Omaha daily bee., 1899-11-01
FuSlONISTS ARE DESPERATE
Popocratic Managers vising Plan to
Count Ho!comb In.
sCH:mlNe TO DOCTOR THE BALLOTS
Figuring Out n Majority Irrespective
of Ballots that nre Cast-Rcpc-
tition of the Lnte Re-
count Fraud.

LINCOLN, Oct S1.--(special) )--The Re
publican State Central committee has re
ceived information from reliable sources in
different parts cf the a ate that the man
ayers Of the popocratic campaign will put
into operation on election day a plan by
which 1t Is hoped to carry the day for Hol-
comb irrespective of the actual votes cast
or the wishes OF the voters. 1t will be by
the same kind of a scheme that was devised
by j. Fl. Edmisten and used to count in the
supreme judges by the Infamous recount
fraud Of 1897. change CT a few votes in
each voting precinct OF the state will change
the result OF the election and the word has
gone out ever the state from the populist
headquarters in this city that two or three
votes must be gained at each polling place
to make sure OF the election Of Silas A.
Holcomb. The same three men who engi-
neered the recount fraud are In absolute con-
troll OF the popocratic machinery and their
plan will be at once recognized.
For the past two or three weeks the
chairman of the populist committee has
been sending out letters to committeeman
In each county, impressing upon them the
necessity CT desperate work and informing
them that plan would be proposed later
by which Holcomb could be elected Several
hands Of republicans and were published.
One of the methods used very effectively
by Edmsten and his crowd in re- marking
the ballots in 1897 is known as the double
cross or double shuttle" 1t Is simple in
operation and hard to detect. 1t was de-
scribed in detail by E. L. Simon before the
senate investigating committee. The per-
son handling the ballot holds a short pencil,
not over half an inch in length, between
the thumb and forefnger, and it is COM
paratively easy TO mark cross on a ballot
while it is being handled and ballots so
markct and re-marked are, OF course, thrown
out, 1t being shown that crosses were placed
after both candidates for single office.
1T will be much easier to remark the new
ballots this year, as they are arranged in
such way that the boxes for the voters
cross appear near the edge of the slips,
which will permit the person handling them
to put in additional crosses with less danger
Of being detected than before.
..ow 1T Was Done.
The following testimony of E. L. Simon,
telling how the scheme worked in 1897,
is interesting in this connection:
Al got some pencils to mark up the bal
lots with from him and he eharpened up a
little one.
Q.-What was the little one made for?
A.-To put in my fingers so when made
cross 1t couldn't be distinguished.
Q.-About how long was this pencil Maret
made for you?
"A little over half an inch.
Q.-How did you use it?
A.-Between these two ffngers
Q.-That is between the index finger and
the one next to it?
Ayes, sir.
Q.-How did you learn how to hold it?
Al made one and when got in hurry
told him to make one.
Q.-You didn't make. the first nne?s ~ I,
Ayes, sir.
Q.-And he made the second one?
Ayes, sir
Q.--Wher Maret made the second pcnci
for you did you say anything to him abou
what you wanted 1t for?
Ayes sir; he saw me use 1t.
Q.-Where?
A.-Where we were working.
Q.-What were you doing?
A.-Working for the second count.
Q.-What were you doing?
Accounting the ballots.
Q.-And marking ballots?
Al was
Q.-And was Maret in there when you wer
marking the ballots?
Ayes. sir.
Declines to HumOr Shilling.
Chairman Orlando Tefft of the Republican
State Central committee has replied as fol
lows to the letter of ]. H. Edmisten chal
longing Henry Fink Of Milwaukee for
Joint debate with Robert Shilling:
'LINCoLN, Oct 81. 1S9s-Hon. ]. H. Ed
misten, Chairman Populist State Centra
Committee, Lincoln, Neb.-Dear Sir: | hav
the honor to acknowledge the receipt G
yours of October 30 in which you eXpreSse
desire for a Joint discussion betwee
Mr.. Robert Shilling of Milwaukee, Wis
and Hon. Henry Fink of the same place
In response to your communication | wi
say that according to my information Nj
Shilling has been in the state giving yo
his services during most of the campaign
If 1t has developed-as my reports woul
lead me to think-that Mr.. Shilling has M
been successful in gathering very lara
audiences to listen to his attacks uDo
President Mckinley, you may desire to ei
large his field by the means suggested.
You are doubtless aware that Mr.. Fin
Is billed until the end of the campaic
and being a gentleman of large reputatio
will undoubtedly attract large audience
The people of Nebraska Yant to hear hi
and l trust that you win not become III
duly nervous If under the circumstance
decline to accede to your proposed a
ranfements. Yours verv truly.
"ORLANDO TEFFT. Chairman"
The letter of Chairman Edmisten contain