Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1908-11-05
AN ATTEMPT TO
DISFRANCHISE
District Attorney Fight Winds Up
With Dirty Trick Election Day.
An Eleventh Hour Lie

An Eleventh Hour Lie
The dirtiest, most contemplate,
low lived election trick ever perpetrat-
ed at an election in Rusk county was
brought to light Tuesday morning in
time to frustrate its purpose, although
some few voters were disfranchised
thereby. A quantity of "stickers"
with j. w. Carow's name printed
thereon were received by certain of
Carow's supporters in few selected
towns in the county. The intention
was that Carow's friends would paste
the 'stickers" over the name of A. N.
Andersen in the republican column in"
stead of making cross after Carow's
name in the independent column. Such
method of voting, while it would
show the intent of the voter beyond
doubt, is illegal and such a ballot
could be counted for neither candidate.
The "stickers" were sent in a plain
envelope addressed with a typewriter
and mailed on the train the night be-
fore election. The alignment of the
typewriter address and the color of
the ribbon corresponds exactly to that
on letters recently sent out from the
office of Andersen & Leahy. These
stickers were sent to Weyerhauser,
Hawkins and Ingram three towns
which were supposed to be strongly
for Carow. By the use of them the
voter would innocently lose his vote for
district attorney. The ruse did not
work, however, as the trick was dis
covered early in the day. Fred Arrow
smith of Ingram telephoned to Mr..
Carow and asked if he intended that
the stickers should be used. Mr.. Carow
did not tumble" to the trick at first,
but naturally (since his experience at
Tony thought some of his friends had
been acting without consulting him.
However he knew the use of the
"sticker" in a general election is ille-
gal and so informed Mr.. Arrowsmith,
and at the same time notified all his
friends along the line whom he could
reach by telephone. None of the
"stickers" were offered for use in
Ladysmith.
The plan of using the "sticker" is
common in town elections, where there
are two candidates for one office, while
the balance of the ticket has been
agreed upon. Hence it was presumed
by the originators of the dastardly
plot that the voters of these three pre-
cincts would "bite" readily.
This is simply another example of
gang methods. The gang is taking
"no chances" since their sad experience
in the primaries.
The campaign just closed in Rusk
county, where the only fight was upon
district attorney, has been char
acterized by all who were closely con-
nected with it as the dirtiest they had
ever seen. The Gang Journal, which
was purchased by the gang just before
the primary election, to further their
political interests, has resorted to false
hoods and abuse beneath the dignity of
self respecting newspaper. Those
who have read only the News-Budget's
side of the controversy, have gained
but small conception of the TRADE of
abuse heaped upon Rev. Thomas Bark
er, Mr.. C. K. Ellingson and the editor,
simply because they dared to advocate
Carow's election.
In the last issue of the Journal the
most contemplate lie was published
Contemplate because it was half
truth.) 1t intimated that Carow was
to have "free beer" distributed at var
ious points over the county just before
election, particularly, at Tony. This
lie also appeared in the Bruce
News Letter and Tony Enterprise.
The only foundation for this story was
the unjudicious announcement given out
by Anton Sybers of Tony Zone of the
who was supporting
Carow) that he would put up free
keg of beer after Mr.. Carow's speech
at Tony Saturday night. Mr.. Carow
spoke in Syber's hall, over the saloon,
there being dance held in the town
hall that evening. Mr.. Carow learned
of this story just before it came out
in the Journal. He notified the editor
that the statement was untrue, but
was informed that they had "gone to
press" Mr.. Sybers admits making
the announcement without consulting
Mr.. Carow or any of his friends. He
further promised the boys that he
would put up another keg if Mr.. Carow
was elected. This was Mr.. Sybers'
own contribution Notwithstanding the
Tony Enterprises insinuation to the
contrary and Mr.. Carow knew moth
ing of it.
The circulation of such story con-
cerning his opponent would have little
effect. However there were voters
over the county who were gullible
enough to swallow the lie without in
vestigation lit was not intended for
nvestigation,) and voted against Carow
on that account alone.
a Business Change.
IL