New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-11-09
ELECTION MADE VOID.
Oae-tenth of Ne7c-Brunsocick POpu-
lation Disfranchised.

New Br11nsvtct Nov (SpeciaD.-This town was
stirred TO its depths to-day by a row in the
bipartisan election board of the first poll of the
Sixth Ward as a result OF which AL legal voters.
almost one-tenth of the entire voting population of
New Brunswick. were completely DISTINGUISHED. The
squabble out of which this disfranchisement grew
from the refusal of the two Democratic
members of the Board OF Registry OF the first
poll OF the Sixth Ward to accept the names OF
about thirty-hve Rutgers College students who
claimed legal residence here, and who presented
aiidavts signed by Rutgers College professors and
others verifying their claim. The County Board of
Election, another bipartisan board or Two DEM
ocrats and two Republicans, had failed on Satur-
day, by tie vote. to adopt as the official list
either of the registers turned in by the election
officials.
AT o'clock this morning. the time OF the open
ing of the polls. Philip Reilly, of the Demo-
cratic election officers, was in possession of the
official blue envelopes. with the seal of the package
broken. William Rastall, Republican officer.
raised the point that the envelopes should have
been delivered TO the judge OF the board. Thomas
Corrigan, with the seal unbroken. He demanded
that the ballots be turned over Reilly promptly
the tickets and the official envelopes acting
under the instructions of James r. Dunlap cleo
ton inspector who told him to give ballots
envelopes to any one, the Republicans declare,
but the people he should designate. Reilly con-
tinued 10 sit the envelopes for an hour and
half, until Sheriff Carmsn arrived. The sheriff
dCtnB al MS oIICldl Cep6ciIy- ordered tnat lnc
envelopes be placed on the table. in the sight OF
the whole election board, according to law. Street
Commissioner Harkins told Reilly to do what the
sheriff ordered him to do, and Reilly placed the
ballots and the envelopes the table.
But the polls had been closed for hour and
half at that time. and the Republican members OF
the board advised that the election had
been clearly invalidated by that act of the Demo-
Gratis. many people had appeared to cast their
votes and had been unable to do St acting
under the advice of Alan II. Strong the Republi-
can judge, Thomas Corrigan refused TO receive
any votes after Reilly got off the envelopes. the
legality of the election already having been an
nued.
The Democrats have been playing a technical
hand all along, Charles Deshler having introduced
1t in the last election. Judge Fort, in the last
election contest, laid great stress the fact that
although a man is willing TO swear in his vote it
takes three members of the election board to re-
ceive it. Knowing this. the Democrats intended
TO dsfranchise thirty citizens who entitled
to vote. The Republicans met the technical at
tack with a technical move, and the result is that
the election is blocked But If Reilly had de-
hvered the election ballots intact, with unbroken
seal, 70 the election board before the time Of
the opening of the polls, according to law, and
had not stubbornly sat them and kept the
polls closed for hour and half. things would
have been different in the Sixth Ward to-day. Tie
grand jury is coming back on Friday, and Justice
Fort will doubtless take steps TO have the guilty
ones punished.
After the democratic election offlcerS mad pro-
duced the official envelopes this morning, the
ceedins at the poll like this: a voter pre-
scented himself and received tickets and envelope
from Mr.. Reilly. The voter prepared the ballot In
the booth. When he appeared again Mr.. Dunlap
asked him if he legal voter of the poll. Ii
he replied in the affirmative Mr.. Dunlap moved
that mis- ballot be received Mr.. Reilly seconded
the motion The vote two and two, and the
ballot refused. Then the ballot was returned
to the voter and the envelope marked by Mr..
Dunlap and filed away for further reference.
Many prominent citizens who offered their votes
70 have them refused were plainly indignant.
Willard p Voorhees,. a well known lawyer re-
turned to the poll second time after having been
turned down once. This time he quoted law to
the election board as to why his vote should be
received. He demanded answers 10 a number OF
formal questions. and when his ballot was re-
jected he announced that he intended TO send some
one to State prison for the act, Several other
landed In State prison for their dis
reimbursement. DR.. Samuel Woodbridge, presf-
dent emeritus of the Theological Seminary, when
his ballot refused. said
Il am ninety years of age and this may be my
last ballot
Drs. Donohue and Butler also offered their ball
lots did a number of other people.
Philip Reilly, the Democratic election officer
who sat on the envelopes, is former saloon
keeper and also formerly employed in the
Street Department. James Dunlap the other
Democratic election officer is clerk in the office
of Street Commissioner William F. Harkins.