The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-10-05
Canvassers Find Excuse to
Throw Out Caucus
Missing Check List the Presr on Which the Partisan Body
True TO Its Past Policy Nu||fsd the First Ward Result
Although Forced to ConC0de That There Was No Fraud
and That the Real Democratic Ticket Was Elected Beyond
tho Possibility Of Any Dispute.

The decision In the First ward Demo-
cratic caucus matter which was withheld
by the board OF canvassers and registra-
tion pending the result of its consulta-
tion with the city solicitors department
and given out late yesterday afternoon,
proved, as was expected, TO be against
the Decent Democracy OF tho ward and
In favor OF the Moran -Dorney faction Of
Brayton hireings.
This enables the Moran Dorney crowd
to continue TO control the ward commit
tee and dictate the appointment of su-
pervisors for elections, wardens and
clerks for caucuses and ample opportuni-
~ will remain for the perpetration OF
more frauds such as have been practlsed
I'm the past
The bare fact that a caucus list is miss
ing. that clerk leaves his list because he
is in fear OF bodily harm. that he refuses,
for one reason or another, to certify TO
his list. or any one Of many other con
siderations may operate to keep the dis
reputable elements influential in the First
ward just so long they care to be: and
a large majority OF the people OF the
ward. the genuine Democrats. who be-
lieve In fair play and in having the Dem
ocracy represented in the city. state and
congressional conventions, will be de-
prived of voice in the party's affairs,
while the Moran Dorney gang will be free
TO control the illiterate vote Of the ward
after they reach the polls, I'm the inter
est Of any man or party that cares TO
pay for such control
1t was recognized from that start that
there was little probability of decision
in favor Of the Doranites. even though
they had a clear majority OF the votes
cast and conducted themselves In an or
derly and proper manner.
The text of the boards decision. pre-
pared by the city solicitor. is as follows:
"Said caucus conducted by the legal
caucus officers, proceeded regularly and
lawfully until the closing of the polls.
There is no evidence and no claim is
made that any persons were allowed TO
vote whose names were not upon the
check lists. There Is no evidence that
the ballot box was sturfed. or that any IL
legal ballots were deposited therein: but.
on the contrary, IL Is In evidence that
three persons present kept lists or the
names OF all who voted, the number OF
the same being 494. the same as found by
the warden, s-eount and by the recount
by this board.
"An unsuccessful attempt was made by
some person not disclosed by the evidence
10 stuff the ballot box with a package OF
ballots after IL was closed and while be-
ing removed from the ward room; but
there was no charge Of actual fraud, nor
any evidence OF fIduu ItihllNS w NiiN p"i
lots found in the box.
"After the polls were closed, a disturb
ance and tumult arose relative TO repre-
sentatives OF the candidates to watch the
count and the manner or conducting the
count and the box was not turned and
the votes were not counted at the caucus
that night: but finally 1t was decided that
the ballot box and check lists should be
taken TO the office OF and placed in the
- h.a ri
done by police officers accompanied by
the warden and the clerk OF the First dis
trict.
"Bv advice OF the city's law depart
ment. the warden and clerks assembled at
said office the next day to complete their
duties relative TO said caucus. Said office
was omen to the public candidates and
representatives of the candidates on both
tickets were present, and 'aany others.
"The ballots were counted by the war
den and clerks, and II was found that the
candidates on the "Doran Ticket" so call
ed" so called had 260 votes each and the
candidates on the Brady Ticket so
called had 23i votes each
oft was also found that only five check
lists were in the case brought TO said Of
fee. and that the check list OF the Sixth
district was missing. and also that none
Of the lists found were certified to by the
clerks as required by law. Thereupon, In
view of these facts, the warden an
nounced the result OF the count for what
IL was worth.
THE warden and clerks certified the
ballots. and the warden and two of the
clerks signed the certificate stating the
result OF the balloting. as directed by law.
The clerks OF four OF the five districts.
whose check lists were present, neglected
and refused TO certify the same, for the
reason, as testified TO by them before this
board. that they had not remained under
their supervision AT the caucus, on ac-
count OF their being pushed away from
the check list stands during said disturb
ance. and had been removed from their
possession without being certified TO by
them.
"One OF these four clerks testified TO
the correctness OF his list with possibility
the exception OF one name checked, but
still refused TO certify the same. although
tho person whose name was questioned
testified that he voted at the caucus.
This board counted said ballots and
found the number OF ballots for each can