The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-02-27
AN ELECTION OUTRAGE RECALLED.

The threat of the Democrats i'm the House
to delay important measures because of
the unseating of ]. j. Butler seems to make
a few words in regard to the case strictly'in
order. In 1900 Butler was elected In dis
trict in st. Louis which had been Repub-
lican for a series of years. 1t was done
through the interposition of what is known
as the Nesbit law, a more iniquitous meas
ure than the Goebel law Of Kentucky, which
Henry Watterson said was passed to make
sure the election of Democrats" The Mes
bit law made an election board of Demo-
Gratis appointed by the Governor. This
board had the appointment of all the cleo
ton officers. Nominally, two were to be
Democrats and one Republican. The
registration officers were appointed by the
same board. AS matter of fact very few
real Republicans were appointed on the
precinct election boards, but creatures of
Butler who would profess to be Repub-
licans.
The Buffers are notorious in local politics
with bribery in connection with the munic-
ipai plundering few months ago and was
convicted. The son has had the reputa-
ton of being on the shady side of politics
I'm ST. Louis. In this Republican district
James Butler was elected in 1900. His seat
was contested, and after an investigation
showing astounding frauds the House, at
the first session. declared the seat vacant.
Butler then prepared for an election to
fiji the vacancy and for the next term.
The testimony reveals startling frauds in
registration. Scores of men were regis
tered from street numbers at which resi-
dents testified no such men had lived for
months. Registrations were made from the
lofts Of stables and storehouses in which
there were no residents. Return postal
cards were sent TO 1900 of the registered
names. only half of which could be found
at the street numbers given. The district,
on election day. was filled with fraud.
fusion and violence. Repeaters went from
voting place to voting place and voted on
lists of names furnished. In many in
stances citizens, when they went to vote,
found that men had preceded them, vot-
ing on their names. Toughs beat men TO
insensibility for insisting upon their rights
at the polls. and this in the presence of
the police. Some Republican election Off
GERS ran away to escape violence and others
signed fraudulent returns under threats of
outrage. In short. the thousands of pages
of testimony taken constitute the most
fragrant, most audacious and most extern
sive election fraud ever perpetrated in this
country.
OF course. Butler was triumphantly elect
ed. and thus indicated. he returned and
was seated Then came this investigation,
and the majority of the committee voting
that the seat shall be given TO his opponent.
and the report being sustained by the House.
the Democrats threaten to filibuster and
prevent the completion of the important
business because this Democratic master of
the crime OF ballot-box fraud was not per-
mitted TO hold his seat. Thus do the Demo-
Gratis In the House propose to stand by and
approve the worst exhibition of election
frauds that has ever been known I'm the
United States. Many Of the Democratic
members OF the House come from districts
In which there is but one party because all
who would belong to the other have been
disfranchised. Doubtless they can see no