The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-03-31
ELECTION FRAUDS.

After having carefully read and con-
sidered the report Of the February
Grand Jury, and then again reading the
report of its predecessor, the December
Grand Jury, intelligent st. Louisans
will be impressed with the Significance
| Of the fact that in neither utterance is
it charged that II political party more
than another is responsible for the cleo
ton frauds to which the reports call at
I tention.
Indeed, the December Grand Jury
found itself necessitated by the truth.
as developed through its investigations,
TO hold both Republican and Demo-
cratic Indians responsible as working
partners for the preparation of cleo
ton frauds. Its report distinctly
charged that so complete is the system
of political machinery in all its ramif-
cations, even to the coalition Of oppos-
ing factions, that there has been woven
a web Of safety over the frauds COM
mitted." And this means, as Mr.. Isaac
W. Morton, foreman Of the December
Grand Jury. himself explains. that lin
these frauds some Of the powers that
be- who operate the Republican ma
chine were parties in the crime, and it
was through COLLISION with them that
such glazing frauds were made pos
sible."
Approaching the fact, then, that par
ty Indians stand willing to commit
these crimes against an honest ballot,
md that uyhoHo noOocinn HnrnopIu <hou
work "in cahoots" for the equal benefit
Of Republican and Democratic gang
sters, the next fact which logically
comes to the front is that, where 1t be-
comes necessary fer them to fight each
other, the Republican tribe is infinitely
better organized FOR corrupt work than
Is the Democratic. Their party, which
profits through their crimes, has control
Of the municipal machinery. Its ward
and precinct organization has attained
that completeness which comes from
the direction Of a central machine pos
sessing the spoils Of municipal pat
ronage. 1t Is even 80 lucky, at critical
moments, as to have campaign docu-
ments furnished by a Grand Jury ON
posed of ten working Republicans and
only two Democrats. 1t has all the pro-
lection possible to complete official con-
troll Of the municipality. 1t has the
power to influence investigation ex-
clusively in a Democratic direction,
thus protecting its w Indians while
following the trail Of those Of Demo-
cratic affiliations.
And yet, remember, there has been no
Grand Jury report submitted to the
present time which fixes the responsible
lily for election frauds n whit more
upon Democratic shoulders than upon
Republican. Rather is the final result
Of the December and February reports
calculated to foster the belief that Re-
p%ublicans profit the more from these |
The Indians Of both parties
are charged with the crime-and Re |
publican Indians are far more thorough |
~ equipped for the crimes commission, |
and more certain Of protection after the
crime, than are the Democratic.
The most vital teaching Of the Grand
Jury reports is that it is the imperative
duty Of all good citizens themselves to
assist in the prevention of fraud at
election. The registration
lists should be closely s%crutinized be-
tween now and then. All suspicious
cases Of registration should be infex-
Ibly investigated. The certainty Of the
tight to vote Of every man whose name
on those lists should be established
beyond question. And at the polls on
Tuesday good citizens should keep vigi-
ant watch against fraud and trickery.
The Indians can be outwitted in this
way alone, and it is the duty of all good
citizens to see that they are outwitted.