Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1902-11-14

Wednesdays Kansas City World contains the
sensational announcement of the discovery of
one of the greatest election frauds ever un-
earthed in Kansas. We quote from the World:
Tie World has secured evidence which it be-
lieves is reliable to the effect that the Republic
ans stole the state of Kansas at the recent
election.
If the ballots cast had been fairly counted
and the will of the people as expressed at the
polls honestly declared the fusion state ticket
would have been elected, including several
fusion congressman, many fusion members of
the legislature and several hundred fusion coun-
ty officers.
This gigantic theft of an election, in crimi-
nal conception, in unbiushing daring, in the
extent of its operations and in the minuteness
of its details, gives every promise of surpass-
ing anything in history
It was not an open robbery of the ballot
boxes in one or two big counties, such as was
perpetrated by the Republicans i'll 1890, when
they stole the state from the Populists and seat
ed Humphrey in the place of Willis, who was
honestly and fairly elected, but it was system
attic robbery, secretly pre-arranged and skilfully
consummated, ramifying into over majority
of the wards, townships and election precincts
of the state.
There are 2,83o voting precincts in the state.
A robbery of fifteen ballots in each precinct
would have made a difference of az, 500 in total
result OF about &c, 900 more than Bailey's ma
jority.
This, apparently, was Just wnat was done.
Where the requisite number of ballots could
not bought or stolen, they were defaced after
being cast or rejected, on techncalities, by
previously. corrupted judges, according to pre-
arranged plan, which will hereafter appear.
AS before stated, the robbery of the state was
thoroughly planned out beforehand and minute
instructions were issued to the trusted Repub-
lican workers in the several counties. They
were furnished ample money and were given
promise of protection in the event of trouble
That they carried out their instructions faith
fully and we'll is demonstrated by the result.
The first inkling of the scheme came to the
surface on the morning before election, when
substantial Republican of Topeka man
who is not politician, but whose station in
life enables him to know much of the inside of
Republican politics, came to Mr.. Craddock at
Kansas City, Kas., and said to him:
"Old man, feel rather sorry for you. You
have honestly and fairly won the election, but
you will never be seated as governor. The
stakes have been set against you. You will be
counted out The scheme has already been set
in motion. 1t is gigantic one and danger
Gus one, but it will be effective. 1 was power
less to prevent it, and 1 am sure you will be
unable to check or counterfeit it."
Mr.. Craddock replied that the fusion work
ers had been instructed to be on their guard
against fraud, to which his visitor replied:
"That will not make any difference. The
fraud will be perpetrated right under their noses,
and so cunningly that they will not detect it.
Even if they do, they will be powerless to act.
The fixing OF one election judge in each pre-
Il $500