The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-12-05
Local Pride in Philadelphia.

Ii looks as though some OF the
people of Philadelphia We're not with
out local pride. One of them, the Rev.
Russell H. Conway, d. d, of Grace
Baptist Temple, has been stirred by
the stigma of corrupt and contented
20 offer the following challenge:
Il Will pay 500 reward for proof
that one fraudulent vote was cast in
this city at the last election.
Subsequently he amplifed this
declaration so far as TO say:
Let us understand each other. l
want the abuse of Philadelphia stop
ped. The cry corrupt and content
ed has gone up against our city, and
t. is heard today around the world.
This cry must be silenced If our
elections are fraudulent. let as go into
court. prove the charge. and send the
guilty 20 jail 1 VIII do my share of
the work and pay my share of the eX-
penses.'
In less than g day the proof was
al his hand II is worth printing:
First. James Scott, assessor, tenth
division. Fifth ward certified that -S2
residents OF that division were entitled
Go vote on November E, 1904
Second. Only 81 fully qualified voters
aTe bona tide residents OF the tenth
division Fifth ward.
Third That the election board return
ed ~ votes as having been cast at the
e.ecIion held in that division ON Novem-
bcr
Fourth. That 81 of the III votes so
returned by the election board are
fraudulent within the meaning OF the
law.
Fifth. That Two OF The election officers
who served tShOTJeT and ScOJD do not
live iu the Fifth ward. ana, on that ac-
count were Incompetent To serve
Sixth That ballots were cast by men
whose names do not appear upon the
official registry list. and Tor whom no
competent vouchers appeared.
Seventh. That al least ~ repeaters
or ImpersOuaJurs voted upon fictitious
names pun up0u the official registry of
voters by James Scott the assessor.
Eighth. That oficeholders are colon
ICED in the division Tor election purposes.
This was not the only information
supplied the challenger for the fair
name of Philadelphia Before he
finished with the reformers he learned
why they did not go into court
prove The charge, and send the guilty
10 Jail" A grand jury which had
once undertaken TO expose the white
slave syndicate name is suffi-
GENTLY descriptive-had failed utterly
and it's foreman had been bounded
like a thief The board of judges had
refused 10 name a common pleas judge
10 sit as a committing magistrate TO
hear election fraud cases. More than
a thousand election fraud cases had
been pigeonholed by the district at
torney, hundreds had since been sub
mitted 10 him. and his Office was
standing pat while the period Of
action for election frauds-three
months beginning with election day
was already one-third gone.
Fairness requires that DR.. Con-
ways position, after he had digested
this information. should be stated.
lie was bliud 10 facts seen by all the
world, but fl was not because he was
not willing 10 see. He proved his
sincerity by standing by an his declar-
ations TO pay the 500; 10 meet his
share of the expense OF reform; and,
best of all, TO do bis share Of the
work.
AS has been said, il looks as though
some OF The people of Philadelphia
were not without local pride.