The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-12-05
DEAD MEN VOTED
At THE PRIMARY
PlatoonS of RepeaterS Marched
From Place to Place and
Deposited Ballots.
EYES OF OFFICIALS SHUT
SCATHING REPORT OF GRAND
JURY IN CHICAGO.
EYES OF OFFICIALS SHUT

Chicago. Dec. 4.-The ballots of men
long residents of other cities, of tenn
porary absentees. OF the insane. and even
OF the dead were east in the primary cleo
ton of last August in Chicago Repeat
ers, voted in platOons with the conniv-
ance of wifully unseeing judges and
clerks of election. and fraud. rampant TO
an extent hitherto unknown in city
never famous for the purity of its polit-
lcal atmosphere. rendered the resultant
party nominations morally worthless
These ana other startling allegations
We're made today in the report OF the
weeks of delving into charges growing out
of ChicagO's first primary election, and
returning eighty-one indictments against
two score or more of politicians and 9TH
ers, adjourned. The investigation. owing
10 physical limitations merely scratched
the surface of the situation, according TO
the report. and doubt is expressed that
there has been an honest city or general
election in Chicago in year,
Police Gave No Aid.
Tie findings OF the inquisitoriaI body
characterized the primary election as a
are urgently advised as a step in re-
medal direction, and a wider application
of civil service is recommended 1t is
stated that while the jury cannot affirm
that no frauds We're perpetrated by civil
service employees. it is significant thaS
the inquisitors found none such. On the
OIner Ddnu, the report fesndl KS the ldcl
that although the police were in the vi
cinity of every polling booth, the inveS-
tigators received no aid from them IN
seeking to fastea responsibility for the
conditions which prevailed.
Referring to the fact that Frank j.
LOesch, the special states attorney .ap-
pointed to conduct the investigation. mad
been compelled by injunction to perform
his public duty without compensation.
even drawing on his own puI Sc for neces-
sarY expenses in one instance. the re-
port dsnoUnces the men responsible.
Connivance of Official.
Touching on conditions which have OBJ
tanned at elections. the report says:
In addition TO the testimony directly
bearing upon the crimes and misdemea-
nors for which true bills were found. the
grand jury heard much testimony re
garding the conduct of said primary cleo
ton. and also general electors. and find
deplorable condition Of affairs in Ger
tain wards. not craditeble to the Officials
who are.sharged by law with the conduct
Of elections and -disgraceful TO the city
OF Chicago. which has permitted such
election frauds to 90 on almost unques-
toned until this time
we find. and so report. that no confi-
dence can be placed in the reported re-
suits in favor Of or against any candi-
date for "A party nomination at the pri-
mary election, and vet that election cost
the taxpayers Of Chicago fplly $1,000.
PIatoons of Repeaters.
Fraudulent registration leading 20
fraudulent voting: repeating by platoons
of men who were voted first for one party.
then for the other party candidates 1T the
same precinct. voting names OF absentees.
non-residents, insane and dead men. ac-
cepting false affidavits on behalf of the
disqualified voters known TO the judge to
be 50: numerous and fragrant perJur1eS BY
party voters TO enable them TO cast ille-
gal VOtest taking votes from nonresident
voters without affidavits in support OF
such votes: fraudulently writing names on
the poll books and putting ballots in the
boxes to correspond; keeping upon the
registers names of men who had removed
from the precincts and voting them. vot-
ing the same name more than once at
the same precinct; DISTINGUISHING voters
by permitting their names to be voted by
others; marking ballots after the boxes
were opened. handing voters ballots al
ready marked for certain candidates;
marking ballots for voters against their
wishes and 20 putting ballots into the bal
lot box; intiInidating voters and compeii-
ing them TO vote for their candidates con-
trary to their wishes; strangers and police
officers being permitted TO handle the bal
lots after the boxes were opened so as 10
permit of fraudulent marking OF ballots.
were proven before us and are by no
means all OF the devices which we have
reason TO believe were resorted to-
Frauds for Years Past.
From the facts coming to our knowl-
edge We express serious doubt whether
there has been any honest general OF city
election in Chicago for years past
I'VE report that in our opinion much
of said fraudulent voting was done IN
pursuance Of general schemes Of cOrrlTp-
ton. the nature. character and extent Of
which we had not the time fully 10 de-
velop.'
The report declares that the election
commissioner should exercise greater care
in the selection of election officials. In
closing it recOmn; 7nds n law making COM
puIsOEy the services of voters as judges
and clerks OF election and that general
election inspectors provided for by law
shall be men Of character and standing
with police authority