The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-12-31


These men considered that everything
was fair I'm politics, and there was a
chance 10 get a bunch OF money which
could not be resisted. My men reported
one such case 10 me and have no doubt
but that there were others.
BOUGHT BY GAMBLERS
My men discovered great activity among
the gambling fraternity. large num-
Der OF we'll known gamblers called fire.
quently at Republican headquarters and
more particularly at the headquarters OF
the Republican candidate for mayor OF
Providence.
The activity Of this element led me to
put them under stricter surveillance,
which resulted I'm the discovery or plan
TO buy Democratic supervisors of cleo
tion This plot had its center in the
First ward OF Providence and the chief
conspirator Is a well known gambler in
that ward, who Is said to be a Democrat
This man arranged a meeting at the
Narragansett hotel just before election,
TO which he invited certain Democratic
supervisors. This meeting was held be-
hind closed doors and the results OF II
could only be learned from one who was
there. i have the names OF those who
were present. learn that the proposition
was there made TO these supervisors that
SIS apiece would be paid to them IL they
would mark every illiterates ballot Re
publican who requested to have his
ballot marked Democratic"
ILL1TERATEs THE VICTIMS
The deal was consunmated and these
Democratic supervisors. I am told. re-
ceived the money, and with one or two
exceptions. did as they agreed. This
method OF fraud and corruption is so cold
blooded and brutal that made extraordl-
nary efforts to get hold OF sufficient evi-
dence TO prosecute those implicated
While some who were I'm the deal have
told about II they refuse. naturally, 20
give evidence which would convict them
selves. I can conceive OF nothing so
shocking to ones sense OF a square deal
than to make an illiterate voter the mer-
chandise OF scoundrels.
That these scoundrels should be put
forth by a political party az proper men
TO act as supervisors TO guard the rights
OF the voter is sad commentary upon
the political organization which Is re-
sponsible for their election.
THE LIQUOR INFLUENCE.
Another significant thing which my
men discovered was that the liquor deal
ers were an active factor In the election
on Wednesday November 2, 1904. n large
Elks' hall on Westminster street to dis
cuss the campaign and TO determine the
political action OF the fraternity At the
polls
My inspector who was present at that
meeting reported that some OF the deal
crs were opposed to having their political
course dictated. concluded from some
things that were said there that IL would
be well 10 keep an eye on the fraternity
and await Developments.
In the First ward of Providence one Of
my men saw letter from the president
OF the Retail Liquor Dealers sssocia-
tion OF Providence in which he conveyed
10 the liquor dealers an order ostensibly
from the license commissioners, that
every liquor dealer must work for GER
tain party and for a certain candidate for
mayor.
PARTISAN LICENSE BOARDS
tried to get possession OF the letter.
but without success The dealers were
directed To- make up lists OF voters in
their districts whom they could influence.
and TO send the lists 10 headquarters
In some cases that came 10 my atten-
tion this order was obeyed From re-
ports that came 10 me from inspectors |
concluded that pressure was broug, Z
TO bear upon the dealers. n not directly
by the license commissioners neverthe-
less by certain persons who are power
ful In the counsels OF the commissioners
10 compel the support OF tho candidates
Of the Republican party for state and city
officers.
II r. perfectly apparent to one who has
made careful Investigation that the
boards OF license commissioners I'm this
state are acting in an entirely partisan
manner and are using their powerful In
fuence upon tho liquor dealers for politi-
cal purposes.
DOUBLE DEALING DEMOCRATS.
Another significant revelation was the
fact that several well-known Democratic
politicians were ip constant communica-
tion with Republican headquarters. Some
Of these men hold official positions in the
Democratic party Organization.
One 81 these co-operated with the Re-
publcans by havine agents going back
and forth from hs Office 20 Republican
| headquarters This became 90 noticeable