The Washington times., 1902-02-18
COMM[I'PEE HEARS
ELECTION CONTEST
Mr.. Horizons Attorney Ad-
mits Irregularities.
OPPONENTS FRAUD GREATER
SOluminOus Evidence Submitted
Against Representative James j.
Butler-Names Voted Not Found by
the Census EnumeratOrs.

the Census EnumeratOrs.
The novel spectacle of a contestant for
a seat in Congress officially and frankly
admitting that the total of the votes cast
for him had been swelled by fraudulent
ballots was presented yesterday before
Election Committee No. l of the House
in the contested election case of Mr..
William l.. Horton against Representa-
tive James ]. Butler.
This admission was made by Mr.. ". l..
Fisse who represents Mr.. Horton, and
argued for his clients right to the seat
now held h. Mr. Butler. He contended
that grosser frauds had been perpetrated
in the interests of Mr.. Butler. and that
therefore Mr. Horton was entitled to the
seat.
An Interesting Contest.
The case is probably the most interest
ing OF any OF the contests now pending in
the House and has commanded consider
able attention.
Mr.. Butler Is quite widely known as a
theatrical man, and is the proprietor CT a
said to be the political leader OF the Ms
scuri city. During his brief term here he
has made himself very popular.
On the face of the returns he resolved 4
majority of $3.50 out of a total of about
10000 votes cast. The district is one of
the three entirely within the city of st.
Louis, and is admitted to be close. both
b,.
returned to Congress within recent yc;,I s.
A yanlOad of Evidence.
The contestant has filed vast amount
Of testimony in the form OF depositions
and other evidence in the shape of poll
lists, maps. photographs. AMI other docu-
ments. A large sized van could 10 more
than contain the vast array OF exhibits
which Mr.. Horton has presented. many Of
which were shown in the committee room
Yesterday.
On the other hand. feature Of the {; Sc
is the fact that the contestee mas fled alb
sOlutely TO evidence or testimony of any
Kind. relying entirely upon the alleged
contradictory statements contained IN
the depositions presented by his oppo
nent and upon the returns CT the election
commissioners, which show that ne was
elected by majority oil 3,1UO.
He also contends that Mr.. Horton was
unpopular with the voters because of his
alleged connection with the traction COM
pany OF St. Louis, which had. just prior
to the election. passed through several
months of trouble with the street car
strike, which, he asserts. in some measure
accounts for the large majority agaost
him.
Census Rolls Cited.
Mr. Horizons side of the case was pre-
sented yesterday by his attorney, Mr.. W.
L. Fisse. He selected six wards. in which
he contended there had been frauds. He
exhibited various lists of names taken
from the Government census rolls. and
also from private poll, which tended to
show that there were names on the regis
tration lists of persons who c1uli neither
be found by the census enumerators nor
the private poll.
Members of the committee pointed out
that there were names of persons upon
the census lists reported not found by
the private poll who had voted for Mr..
Horton, as shown by the returns. Mr.
Ffsse admitted this to be true.
The result where the private poll and
the census agreed, according to Mr..
Fisse's figures showed 5,072 votes by per-
sons who could not be found. The attor-
ney admitted that 1915 of these had been
cast for his client.
He contended that the private poll,
which showed greater proportion of
fraudulent votes for the contestee was
the more accurate one. He declared Mr..
Horton was not a party 10 the casting of
Illegal ballots.
Mr. Horton Not u Party to Fraud.
DO you think this committee can sup
pose" asked Nj. Mann (Rep.. HI, that
l.245 fraudulent votes were cast for
man without any inducement to do so?"
MIR. Fisse declared that no fraud could
be traced to SIR Horton. and said the
contestee did not make that claim.
can any fraud be traced to Mr.. But
ler?" asked Mr. Bowie, of the committee.
Not --Mr-Butler himself" replied
Mr.. Fisse. but by his father. who is the
Democratic boss of st. Louis and is re-
sponsible Tor his sons electicn. Mr.. But
Ter proiited by the fraud"
But" said Mr.. Mann laughingly, you
would not condemn man for what bis
father did?'
Election Comniissioncrs.
Mr.. Fisse criticised the action of the
election commissioners, whcsc jurisdic-
tlon extends over the three districts of
the city.
In answer to a question from Mr..
Bowie he admitted that the TIVE defeated
Democrats in the other districts had ac-
cepted the decision and returns of the
commissioners and had not filed con-
test.
Mr. Mann wanted 10 know why it was
that all the fraud was an Mr. Buffers
district Nj. Fisse said he could not ac-
count for that. except that Colonel But
Ter wanted 10 have his son elected 10 Con
SreSs.
Mr. Butier's side cf the case will be
argued today by mis- attorney, Mr.. Tom
Rowe.