Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-01-29
No ELECTION FRAUD.
Jts Sweeping Charges Of Ex-Governor
Altseld Denied in Toto,
AND THE PROOFS DEMANDED.
lltgeld Replies That Poss bly, lie VIII
Have SOMETHING More 10 say
On the subjrci.

CHICAGO, Jan. 29.-County Judge
0. n. Carter, head OF the election
commission, In public letter Rd-
dressed to ez-Gov. John p. Ailgeld OF
Illinois denies mis- sweeping charges OF
fraud In the recent election especially
nc regards Chicago. and calls upon
him to produce the proOfs OF the same,
promising to investigate them.
The charges were made in O speech
delivered by Mr.. Altgeld at a recep.
lion given for him at the fremont
House last Saturday. He asserted
that the increased Republican vote in
several Of the larger northern states
was greatly in excess OF what the iu-
crease OF population justified and said
tue in crease Of 243, QUO votes In Illinois
Indicated an lncrease of LOO 900 In
the population Of the state during the
four years from 1892 to 1896, which he
said clearly was untrue.
Judge Carter after quoting this state
ment writes that Mr.. Altgeld does not
refer particularly to Chicago but mas
much as los, 900 OF the increane votes
10 the state came from Chicago II is
fair TO assume that he charged iraudu-
lent voting In the city AS well rs III
other parts Of the state.
II repeated charges OF fraudulent
voting are allowed TO pass withou;
denial, the Judge writes, the public
soon will begin to believe In their
truth, and inasmuch as he IL In a sense
responsible Tor the honesty OF the
eleotions here he deems 1t his duty to
call attention to certain facts which
10 to show that fraudulent voting was
not carried on IN thls city to the ex-
lent charged by Mr.. Alleged.
The Judge says that he has had q
careful examination made OF the re-
turns since reading Mr.. Altgeld's
speech, and he then pioceeds TO quote
figures which 10 to prove the lastly Of
The iormer's statement. He compares
the votes OF 1892, 1894 and 1895. and
writes that The Increase OF 1886 over
1924 Is more easily accounted Tor than
The, Increase OF 1894 over 1892, during
both OF which years the county Judge
anu two Of the three election ouinmls.
sioners were Democrats. In 1896, he
writes, there was one Dem Graf,
one Republican and one Popul ST
jufge IN 40 OF the 92l elec-
l.op precincts anu two Dsmocratic
Judges ana one Republican judge in
G5O precincts, anu one Democrat anu
pae Republican clerk in each Of the
~ precincts. Ii there were any
wholesale frauds against the Demo.
crate, Judge Carter writes, tney were
IN position TO prevent IL and he as
asrts ne never mas heard any specific
charges Of fraud from any OF the Dem
ocraIic or POpuiiet election commis-
slOners, judges or clerRs.
When ex-Gov. Altgoiu was seen 1t 10
SAID he practically confessed, when In.
formed OF the nature Of Judge Carter's
letter, that he had not proof of the
slstementss no maue In his speech.
Regarding the julgs's letter In geneI-
81, he saiu.
81 VIII ray for Judge CATERS bone.
Mt that 1 diu most assured include
Chicago inImy remarks, for am firmly
penuaded that frauds Of the most
gigantic character were committed in
Inls city at the last election.
Judge Cartef's statements do not
meet my charges ana neither he nor
any other man can explain the glar.
ing discrepancy between the increase
in the vote and the population during
The period L referred to. 1t tells the
whole story ltself.
sat fret 1 was disposed to accept
The result OF the election in good faith,
but Is / looked more anu more INTO
the returns was sorrowiu!ly aud to
my regret f0rced TO the conclusion
that gigantic fraud had been COM
mitied anu have no reason to change
my MIND since. L will OF course read
Judge Cartsr's letter carefully, anu 1t
may be VIII have something more to
say on the matter.p