The state herald., 1905-01-13
THE LECISL LATURE AND
THE GOVERNORSHIP

In adopting the usual method OF
seating officials elected on the face of
the returns" and then instituting a
contest where fraud Is alleged. the Re-
publican leaders have givn general sat
isfaction, although there is consider
able complaint among those who are
familiar with the details of the frauds.
They argue that system that will
permit governor to take the office,
even for day, when the fact that he
was elected by fraudulent votes is a
matter of common knowledge. needs
immediate changing.
The fact that the frauds exceeded
by far the plurality of Mr.. Adams Is
freely conceded by all who have had
an opportunity to familiarize them
selves with the results of the investi-
cation. This evidence and these bal
lot boxes will soon be examined, how
ever. and the office surely returned to
Mr.. Peabody.
Conservative Action.
In adopting this conservative course
when they had the power to push
through more decisive and radical
course. It Is pointed out will result in
great advantage to the Republican or.
ganization.
The leaders point to the fact that
when the Democrats had the power
they threw out Republicans regardless
Of law. constitution or decency, and
argue that this Is just the reason they,
the Republicans, should go slow and
tread the straight and narrow path OF
regularity.
In the meantime the full extent of
the frauds is becoming better appre-
ciated as the Supreme Court removes
the lids from the boxes OF the various
precincts.
Three boxes opened last week
showed about 800 Democratic ballots
written by two or three persons, In ad-
dition to this the evidence has been
more sensational and startling. II that
were possible, than that given In the
earlier cases.
Court watchers and other witnesses
testified to the fact that in each pre-
cine the challenges of the Republican
challengers were absolutely ignored.
One witness kept n list of names OF
voters who had their names voted
upon by impersonators. When the
challengers would publicly denounco
the impersonators as frauds and call
attention to the fact that they were per
sonally acquainted with the party who
was being impersonated, the Demo
cratic judges would ignore the objec-
tIon and accept the bogus votes.
Thousands OF fraudulent votes were
cast by this method. and of course. the
number cai Hcyer he eccarately ascel-
tained Not Zen the handwriting cx.
perts can pick out such votes.
How Repeaters Were Paid.
The most interesting testimony was
that OF witness who described the
manner In which he saw repeaters
herded. given ballots and money for
voting them. The following bit OF tes-
timony referring to man named Ely.
Democratic precinct committeeman.
Is especially rich:
Il saw Ely pay two men two dollars
about fifty feet from the polling place.
Then he said to them. Go on In and
vote The men went into the polling
place. saw Ely 80 into the family
entrance OF the Coliseum saloon with
nine men. stood on the curb and
watched them saw Ely give them
bills and silver dollar pieces md slips
OF paper. Then they came out, three
at a time, and went into the polling
place. saw each one given a ballot
and saw each one vote IT,"
This Is sufficiently specific to satisfy
the most cxaetlng. That n conspiracy
existed Involving the election officials
cannot be denied. for such repeating
as this. which can be established by
hundreds OF witnesses and which has
been established In every ease IN the
Supreme Court. could not possibly
be carried out without the conulyance
and assistance OF the Democratic
election officials at the polling places.
In this box tho expert found l6I bal
lots written by the same person and
he declared In his sworn statement
that II hc had time TO examine the
other ballots carefully he could have
found much more. Tho total vote in
this precinct was 800.
This IN n sample box and like othorS
q, smells TO heaven.
There is absolutely no aucstlon
about the existence OF n well planned
conspiracy. and that II will run down
many prominent Democratic polltl'
clans before tho examinations end. ID
almost a certainty.
Row In the House.
One OF the most unfortunate features
OF the lato unplcaaantnoss In the Leg
inlature was the action OF tho Rcpubli'
cans In getting into II dlsgraeoful
squabblc. Certain mombors. fcw in
number. but aggressive and persistent