The San Francisco call., 1905-02-24
ELECTION BOARD
WHITEW Washed
Mayor SchmitZ Declares the
Commissioners Guiltless
of Misconduct Charge

Mayor Schmitz yesterday made pub
lie his decision on the charges of cor
rupt misconduct in office made against
Election Commissioners Roberts, De-
Voto, Leffingwell, Mcguire and Voor-
sanger, upon which a trial was recent
ly held. The Mayor declares the Com
missioners not guilty Of the charges as
filed. The decision says:
Having investigated all the conduct and
acts OF said defendants and each Of them as
such Election Commissioners and as compos-
inc such Board Of Election Commissioners Of
ssid city and county IN the conduct ana man
agement of and in the appointment Of pre-
circt election officers for said primary cleo
tion. and the law and facts being by me,
such Mayor considered / do hereby as such
Mayor by virtue Of the power reposed In me
bv the charter OF said city and county, de-
cde and find that the said defendants and
each OF them are not guilty Of any Of the
charges so made and fled herein as aforesaid
and not guilty Of any misconduct In the
conduct or management OF or in appointing
precinct election officers for said primary cleo
ton. and the said defendants and each OF
them are hereby acquitted upon each and ali
o. said charges aforesaid and Of any miscon-
duct such Election Commissioners or
composing said Board Of Election Comnlis
sioners in the conduct and management of
OF in the appointment Of precinct election
officers for said primary election
Accompanying the findings was the
following communication addressed to
the Election Commissioners:
SAN FRANCISCO. Feb o, 1905.
To the Board of Election Commissioners:
i have this day decided in your favor the
o.,-55,~t ~ ne lss4 1,-5Tnary election 7 have
done because / find that in appointing the
election officers rom the large list OF ap-
snd practice prevailing in your department
under successive administrations for many
years past and because I believe each and all
OF you to have been honest and sincere in the
discharge Of your official duties. Moreover,
j agree with you and with all of your pre-
oecessors in office that the property qualihca-
ton required Of election officers is in conflict
with the constitution Of the State and there
fore void
At the same time wish to call your
esrnest attention 10 the absolute necessity Of
exercising the most searching care and caution
in the selection Of such election officers and
in the conduct Of every election, primary as
well general. The entire fabric of our
Government and the fundamental principles
OF this republic must rest eventually the
purity OF our elections and 1 urge upon each
and al Of you hereafter 70 exercise personal
and individual supervision over the selection
of all boards Of election.
While the cases OF wyrnan and sterfens
were before the trial courts / refrained from
making any official comment, because. know
ing nothing personally of the facts Of their
cases. and believing in the principle that
every defendant IS entitled 10 a fair trial I
did not wish 70 say anything which might
the intense provocation 10 do otherwise arising
from the malicious falsehoods daily published
by the corrupt and corrupting editors OF the
Chronicle and Bulletin. newspapers OF this
city. in their vain attempt TO connect the city
administration with those alleged frauds upon
the ballot. The administration had interest
whatever IN the last primary election other
than the interest every good citizen should
have IN projecting the integrity Of elections
and never did and never Will connive at bal
lot box stufhng or at any other crime against
the electoral franchise
There is no ohense more despicable, more
deplorable or more far-reaching in its evil
results, none which tends more 10 sap the
vitality Of our institutions. and none which L
as Mayor Of the city, viii DO more 70 prevent
I shall therefore demand that IN the appoint
rnent Of your next election boards and in the
conduct Of elections. you shall take every
possible precaution to prevent the occurrence
Of such crimes as those with which Wyrnan
and Steffens are charged
I recognize that IL may be impossible TO
have an election theoretically perfect but as
long as this administration shall remain In
power II should be our distinct and definite
aim and purpose to make our elections as
nearly perfect and clean as human fore
sight and human power possibly render
them and must all earnestly cooperate
70 that end
I have deemed il proper on the occasion Of
my 6ismissipg the charges against you TO give
YOU my views on these matters, and I trust
they viii receive your most careful consider
alton. Yours truly,
z. r. scHNnrz, Mayor.