New-York tribune., 1908-02-20
HUGE ELECTION FRAUDS
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that in hundreds of instances the names OF ooiit
fde voters were seized upon by vote pirates ana
when the real elector came 10 cast his ballot lie
found that he had been made to walk the piank'
SO far as his franchise was concerned
1t has been discovered that there are many
men in this city who do nothing but roll in lux
ury nine months ont of the year. visit the race
tracks DatroniZe Broadway restaurants and De
general good fellows about town the money
they earn" in the three months around cleo
ton time. They have complete system ol
organizing bands of foaters as has Farley the
strike breaker, of breaking strikes
PROFIT IN THE BUSINESS
At least ore individual who stands high In
the opinion of a political organization not far
from 14th street bought a new automobile the
week following election last year and set h'm-
self up in the business of a booiNrraker at the
racetracks on the money he made from organ
izing a large hand OF f1oaters in district near
the Bowery. 1t was found that so openly do the
ballot pirates work that layrnan could go into
one of a couple of hundred polling places and
by following any of majority OF the voters
see him voting again and again, consulting as ne
left each voting place a printed list Of other
pollfng places followed by the name he vas to
vote on.
It may easily be seen that such highly or
ganized system of rsscality requires the organ
izing ability of a man OF brains, II not OF
scruples. and such men have been found en-
gagged in the business. It is stated on excellent
authority that if it were possible TO divulge the
! names of the chief vote pirates in this city the
list would include some Of the best known
noIiticians in Tanrnany Hall. These. however,
while they furnish the brains back Of the
schemes. always work through trusted lieuten-
! ants and their hands are never shown to any
one but one man.
One of the most Illuminating samples Of
Gentleman vote pirate upon the political high
seas was that of a physician in good standing
in this borough who was looking for an appoint
menz from Tamrnany Hall. The residents OF his
home were his father and brother. but he al
lowed four ballot thieves to register from his
number.
IF the three or four bills which will be framed
upon the committees recommendations become
laws there will be two separate books, one Tot
registration and one for Election Day.
Each will contain separate sheets the
questions and the answers OF the illtteraIe voter
These questions and the rigid check PUT on them
will it is thought. block any considerable dec
Iaration of illiteracy to avoid the Identification
by signature. The slips containing the ques-
tfons and answers will he numbered. and the
corresponding numbers must be written on the
last column in the registration book opposite the
handling of this feature in operation will be put
in the laws such as providing for an inspector
of opposite political faith TO the who asked
the questions originally, who shall repeat them
on Election Day If the voter is not illlterate
It will undoubtedly be provided that compari-
son OF the signatures made on registration and
election days shall be permitted to all watchers.
TO INCREASE SUPERINTENDENT'S POWER
1t has also been found that 1t will be wise
to increase the powers and the appropriation OF
the Superintendent of Elections for this district
Among these increased powers will be that TO
required the owner or lessee of any dwelling to
furnish him with list of the men living there
He may compel the owner to inform him when
any one of them moves away. Failure to do
this will be made misdemeanor, mourning a
penalty of $3.50 and in the case OF two cOnvic-
tions subject 10 both fine and Imprisonment.
II the owner or lessee is guilty of fraud in
his dealings with the Superintendent of Elec-
tons he shall be subject to penalty Of $1,000.
and this may be recovered in a civil action, and
the leasehold may be sold to satisfy the claim
one of the important provisions that Will prob
ably appear in the laws is that election
districts shall be reduced from 500 10 400 voters
to facilitate identification.
The SUPERINTENDENT of Elections is hampered,
il has been found, by the scarcity of deputies.
1t will undoubtedly be recommended that the
superintendent be ena abIed To put deputy in
each district where fraud is suspected. 1t shall
be the duty of this deputy to know the voters
and he present both the registration and
election days. This will call for an increased
appropriation.
One bright example Of vote fraud was I'M
carthed by the cOnfmittee at The last election.
\ man about twenty years old voted in one elec-
ton district and Joined crowd OF other men
who had voted there and they all went to
other election district Although his youth was
perfectly apparent. in the ID Election District
the young man voted the name of a man
who had given his age forty. He
rested and within hour high in ,he
Ieary, accompanied by a member of the law
committee OF Tammany Hall This mem
her of the law committee baIied out the alleged
hoater on bond already executed and ap-
proved
The members of the committee are Edward
Ridley Finch chairman. Morris Einstein Ralph
Folks, Newell Lyon, Andrew F. Murray. Joseph
T. Neiedly and Josiah T. Newcomb. Few of
these men could be reached last night These
refused either to confirm or deny that The Trib-
une was in possession Of some Of the informa-
tiou which will be conveyed to the county COM
mittee tonight.
Mr. Newcomb admitted that the report was
ready or nearly so. and would probably he sub
nnitted 10 the committee. He said that the com
nlittee had investigated the situation in the city