The San Francisco call., 1904-10-04
WE'RE sUNMARILY DISPLACED.

WE'RE SUMMARILY DISPLACED.
1t is common report that number Of
those who had been regularly appoint
ed desired 10 serve as election officers
/ but were not allowed to do so, being
displaced by the midnight appoint
mentS. The rosters show much fraud
in these precincts and the attention Of
the Grand Jury was therefore drawn
to the actions of the Election Commits
sion.
The Commissioners declare that the
substitute appointments at the elev-
enth hour were made because those
who had been regularly appointed sig
nified their inability to serve. They as
sert that designations are on file in the
Registrars Office from every election
officer who was displaced. The mem
bers of the board are certain that they
will be called upon to answer indict-
ments. and are loud in the declaration
that the grand Jurors are unscrupu-
lousy doing politics"
The Grand Jury also took testimony
regarding the conduct of the election
reveals illegal voting on an extensive
scale The witnesses examined were
Joe Hayes, ]. r. Pringle. Curtis Hill
yer. NJ. c. Davis, Policeman Henry ].
Pyle, Police Sergeant William Will
liams and Detective ]. F. Dinan.
Hayes. Pringle and Hillyer told of the
misconduct they saw on the part Of
alleged suffers. The incident was in
quired into of the man who attempted
to vote another's name and ran away
when he was challenged.
NO TRACE OF STEFFENS.
Captain of Detectives Burnett took
steps last night to institute an ener-
getic hunt for Adolph Steffens, who
I,v& g.
legally voting the name of c. c. Crew
at the primary election. The captain
gave it as his opinion that Steffens had
fed the city. No trace has been found
of him since the bench warrant was is
sued. He was last seen on Thursday
night
The petition Of Charles Wyman to be
freed of the charge of ballot-box stuff
fing on the ground that the primary
law is unconstitutional was heard by
Judge Sloss of the Superior Court yes
terday. the defendant being in court on
habeas corpus proceedings instituted
last Friday while his preliminary ex-
animation was in progress before Po-
lice Judge CabaniSS.
1t is not regarded as likely that
Judge Sloss will upset the primary law.
In any event he will not permit any
delay Of the case so far as he is con-
cerned, for he made the announcement
that he would render his decision at 10
o'clock tomorrow morning.
At IL o'clock the examination before
Judge Cabaniss is to be resumed, and
Judge Sloss will relieve any uncer-
tainty in time for the proceeding in
the lower court.
The whole day was consumed by the
attorneys in their arguments yester-
day, r. H. Countryman pleading for
the defendant and John A. Hosmer.
special prosecutor employed by the
Merchants Association, for the people.
The chief point advanced by the petit
tioner was that the requirement that a
party shall have cast 3 per cent of the
total vote at the preceding election to
entitle ii to hold a convention and OBJ
tain place on the official ballot is in
conflict with the provisions of both the
State and United States constitutions
as to discrimination in privileges. He
pointed out that a party that is a ma
tional factor and substantially organ
lied might in some communities be de-
barred, under the law, from participa-
ton in an election
To this contention Hosmer urged that
there must be regulation and that the
NATIVE. Any body of persons. who
could present a petition with 3 per
cent of the voters. would be given the
same privileges as are granted to es-
tablished parties. In this manner fair
play was assured TO all in a reasonable
manner.