The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-09-25

The Den ocrats of the first ward.
through a special committee, presented
to the police commlssIon this after noon
a petition similar to that sent yesterday
in behalf Of the par . AT large.
They ask that no opportunity shall be
given to Chief Matthews to assign TO the
ward rooms officers who will repeat the
scandalous history OF the past two years.
but that the officers shall be assigned by
the commissioners; and they recite the
hefaricus frauds and outrages previously
practised by the hirelings OF Boss Bray
ton as sufficient warrant for their present
petition that votes shall be properly pro
tected in their rights.
The full text OF the petition. which re-
ceived the consideration OF the commits
sion at Its meeting this afternoon, is as
follows:
ITO the Police Commissioners OF Provi-
AT a meeting OF the Democratic elect
ors OF the First ward OF Providence, Sept.
20, the undersigned were appointed com
mittee TO present 10 the police commission
a history of proceedings at Democratic
caucuses in the First ward In 1904 and
1906. and to petition the police commission
10 take action which will remedy un-
speakable conditions existing at such
caucuses, by extending police protection
TO citizens desirous of exercising their
privilege OF nominating candidates for
public offices. and by instructing police
officers assigned 10 attendance AT the eau
cufses of 1906 to enforce the laws OF the
state. and arrest open violaters of said
laws. Therefore, the undersigned, first
relate that
IN September. 1904. police officers assigned
to attendance there forcbly removed from
his place at the ballot box Bernard Nc
Elroy. the regularly appointed warden,
station, holding him for three hours. un-
til the caucus had ended No formal
charge was brought against said McEl-
roy; no complaint was made.
Having removed said McElroy, the po-
lice turned over the ballot box and other
caucus paraphernala to one Richard
Young. who proceeded to conduct eau
Gus. While said caucus was In progress,
said police officers occupied positions with
their backs turned to the ballot box. and
repeatedly refused when called upon by
indignant citizens to apprehend and ar
rest persons who openly deposited bunch
es Of ballots IN the ballot box.
Moreover. the police removed from the
line OF citizens waiting TO vote persons
marked on the back for the pur-
pose OF identification. and also
pushed into the line OF people waiting
persons who carried the marked ballots.
The police also by force prevented citi'
zens who did not carry the proper ballot
from entering the ward room
The conduct OF the police at said eau
Gus was part OF deep-laid conspiracy to
gain control OF the political machinery
OF the ward. In August, 1904, as required
| by Law. the chairman OF the First Ward
| Democratic committee presented 10 tie
board of canvassers list OF warden and
| clerks for the caucuses to follow. TIE
board refused to receive said list, alleg
| ing want OF authority
subsequently another list was present
ed by the chairman OF the Democratic
city committee and accepted. This con-
tained the name OF Richard Young as
warden.
"The board Of canvasers thus played its
part IN the conspiracy.
THE police did their part when. under
orders from their superiors, they allowed
and promoted violations OF the law at the
caucus.
Although the ballots returned by the
warden as voted exceeded by over 100 the
number OF names checked on the district
| list, and also by a like number a tally
OF the vote kept by person In the ward
room, and in spite OF evidence OF whole
| sale fraud and illegaity. the board OF
| canvassers sustained the caucus. and thus