The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-03-13

THE MAYOR AND HIS RECORD.
We cheerfully give space to the follow
ing communications written with view
to throwing more light on yexed ques-
tion of ct, les and politics OF the kind
that our dow citizen, Mr.. p. w. BAx-
TER, one time referred to as "hying an
gels" and which, stripped of such figure
of speech or poetic association OF any
sort, Is, in plain English, the heinous
practice OF keeping on the canvass list
and voting the names of suffragists who
have passed from earth-the only defense
for such laying" of "angels" being, es
Mr.. BAXTER himself is quoted with ex-
planning It, that you know how they
would vote II they were alive.
Here is the statement OF His Honor, the
Mayor:
To THE EDITOR or THE News:
sIR-In an editorial Of your ISSUE of the Cd
inst you make certain charges against the
board OF canyassers of tho Third Ward In re-
gard 10 the canvessing of tho lists for the
presidential and municipal elections OF
November, 1902. You specify, among other
things, that tho name OF one, Henry Farr
was removed from the voting list for the
DR., sdential election. AID then charge that 1t
WIS improperly put back again upon the list
for the municipal election. You mention the
fac. that was chairman Of the board OF can
vassers at that time, aud by inference charge
that l permitted the list to be falsihed. In
another article in the Same issue you refer to
me as "the manipulator Of Third Ward Regis
tration."
realize entirely the purpose which you had
in view in publishing this article at that time.
and realized further that. though the charge
was unjust, and indeed libellous. that oocu.
pants Of public office are liable to such at
tacks. and felt thai tho matter might be
passed over without action on my part.
In your issue of the 9th inst, however you
republish from another paper an article in
which your original publication is referred TO
as making a serious charge against me,
charge, indeed. OF wilful and intentional vio-
lation of law, and a charge which places me
upon the same level with the ordinary re-
peater and ballot box stuffer.
This puts the matter in so serious lieht
that l Ieel obliged to take notice Of IL. L,
therefore. wish to state that most empha.i-
cally and positively deny any wrongdCing
upon my part as a member or the board Of
canvassers at the time referred 70, OF at any
other sine. never, as an Alderman, or as
a.membor Of that board. placed. or knowingly
allowed or permitted TO be placed or 10 re
main upon the voting list, the name Of any
person not entitlsd to be registered as
voter. In all my acts as a member of the
board OF canvassers intended to be fair, i'm
partial and just. and believe that my conduct
was regarded even by my political op-
ponents N tho ward. That / am right in this
is shown by the accompanying letter which !
have received from Charles 3. Pettee, chair
man OF ths Republican ward committee at
that ,ime:.
In view Of your previous publications. I re-
quest you TO publish this letter, together with
tho letter of MIR. Pettee enclosed.
Very respectfully.
EDWIN d. McGUISNEss.
Providence. r. :, March l2. 1895.
Here is the enclosure referred to:
Providence, r. l.. March 8. 1896.
Hon. f. ID. McGuinness, City.
NV DEAR sIR-My attention has boen called
20 an article in The Providence NEWS Of Mon
day, the Pa inst, in relation to the canvass.
ing OF the lists In the Third Ward at the time
you were Alderman in the fall Of 1892.
As have had considerable experience a
ward clerk. and am personally acquainte
with the circum s ances of canvassing of the
lists for the presidential election in 1892
(having been present as tho chairman OF tho
Republican city committee of that ward), /
desire TO state In Justice to you, that your
conduct on that and on every other occasion
when you presided over the board of canvas
sers In that ward when ! was present was
foir. Just and impartial. As chairman OF the
Republican city committee OF the Third Ward
Railways lore willing I, testimony to that, and
since then have frequently mentioned your
impartiality and fairness as ohairman OF the
board Of canvassers. In ell cases OF removal
Of namo from the voting list you required
sworn statement ~ To either the disability or
death CT tho parties whose names were upon
the lists before they could be stricken Off.
in relation 10 the Henry Farr case, my
recollection is that when 1t was first sug-
gested that Eenry Farr was dead there was
no positive proof presented TO the board
Afterward. when the proof was presented.
and parties were willing and able 70 identify
the person whose namo was on the list
being the person OF whose death evidence was
submitted. you Immediately ordered tho namo
20 be removed. or course have no knowl
edge, Of how the nnme appeared again upon
the list. as alleged, but from my experience
as ward clerk, ! can readily sec how IL
might happen. The new list was made up by
the district clerk and presented TO tho hoard
and was supposed TO DO the liSt rs corrected
at the last election, This list was not gone
over name by name. and tho only changes
made were those that were dropped or trans.
forrod or addca by now evidence being pre-
sonted. In this way venture 10 say in every
ward in the city clerical errors shsilnr TO
that OF Henry Farr occurred. and namo
that has been removed on the old list was in.
advertently allowed to remain on the new
list presented by the clerk. l continued as
chairman OF the Republican committee OF the
Third Ward long after 1892, and my attention
was never called TO the fact that tho pame of
Henry Farr appeared on tho list after IL was
dropped in 1892 1 cheerfully make this state-