The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1902-11-04
Grant Was Victim Of Tempered Bal
lots at Congressional Primaries
Last June.
Minerva Judge OF EIec-
tIons Ad m Its His
Guilt.
CHAIRMAN AGLER HAS THE PROOFS.
Forty Republicans Of Minerv q
Swear They Voted for Grant
While Returns Show
Only 22.
CHAIRMAN ACLER HAS THE PROOFS.

An example of the methods used
within the Republican organization of
Stark county at the recent primaries
in order to defeat Grant have come to
light in the disclosure of certain Grim
inal deals in Minerva, the proofs OF
which are in the hands of the Repub-
lican central committee. According to
aftidavits sworn to by forty Republi-
can voters of Minerva. at least that
number of votes were cast for Grant
in that precinct, while only 22 votes
were recorded on the returns.
These documents have been in the
hands Of County Chairman A. w. Ag-
Ter since the day of the Salem con-
vention at which Kennedy was nomi-
mated with the aid of the Harvey
Smith delegates that, it is claimed,
were stolen from Grant. An inyestiga-
tion has been made and the judge OF
election at Minerva has agreed to re-
sign. On account Of this an effort has
been made to quiet the affair in order
not to prejudice the success Of the
Republican candidate, James Kennedy,
of Youngstown.
There were 80 votes poiled in MI
nerva at the primary election for con-
gressional delegates, Of which Grant
was credited with 20, giving Smith the
delegate. Ardent Grant Republicans
at Minerva thought that something
was wrong and DR.. F. ID. Davis, of
Minerva, took the matter into his own
hands, forcing the admission Of the
ballot tampering from Charles Rue,
the Judge of elections.
After the returns were posted Davis
made his way into the voting place
and demanded to see the original bal
lots He discovered one ballot on the
floor, he said, that had originally been
voted for Grant, that showed that the
names Of Phelps and Grant had been
crossed out and a cross marked oppo-
site Smiths name. When he saw this
DR.. Davis threatened Rue until the lat
ter dug about twenty ballots from the
stove where they had been placed pre-
paratory to burning them. These,
said DIR. Davis were all crossed out
in the same manner and gave the
greatest evidence of a big fraud.
DR.. Davis preserved the ballots and
then made canvass Of the Republi-
can voters. This resulted in the
swearing out of afidavits of forty Re-
publican voters who stated that they
had voted for Grant. This showed
that at least 18 votes had been tam
pered with. These proofs were seal
ed up and mailed to Chairman Agler
at Salem at the time Of the convention
Unfortunately Agler failed to open
the envelope before the convention ad-
journed and no fight could be made
against the seating Of the delegates
The envelope was broken In the pres
ence of Alonzo p. Owen, @. G. Upham
and q number Of other Stark county
politicians. 1t was Immediately af-
terwards resealed In a government
envelope furnished by Owen and re-
manned In that state until few days
ego.
Rue was confronted with the mat.
ter and he agreed to resign as Judge ol
elections, 1t Is claimed, provided thai
the matter was hushed up and nothing
further was done. This the committee
agreed on, but Rue has thus far moi
complied with the requirement at his
end of the deal.
It Is claimed that similar tactics
were pursued throughout the county
by Smiths campaign managers. who
figured in throwing their strength tC
Kennedy in return for federal appoint
ments in Stark county. Although the
Grant men are angry over the affair
J. j. Grant himself will not talk to any