The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-06-10
DENVER BALLOT FRAUDS.
Women and Civic Federation On
earth Wholesale Iniquities.

Denver, June 1O.-The last municipal
elections in Denver in April resulted in
the overwhelming defeat of the gang
element by the women of the city, aid
ed by the better class of male voters,
who supported the ticket set up by the
women. The Civic federation, the Off
GERS of which are women, and the de-
cent people of the city, anxious for re-
forms in municipal affairs. elected the
mayor, all the other municipal officers
and u out of the IA aldermen. Charles
S Davis, candidate for alderman in the
Fourth ward upon the taxpayers ticket
was new to political methods and con-
Sented to run only TO Oblige the women,
who wanted to make up a complete
ticket. The Fourth ward had for years
been returning Jimmie Doyle, a no
toriOus gangster of a reputation not of
possible to defeat him. Davis went
about the work of canvaSsing the ward
in a thorough manner.
On election day there were some
sensational incidents and in one pre-
cinct a shooting scrape occurred over
the counting of the ballots. When the
returns We're all in it appeared that
Jimmie had won again, although all
mayor down were defeated by a very
heavy vote. Davis concluded that there
We're suspicious circumstances enough
to warrant an 1nVestiSa ton and he
opened a contest. AS II of the newly
elected aldermen were on his side it was
easy TO begin an investigation. Doyle
the city and prepared to fight the case.
After some SkirmiShing it was decided
to open the ballot boxes and make
recount. Then Jimmie began to hedge
and minated a desire to drop the fight.
But the citizens We're by this time
aroused and the investigation proceed
ed. Some most sensational incidents
now occurred and some extraordinary
evidence was obtained. Violations of
the most fragrant kind against the cleo
ton laws had been perpetrated and it
was clearly proven that Davis had been
fairly elected. He was accordingly
seated.
Meanwhile interest in the election
frauds increased and the other defeated
candidate on the taxpayers ticket from
the Third ward decided to make a con-
test. Again the investigation commit
tee, against strong legal opposition, de-
cided to have a recount of the ballots in
that ward. one day there was cOnSter-
nation in the city when it was learned
that one ballot box did not contain
single scrap of paper, the entire vote
having been destroyed. In another pre-
cinct the stubs of ballots had been
thrown into the box but not a single
vote. In still another 149 ballots were
missing. In other precincts the ballots
did not tally with the official vote as
returned. Without the votes of three
precincts the candidate of the taxpay-
ers was elected by a majority of IS
votes.
Up to the present time the advent of
women into municipal fights has proven
to be great thing for the citizens who
want honesty of purpose and business
methods in municipal affairs. They have
certainly exposed a condition of rotten
ness in election methods which, while it
may have been suspected before, was
never so clearly proved. They have
weeded out a nest of bOOdlers in the
board of aldermen whose careers have
long been notorious