The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1899-11-16
APPALLING BALLOT GRIMES.

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One of the methods by which ell
ection frauds have been perpetrated
in some of the wards of Philadelphia
for years has been pretty fully ex-
posed in the evidence taken before
Magistrate Eisenbrown on Friday
afternoon. To those who have had
some knowledge Of these methods
the exposures present little that is
new, but they will be a revelation
to the people at large, who have
been regularly defrauded by the
system of election crimes that has
been perfected by local machine
bosses.
The statement made by one of
those arrested for the crime shows
that in the Thirteenth Division of
the Seventh Ward, where there has
not been an honest election for
years, men who were brought here
from Washington acted as election
officers; that before any citizen had
appeared at the polls to vote the bal
lot box was stuffed with 200 mark
ed ballots; that afterward fifteen
more marked ballots were stuffed in
the box; that of the $50 votes re-
turned from that division only I24
had been honestly cast, 2I5 being
fraudulent. The evidence also i'm
plicates an eX-member of the Legis-
lature-one who steadily voted for
Quay at the late session-in the
crime of marking the ballots with
which the box was stuffed, This,
in brief, is the story Of the crime
committed i'll one division of the
1000 voting divisions of the city.
The statement that it is possible
to return 50, 900 fraudulent votes in
this city, and that it has been done,
so often repeated in these columns,
has been received lncredulously in
different parts of the State by those
who were unable to comprehend the
elaborate plan to cheat the people
which is steadily maintained in
most of the downtown wards. fla
single election division can return
2I5 fraudulent votes it can be readi-
ly seen how so, 900, or mole than
10000 can be piled up without en-
croaching upon any division where
there is disposition to hold an
honest election. The twenty-seven
divisions of the Seventh Ward alone
on the basis Of the operations in the
Thirteenth Division, could return a
fraudulent vote of 5000.
These cases now in the hands of
the law should be pushed to the ut
most, and all the facts brought to
light and the criminals, no matter
how low or high, properly punished.
According to the evidence, official
ballots were in possession Of an ex-
member of the Legislature on the
morning of election at his own resi-
dence. This is made a misdemean-
or by the law and punishment by
fine and imprisonment. How did
those ballots get into his possession?
The law makes it the duty Of the
County Commissioners to deliver
the ballots to the election Judge OF
the division, and take his receipt
therefor. Were the ballots for the
Thirteenth Division of the Seventh
Ward delivered to the judge of elec-
tion, and have the Commissioners a
proper receipt? This can be easily
traced, and it would doubtless throw
light on another feature Of the
crime.
Before these exposures are ended
the honest people of the city and the
State will be able to understand
some Of the methods by which
election frauds have been committed
in Philadelphia, and they will be
able also to get some comprehension
of the extent of those crimes, and
who are responsible for them. Per
haps the people will take steps to
protect themselves when they fully
understand these things. .-Philadel-
phia Press.