New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-06-25
FRAUD THE CHARGE.
ALLEGATION That There Vas I'm
proper Voting at XXYIst Primaries
]. NJ. FORBES PROBING 1T.

The charge that at the March primaries IN
the xXXIst Assembly District the names OF
many enrolled Republicans had been returned as
voting when they had not actually done so was
made last night by John NJ. Forbes. VINO mas
an Office at No 116 Nassau-st. and VINO mas
been active in Republican politics in the A&2Alsr
Assembly District.
Mr. Forbes says that he is sure OF his 1acts
and that when the investigation which he under
took about two months ago is completed he VIII
probably present his evidence to the District
Attorney.
Mr. Forbes asserts that he was first attracted
to the possibility of fraud in the XXXIst Assem-
bly, District by learning of the vote cast In the
XXIIId Assembly District, which adjoins the
XXXIst. and which has only one election dis
trict less. or forty-two In the former district
664 votes were cast. and in the XXxIst 1246
votes were polIed nearly double. Mr.. Forbes
considered that the vote in the XXXIst District
was suspiciously heavy. as there had been no
contest in March.
He began his investigation by consulting the
records or enrolled Republicans who had voted
in the XXXIst Assembly District at the March
primaries. Armed with this information. ne
prepared a circular and accompanied it with
card, which he mailed to several hundred per-
sons in the district On the card the person
addressed was asked TO say whether he had
voted at the September, 1908, and the March,
1904 primaries. The circular says in part:
The proverbial scant attention to primary elec-
from official records exactly what pereentage OF en-
rolled Republicans voted at the last primary
A list Of such percentage was made of the forty
three election districts in this (XA![IsQ Assembly
DseriGt wnTn AZ one tHo districts boiled
ence IN resul,s loL iS+ric1 PpoIied
80 per cent To make 1t palmer. twenty-five dis
twenty districts (of the forythree( Averaged .
nine districts averaged 40 per cent.
There being no contest at this primary no reason
found in the difference in character of the election
officers or in the Inhabitants -, .,,t 49,. .,oo.,o-
officers in districts where low average was poiled
had been ca IN them b Sa ANA fagan
irregularities were discovered in more than the nine
arities" were without exception found to have ave
The character of these irregularities led to a
condition. to wit: Many persons Who were turTs Sa
percentaFe who so declared. Of the whole number
interviewed is very great; hence. the inquiry OF
you. which you will appreciate.
Nj Forbes last night made the following
statement concerning his investigation:
regret very much that this matter has TO be
aired before completion. but the condition OF aairs
is such that suppose the facts should De gwen
tend to be in position 10 show that my investisa-
In the examination of this primary election strik-
Ing features We're manifest The NHilId Assem39 empty
Goa votes. The XIlXIst Assembly District, adjoin,
having
l,24s (nearly double) Had the inquiry ended
here the record would have reflected credit on the
XXNIst This great preponderance was found 70
have been gained entirely IN fifteen election dis
trIcts and the Increase IN vote was found 70 nave
been obtained BY questionable means. Democrats
were permitted 10 vote at Republican primaries IN
one urinary dstric two election districts) twerty-
seven names were voted contrary to law This dis
apparently poled 70 per cent Of its enrolment,
completely oNtr5hadCWIDS an adjoining District
which polSd only per cent
I am st.ll pursuing the inquiry. and am daily Sc
curing further evidence OF unlawful methods The
primary low Is sueCifc all matters pertaining.
and the Penal Code can be counted on to punish
Probably not more than one-third OF the XXXIst
District will be found In the condition indicated
innocent the inquiry Will cover all II is evident
that the people should have share in the nomina-
ton as well as the election Of public officials
When Tax Commissioner Samuel Strasbour-
SER the Republican leader Of the XXXIst As
sembly District, who head OF the Republi-
can district organization would know about the
appointment of the election district inspectors.
was asked about MIR Forbes's charges, he said:
1T seems absurd that anything of the sort
should happen at time when there was no
motive or reason for so doing. II there were
such occurrences. I have absolutely no knowl-
edge thereof based on fact. I have been in
my Informant to furnish me facts such as the
officers l told him that I would not tolerate
would present the same 20 the proper authorities