The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1903-10-27

according to whether an election Is
near at hand or far away.
L learned that no attempt was made
to colonize voters 20 days before elec-
tion, so as to give semblance of le-
gality to their residence. On the Sat
urday preceding election day they are
taken in droves to the board of cleo
tion by the keepers of the dives, who
swear that the men have always lived
at their places, but were out of town
on the regular registration days. The
men are then registered on orders from
the board of elections
The second place l visited was the
old museum building, near the corner
OF Third and Sycamore streets. Here
| found the same conditions to exist.
l had in my possession list of the
men who had been registered from this
place on the first day of registration,
October 8. 1 found that 20 of them
did not live at the place and were not
known there. One of the occupants
of the building, with whom l got on
friendly terms and who thought l
wanted to learn the game of politics
as practiced in Cincinnati so l could
try 1t in another city said to me: The
chances are that one or two men reg
istered under all those different names.
They'll be voted on election day all
right and the building will be so full
then that no one could tell Just how
many people are living here
From information l gained from
this man and others, l learned that
over 1000 men were brought across
the river from Kentucky last spring
and voted here. In return for this ia
vor 800 men were sent from this side
a month or so ago to influence an cleo
ton in Covington. The man who told
me was one of the 800.
"The third place visited was the
Silver Moon, the lodging house and
dive owned by Councilman Mike Null
len. and conducted by Lee Graushaw.
1t is located on Front street. The
place has accommodations for perhaps
100 men. Last spring, found by the
election records over 300 men were
voted from this place. thought had
seen the toughest dives in America in
the course of my experience, but l
must take my hat off to the Silver
Moon.
while 1t is supposed to be a lodg-
ing house for men only, there we're as
many women as men in the bar room
and dance hall when l entered. The
man | was with was known to every
person In the place, being himself
member or that particular class of So
ciety He was supposed to be my guar
antee of safety, but soon say that
was In as much danger from him as
from any of the others. He ordered
drinks, which meant liquor. One bot
tie was set before him and another be-
fore me. He poured from his bottle
and before the bartender could re-
move it, grabbed 1t, saying that what
he drank was good enough for me.
That l was correst in my suspicious
that the other bottle was 'doped' was
evidenced by his manner. A half doz-
en- women crowded about me and at
tempted to go through my pockets.
backed away from one who had her
hand in my watch pocket and turned In
time to save my money from another
whose fingers were in my hip pocket.
A. strapping big woman then attempt
ed to throw her arms about me to pin
my arms to my side. l was looking
for that and quickly stepped aside.
'That'll do, goils, he's wise guy
said my companion, and | was let off
with a round of drinks. During all
this scene, of course, everybody was
laughing loudly and apparently
friendly.
"Had been alone and wandered into
the place there would have been diff
ferent story to tell. | was introduced
as a horse buyer from Dayton. who
wanted to see the town and was taken
through the building. guided by vi
cious looking scoundrel who had been
singled out for that duty by the bar
tender. The Silver Moon Is frame
building about three stories high. On
the first floor is the bar room, office
and flop room The flop rooms is