign, yet they would
make a business of being at the polls on
election day to see that everything goes Off
regularly. This influence will be no small
check on any irregularity that might take
place. In Iowa, for instance, there are
1000 Bryan and Sewau clubs, and In the
other central western states these clubs
are equally well organized, and will be on
the lookout next Tuesday,"