The log cabin Democrat., 1908-12-04
PROBING ALLEGED FRAUDS Liquor Vote in Pulaski is Chal-
 lenged.
Prohibitionists Claim Glaring regularities in Little R0cck and Argenta
 Precincts.

Little Rock, Dec. 4.-Today in the county court, before Judge Joe Asher, are being heard arguments concerning the protest upon the last election held here, filed by prohibitionists, who ask to have the votes of all Argenta wards, and the Sixth and Second wards here thrown out, claiming illegal vot- ing. If this petition is granted, Pulaski will become a dry county, as it was these wards which rolled up the 1000 majority boiled by the liquor voters.
 The prohibitionists claim the work ITS for the liquor interests rap over them rough shod and voted many who did not live in the wards or in either city. On ac- count of proclamation by the state board of election commissioners, advising that poll tax requirements be not demanded as qualification for voting, hundreds of negroes were voted here, and the majority of them voted straight for liquor. They were registered from livery stables and negro boarding houses about the city, and all claimed to be residents. There was nothing produced to show they were not, and as most of the negroes were vouched for, they were permitted to vote. The voting was particu- larly heavy in the Sixth ward here, which is the largest ward in the city in population, and the prohi' bitionists claim the voting was heavier than the lists show it should be.
 The liquor interest claims to have carried the ward fairly, and in the absence of list of all those who were qualified to vote with the poll tax restrictions removed ], 1t is unfair to claim their votes were illegal. The prohibitionists claim negroes were brought in from the country and even from Lonoke county, to vote in this election at the Argenta polling places, the only requirement. being that they should vote for liquor. It is alleged these votes were paid for so much a head, and that when the negroes were voted at one pre- cihct, they were loaded again in a wagon and moved on to another
 This is disclaimed by the judges and clerks, and many of the Ar genta citizens who were about the polling places during the day They say negroes were brought in late in the afternoon from the oil mills and congresses, and had a perfect right to vote ill the city. The burden of proof is upon the petitioners to show fraud has been committed, and they have secured much evidence, in which individ uals are alleged to have voted il- legally, but it is claimed they will be unable to produce the witnesses.
 The liquor men admit there may be some few irregularities, but they were not prompted by them, and they should not be held responsi- ble for them. They also state the number will be only very small percent of the liquor majority. They also say if the entire vote was counted over, a like number would probably be found illegally cast on the other side, which would probably even matters up
 The battle of ballots on election day was fierce one here, the pro- hibitionists having men at all polls to check the voters, also register ing booths, and at the same time had women present circulating the petition asking the county court to deny license to any saloon within three miles of the Peabody school