The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-12-14

III ID N u w 6s hO x u
convenient pocket as II 10 draw a re-
| volver.
This frightened the builies and they
retired. The inspector had nothing in
his pocket more deadly than a pipe. In
this town IL was a common complaint
among the voters who came to the poll
ing place that there was nothing doing
this year" and they wondered what was
the matter Some refused 10 vote and
went away because. as they said they
were not gcing TO take the trouble TO vote
II there was nothing in it." In this town
fian who runs a road house. bossted
that he had sold liquor I'm the town for
years without a license. IL being no.
license town. and declared that IL was
cheaper TO put in town council every
year who would let him alone than 10
pay license. He declared TO the inspec-
tors with a great display OF profanity.
that he and the people In that town did
not propose 20 obey any law enacted In
Providence unless II suited them
WITH THE FLoATERs.
Two OF my inspectors went TO Block
Island on the boat that carried down the
'fioaters" so called, that Is the men who
although living in Providence, Boston and
elsewhere. have registered in New Shore
ham and went there 10 vote On the way
down the inspectors talked with some OF
bhe men, who said they did not claim
Block Island as their home. but were
going down TO vote 10 accommodate a
prominent citizen OF the island. who was
defraying all expenses and making il
worth their while TO go down TO .he ISL
and.
Although the inspectors were very sue
cessful In getting on the inside they aid
not see any case of bribery at this place
They heard much talk and counter talk,
elimination and recrimination between
the factions there, but they were salts
fed that there was no bribery on election
day unless IL was carried on In most Sec
ret manner.
ONE TOWN NAMED.
In the town OF North Smithfeld the
inspectors were spotted as soon Az they
appeared anywhere In the town and II
there IL was any bribery carried on
there IL was any bribery carried
on there II was away from the
polls. One thing is certain and that is
that North Smithfeld expected TO be
flooded with detectives and the town was
on its goods behaviour on last election
day.
In the city of Providence the attempt
was made i'm several instances by Republi-
can politicians TO buy Democratic super
vsors. In one particular case which was
reported to me, somewhat prominent
Republican in this city offered a Demo-
cratic supervisor the sum of $3.50 IL he
would use his official position in the in
terest of the Republican party. This par
ticular deal did not go through, because
the supervisor was not willing TO sell him
self and his party. The would-be bribe |
glver barely escaped trap that was set |
for him. believe that this method of |
work is carried on to some extent in this |
city nd in many cases is successfully |
worked.
It is easier and cheaper TO fix few |
men who have the opportunity 10 mark |
the illiterate's ballot as he sees Mt. than
to buy the vote and take chances on its
delivery.
DISCOVERY MADE
found II to be custom among the
politicians TO see TO IL that a vote is cast
for every dead and absent man whose
name happens to be on the voting list.
This I am satisfied was done In one OF
the Pawtucket wards to a great extent. 1t
was reported to me that a supervisor In
this ward had made the statement that he
himself had cast "A ballots by marking
and depositing at the close OF the day a
ballot for each man who failed to show
ip. IL seems Incredible that such thing
could be DONE but IL is entirely possible
where all supervisors and election officers
arc working in harmony. with no one to
object or make an outcry. Such Is said to
De the case In the Pawtucket ward refer
red to above
Among the different methods In vogue
n this state OF buying votes and perpe-
rating frauds In elections reported to
ne by my inspectors. / will enumerate
'ew as get them from the reports ma,s
% me as follows:
THE MoDUs OPERANDI
I. The oldest and most customary plan
Z buying a mans vote and ascertaining
nat the vote is actually cast In accord
rec with the agreement is that the vote
eller is either so illiterate that he cannot
mark his ballot or feigns illitoracy, and
n either case the illiterate states what
icket he wishes to vote and the supervi-
or representing the political party whose
,ckct the illiterate wishes :" vote, is
or, to marx his ballot.
As soon as the ballot II marked by the
upervisor and cast by the voter a nod
r wink to a worker outside the rail In
icates that all is we'll and that the goods
ave been delivered. The voter then
,all<s out OF the enclosure and receives
rom the worker outside slip OF paper
white or colored bean, or some other
ertifcate, which he presents at the prop |
r place and cashed up.
2. Another method is what is called the
dsmtnldn DOuBe. By TINS TnelnOd the
olitical worker procures one or more Of
cial ballots in some way. by hook OF by
rook or by conspiracy with the custo-
ian for the time being OF the official bal
ITS. This official ballot is marked for the
oter who is Offering his vote for sale,
nd given to him by the political worker
efore he goes into the voting place at
II. He takes Il in with him. Having II !,
iarked and concealed In his pocket.
Then he goes into the voting precinct he
handed n blank official ballot which he u
supposed TO mark then and there.
But what he does Is 10 go into the booth Il
raw from his pocket the ballot which he Il
rought I'm with him, place in his pocket n
lie ballot just handed him. and after :,
pending a little time In the voting
both just 10 give the impression that ne "
marking his ballot, he goes up and de- q
,sits the ballot prepared for him outside I.
ld departs with a blank ballot In his d
,cket TO be marked for the next man.
pom his return 10 the committee room n
the party buying him. and delivery OF n
Uaf hfa mo a,,I