The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1909-05-13
'HOLESALE HIRING OF VOTERS
TO WORK SUBTERFUGE TO
EvADE LAW.
NEGRO DANCE HALLS
Are Wide-Open Dens of Vice to Which
Attention of Authorities is Di-
rected-Affidavits Missing
Ballot Boxes.


this morning after hearing motions IN
several cases. The petit jury was dis
charged yesterday morning, there be
ing no mere cases to be heard at this
time. Cases disposed of yesterday
were:
Harrison Young on plea of petit
larceny; fined $25 and ten days in
Jail
Ieffie Rush granted divorce from
rI1o W Rush, and given custody OF
tle children
Blanche Nifong. divorce from Shi"-
ley Nifong, and allowed to resume
maiden name Of Blanche Baber.
The grand jury was in session all
morning and till shortly after noon
when il reported a true bin in the
case Of James Davis charged with
assault to kill Eva Howard of Future
City The sensation of the day In
court was the iury's report with re.
spect to the late city election Tsa
Jury made diligcnt search for cNf.
dence of false swearing to affldavits
in cases Of voters who were chal.
lenged, also of vote buying under the
guise of hiring men to work II is
stated that the affidayts were not
found in the First and Third Warl
boxes which the jury called for and
opened in search of evidence. What
became of these affidavits is ques-
tIon which puzzled the jury:
The Jurys Report.
Hon. William N. Butter, Judge of the
Firs Judicial Circuit of the State
Of Illinois.
We, the undersigned members of
tho Grand jury do hereby submit the
following special report covering sew.
eral matters We wish brought to
your attention.
The evidence submitted to this
body plainly shows that gross irregu,
larities in our last city election held
April 90, 1909 were freely inlulged
i'm by candidates for onices, by the
wholesale hiring of workers" at
elections, which in our judgment was
simply a subterfuge to evade the law
covering the receiving of money for
the influence of votes, as the majority
of the so-called workers" offered |
themselves as prospective applicants
for such position or were advised of
the fact that they could secure such |
positions by others at designated |
headquarters during election day and J
that for their services as workers" /
they would receive some money or
other consideration
How They Were Hired.
No evidence was submitted show |
ing where list of the names of these
"wokers" was kept, but the only
Identification necessary TO receive
whatever consideration agreed upon
were cards of different kinds given
them, some of when were redeemed /
during the day of election, others aft.
er he election and the day following
This free and promiscuous hiring
of workers" on a large scale in one
or more wards or precincts at elec-
tions should be carefully looked into
and the employers of these so-called
workers" be called upon to give
the names of such workers" so that |
the court may determine If any un.
limited number of voters can be en-
ployed as workers" without these
voters being liable to prosecution for
accepting money or other considera-
ton TO influence their vote.
Voting BY Affidavit.
This grand jury further begs to
report that evidence submitted
brought out the fact that a full real
ization did not exist IN the minis Of
some of what constituted a legal vot-
pr. nor was the seriousness of the OBJ
legation of acknowledging by an affi-
davit when a voter was challenged
that said person was a legal voter
and entitled to vote, fully realized by
for this reason We ask that
you make public this report that
repetition of thes- Irregularities
might not occur. and Instruct every
grand jury to make thorough inves-
tigation of the conduct of all elec
lions. We also ask that all clerks of
election b. instructed TO realize the
Importance Of making note on the
poll books whenever vote is cast by
furnishing an affidavit. aud when
ever a voter acknowledges he can
not read or write and receives assist
lnce in marking his ballot by the
julges.
"Honk-a-T Tonks."
We also beg to submit TO YOU.
which was brought OUT in our investi-
cation. that it may oe brought to
The attention Of the proper officials
for correction and regulation, the
very serious menace 10 the welfare