Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1908-12-10
RECORD OF fraud
CHICAGO GRAND JURY MAKES
ScATHIMc REPORT ON ELEc-
TON cRookEDIEss.
The Report Declares There Has Not
Been an Honest Election Held
In Windy City for
Years.

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long residents Of other cities, Of tenn
| porary abpsntes, Of the insane and
even Of thB dead were cast In the pri
mary election Of last August in Chi
cago. "Repeaters" voted in platooni
with the connivance of wilfully unsee
Ing judges and clerks Of election and
fraud, rampant to an extent hitherto
unknown in o city never famous for
the purity Of its political atmosphere,
rendered the resultant party nomina'
lions morally worthless.
These and other startling allega'
lions were made Friday in the report
Of the special grand jury which. after
several weeks Of delving into charges
growing out of Chicago's first primary
and returning 81 indictments against
two score or more Of politicians and
others, adjourned. The investigation,
owing to physical limitations, merely
scratched the surface Of the situation,
according to the report, and doubt is
expressed that there has been an hon
est city or general election In Chicago
In years. The findings Of the inquisi-
torial body characterize the primary
election as disgrace to the city. yot-
ing machines are urgently advised as
Q step in remedial direction. and a
wider application Of civil service is
recommended.
Referring to the fact that Frank ].
Loesch, the special states attorney ap-
pointed to conduct the investigation,
had been compelled by Injunction to
perform his public duty without com.
pensatIon, even drawing on his own
purse for necessary expenses in one
instance, the report denounces the
men responsible.
Touching on conditions which have
obtained at elections the report says:
1--WE and and so report that no con-
fldence can be placed in the reported
results in favor Of or against any can
dIdate for Z party nomination at the
primary election and yet that election
cost the tax payers Of Chicago fully
$4,000.
fraudulent registration leading to
fraudulent voting; repeating by pla'
tOOns Of men who were voted 6rst for
one party, then for the other candis
dates at the same precinct; voting
names Of absentees, nonTeSidents, in
sane and dead men, accepting false Of
ndavits on behalf Of disqualified voters
known to the judges to be so; numer-
Gus and fragrant perjuries by party
voters to enable them to cast Illegal
votes, taking votes from nonresident
voters without afEidavits 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 re-
spective precincts and voting them;
voting 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 already marked for GER
tain candidates; marking ballots for
voters against their wishes and so put
ting ballots into the ballot box; intimi.
dating voters and compelling them to
vote for their candidates contrary to
their wishes; strangers and police Of
ficers being permitted to handle the |
ballots after the boxes were opened SO |
as to 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 resort
cd to.
From the facts owing to our knowl-
edge we express serious doubt wheth-
or there has been any honest general
or city election in Chicago for years
past.
1--WE report that In our opinion much |
Of said fraudulent voting was done in |
Pursuance Of general schemes Of cor
ruption, the nature, character and ex-
tent Of which we had not the time
fully to develop"