Los Angeles herald., 1906-12-08
VOTE COUNTING
WILL SHOW FRAUD
OFFICIAL CANVASS TO BE
MADE MONDAY
Second Ward Ballots Will Be Carefully
Watched by NonsPartlsans.
Civil Service Employees
In Trouble

Official canvass Of the returns S,t "
Tuesdays election will be inaue ''N'
Monday. -.t.o, cor,-
Members of the non-partisan coI.l-
mittee express the belief that TINS ca,,- ,ss.
yass will show fraud to an eNtei,t SUI.
cient TO prove the defeat Oh Cleiipit' ~.
and the election of A. S. Van Degrlit,
non-partisan, to the COUNCIL lroIl the
Second ward. - ,,,4oros.,., =,
Non-partisans and others interesleu 4
In an honest election and talr count
are at work. gathering evidence that
ero,,d was nracticed in certain precincts
20 tha Second ward, and they say that
tha f,,rtber the affair is investigated
Tho greater the Indications that whole
sale frauds were committed.
II Is certain that an official count of
the ballots cast in this ward will be de-
manded, and there is possibility that
n request will be made for an official
count of the vote of the entire city.
THE object of this would be to show the
extent of loose counting, If not actual
fraud.
Favor Election Commission
Since Tuesdays election a sentiment
I'm favor of charter amendment pro-
viding for the appointment Of an elec-
ton commission has appeared.
In a number of eastern cities such a
commission has been created in the in
terest of honest elections. Under this
plan the ballot boxes, as soon as the
polls are closed, would be locked and
sealed, and, guarded by law officer,
would be conveyed to the city hall,
where the ballots would be counted by
the election commission, who would be
experts as to the legality of ballots.
Under the present law the ballots are
counted by election Judges and clerks
who often are illiterate or dishonest, or
both. NStories are coming in to the city
hall of incidents showing the most fla
grant violations, either willfully or
through ignorance, of the law in count
4ng the ballots, and that many ballots
were thrown out on grounds not recog-
nized by the courts or in direct viola
tion of decisions in such cases.
Involve Civil Service Men .
Stories, too, are told of election
judges and clerks being intoxicated
while counting the ballots; also that
many men who are on the civil service
rolls openly violated the law in acting
as election officers and workers
The names of several of these are
said to be in the possession of the nom
partisan committee, and it. is possible
that the cases will be called to the at
tention of the civil service commission.
An employe of the city engineers Of
flee is said to have been one of the
chief vielators of the civil service law.
He is said to have served on the elec-
ton board and to have acted in a very
partisan manner in the interest of a
certain candidate for councilman.
1t is said that the names of Others
can be secured il those interested in tho
affair care to take the subject up with
the civil service commission.
Rumors were circulated yesterday
that Henry Lyons, the Republican bar
tender councilman from the Seventh
ward, was not eligible to the office be-
cause he is not a taxpayer. An investi-
cation shows that Lyons name is not
on the assessment rolls, but the fact
that he does not pay taxes does not
make him ineligible to hold the office
of councilman.
Primary Election Law Desired
Many expressions have been heard
since the election that California should
have a primary election law. Such a
law was promised by both the Repub-
lican and Democratic conventions, and
p. A. Stanton, assemblyman from the
Seventy-first district, has prepared a
bill which he will introduce at the first
opportunity. Regarding his bill Mr.
Stanton said yesterday:
IT like the Oregon primary law better
thar any 1 have examined" said he
1T seems to be more finished, and to
cover the primary election problems
better than the laws of the other states
although 1 will admit that the laws OF
Minnesota, Wisconsin, Kentucky and
other states have good points. 1 do moi
know that the California Legislature
will accept my bill. Other members
may have bills on the same subject
But 1 believe that a satisfactory bill
will be passed at the coming session
1t is a party measure. There are some
objections to primary elections, but in
the main they are more satisfactory
to the people,"
Mr.. Stanton's bill will provide for vot-