New-York tribune., 1907-11-06
IHMSEN SCENTS FRAUD.
Citizens Intimidated an Many Dis
tricis-H0Iding Back Returns.

Nam, coronlairts against Tammany methods
>xere made last night by the managers of thNfu-
zion ticket. Max Ihmsen. the candidate FOR
Sheriff. the recipient Of many reports of in
1irnidation Of watchers and tanpering with votes
at the polls AZ II O'Clock last night he made the
following statement at the Independence League
headquarters:
In the 22d Election District of the Sd Assembly,
where 80 votes had been registered the entire vote
had been cast at a m not by the legally regis
tered voters, but by repeaters under the leader
ship of Tammany Hall captains.
when citizens appeared to cast their ballots
they We're either thrown out of the polling place,
or. If force not used, they were accosted by
Tammany workers who endeavored to stop them
from voting and volunteered the information that
the only way in which they could help themselves
was by securing a mandamus and then telling
Them that they could not secure one until after s
,. NJ, at which time the polls would be closed
The attention of the Superintendent of Elec-
tons being called 10 the conditions existing in this
district by Charles Gehring, chairman of the In
dependence League the inspector of elections in
this place removed, but the damage was al
ready done. and Tammany has once more turned
OF the old tricks.
THE percentage Of fusion votes cast to-day began
by the first returns at 80 per cent At this hour
L. has gone 10 - per cent. prefer TO wait until
districts heard from before expressing
my opinion to what may be the result The
iamentable failure of the Office of the Superinten-
hcnt OF Elections to prevent fraud must be
Of regret 20 ali good citizens With the fun
knowledge by this bureau of Tammany's inten-
ton TO vote thousands Of repeaters and thousands
uf Illegally registered voters there is doubt that
the full fraudulent vote of the county cast
knd counted"
Yes" said Deputy Attorney General Reass 1T
g a frghtfu commentary upon civic government
mat such colossal frauds as have been perpe-
Frated to-day should be tolerated, much less con-
roned"
It VAS about O'Clock last evening that Herbert
3nittee. called Nir Ihmsen and told him that the
5usoH ticket had carried the 4th 9th sth and l0tn
Assembly districts and that he believed the fusion
IiekCt would win by plurality OF 4oo0o or 5<oo.
Al. lEmscn explained the apparent victory of the
Tsmnauy ticket by saying that the police were
holding back the returns from the Republican and
1Hderendcuce League districts. they did in 1895.
Later Mr.. Ihmsen said that attempt would
probably hc made 20 doctor UP the returns so AS
give victory to Tammauy This belief ted to
sn appeal Governor Hughes and Mr.. Ihmsen
said that De had received a message from Colonel
TfeadRell. the Governors military secretary ad-
Nising him That The Governor had instructed Com
missioner Bingham 20 tell the police TO be on
their guard against fraud and TO give adequate
protection 10 fusion watchers
M IhmSeu said that frequent where re-
peaters had voted had come TO his notice, and
that the police had refused to arrest the offenders
Watchers, he said. had in many cases been driven
away from the polls by Tammany thugs. and the
police, who were in sympathy with Tammany, had
not interfereI. Following the appeal that MT. linn
made 10 the Governor, Mr. Reass Deputy At
Iorney General, also appealed 10 him for aid.
Al police headquarters it said that Mr.
Bugher. the Deputy Police Commissioner. had
heard from Governor Hughes regarding the COM
plants about the Interference with fusion watch
trs, and hakpromised 10 do all that required
THE Deputy Commissioner said that he had heard
few complaints about interferenc- with watchers
= the polls.
one attempt by the Foley sympathizers TO stop q
fair count of the ballots in the polling place at No
Boz Cherry street was only prevented by the quick
action of the Deputy Attorney General. Mr.. Dol
thin, and Robert A. Kelly. Assistant Superintendent
of Elections assisted by the police. Word was
sent the Headquarters Of the Independence League
10y Jacob Friedman, the watcher at the polls. that
rhe Foley sympathiZers were not counting the bal
dots properly.
Dothn and Kelly went 10 the place in auto
mobile and found the watcher surrounded by
threatening crowd. They called for the police re-
serves and told the election board that unless
recount of the ballots made they would take
the ballot box and the board the station house.
This threat had the desired effect and recount
made, with the result that seventeen defective
ballots were found and thrown out