The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1896-11-13
PoPULIsT METHODS.
Contemplate Campaign Dodge
of Oregon Bryanites.

OF oregon 0tydutIGS.
Below is given a letter sent out
through the state by the populist
campaign committee which evil
dences the contemplate and dis
honest methods practiced by the
Bryanites during the campaign
just closed. Itis understood that
copies of the letter was sent to
every county in the state for dis
tribution and that Il number reach
ed Benton county. 1t is perfectly
proper TO say that this letter is
only a fair sample of the false
| statements and ISLANDERS circulated
by the Bryan managers. 1t is re-
ierred particularly to The voters of
Benton county who voted for Bry-
an in the honest belief that they
We're doing right, i'll order that
they may see The contemplate
methods employed to elect The boy
orator Their political arguments
candniIy studied commend them
selves no more than their practi-
cal polllics.
1t is not necessary in Benton
county TO eulogize Mr.. Yates.
There is not Bryan man here
but who knows that such things
are mentioned in the letter are
impossible with hlm. although the
local Bryan leaders took no pains
to reiute the slander. Further
more te. Intelligent voter is we'll
aware that the scheme against
which the managers were warmed
could not have been accomplished.
Had the original ballot boxes been
stolen it would have necessltated
The changing of t ,e original tally
sheets, as we'll as the duplicates
furnished judges of the opposite
party. The county clerks, as we'll
as the officers of the election in
every precinct have checks upon
the handling OF ballot boxes that
would prevent amy such high hand
ed outrage as was contemplated
in the letter.
The letter as printed in the As
torian is as follows:
Astoria, Or, Oct %, 1896.
Dear sir: The state campaign
committee has additional informa-
ton as to the purpose OF the Nc
Kinleyites to tamper with the bal
lot boxes after the polls close.
Our informant says: 81 am cred
IDLY informed there is a scheme on
foot, whereby the republicans in
tend to steal the ballot boxes in as
many precincts as possible i'll sew
eral counties Of the state, substi
tuting therefor prepare boxes.
The plan is to obtain ballots from
the clerk where this can be done,
or from the printer where, the clerk
cannot be W, rked and TO have 1t
box prepared just like the box
furnished by the county clerk and
after the vote is cast to substitute
the prepared box for the legal,one,
and have therein the same number
Of ballots properly numbered with
a large majority of them marked
for the Mckinley electors. Ihave
been informed that one j. Fred
Yates, of Corvallis, and Mr.. Clev-
er, OF Portland, had a converse
ton to this effect, in which conYer-
salion Mr.. Yates promised Clever
that he would give him three or
maybe four precincts in this coun-
ty in this way. Clever informed
Yates in this conversation, that the
state was gone if this could not be
done, etc.
We write again to impress you
with the importance of thwarting
this scheme, and suggest that you
communicate this information to
all of the challengers and watchers
in every precinct in your county
instructing them to be especially
watchful, after the polls close,
never at any time permit the legal
ballot boxes for a single moment
to pass out from under their eyes.
In this connection it is of para
mount importance that CARDS be
provided to watch every bollot box
in the county from the time the
polls are closed until the official
count is had by the legal officers
of the county seat. While the
ballot boxes are on deposit with
the county clerk they must be
guarded with absolute vigilance
tor the chances are that exchange
of ballot boxes will be undertaken
while i'll transit from precincts to
the county seat of the county, or
while on deposit with the county
clerk. This has been done in a
number of counties in the past
two or three elections aud should
be guarded against now BY -abso.
lutte vigilance Oh our part. Yours
truly, YOUNG,
MILLER, !.
DRAKE.
Married. Z