New-York tribune., 1910-09-11
TO STOP PRIMARY FRAUDS
Attorney Generals Office to Get
Evidence at First Hand.
ORDERS ISSUED TO POLICE
Large Force to Prosecute All
Gases in Courts-Watchers
TO Act as Witnesses.


attempted fraud as marked primary con
tests IN the Democratic ranks III past
years. never before have such precautions
been raker 10 prevent such things.
The Attorney Generals Office, which did
good work IN prosecuting primary frauds
year ago. has made preparations TO get
evidence al first hand this year Deputy
Attorney. General Ezra Prentice issued
statement yesterday, IN which he indicated
-7at the work Of deliberately perpetrating
frauds in the primary contests would be
r-zuEht with exceptional danger this year.
u addition to this, Acting Mayor Mitchell
sent letter 10 Police Commissioner Baker
yesterday. directing him to see that no
disorder occurred at the primaries and that
TO violations Of the primary law were al
1ou ed He directed that at least four 20
Hcenen should be sent TO the polling places
~ the districts where fights are on, and
that the inspector in such districts should
be provided with automobiles for the rapid
--arsportatton OF reserves
large Force TO Handle Cases.
The Attorney Generals Office said Mr..
Prentice has for some time been pre-
-a-iuE 70 prosecute ary cases Of violation
&C the primary laws which may occur or
Urinary day. Special Deputy Attorneys
General Who have had experience ii such
cases. viii be assigned 10 every magts-
--1ts's court within whose district lines q
contest IS taking place. They viii endeavor
20 have he'd for Special Sessions or the
Grand jury every case in which the evi-
dence warrants such d course.
1Ir Prentice added that the work of his
-zce would be by no means limited -
Urinary day. L lad been the experience
f. rasr years that II was impossible 10 get
e5eeaate evidence Of primary frauds on
fre cay OF their commission.
Whenever the identity OF the persons
concerned IN such frauds can be ascer-
-15ned" said Mr.. Prentice. "a special in
rsztigat5on Of such frauds viii be under
salte1 Subsequent TO primary day. No ef-
.a-t VIII be spared in the investigation ana
r-oseCution or such cases to convict and
send the guilty TO JAIL
Sc far Is Mr.. Prentice prepared TO go
--a- he stands ready 10 subpoena every
person whose name has been fraUdulently
voted on. and all persons who were pres
ert in the polling place or live n the neigh
horhcoE-
To Get Courageous Watchers
Ballot box stuf7ng Is OF no avail ha
asserts II his statement unless the IN
s7ecr1rs fra-dulently enter in the enrol
--eu- books the word voted opposite a
number q names corresponding TO the
number Of ballots n the ballot boxes. and
HaiI1- box srlfinE Is never attempted with
ou- the c0nuivance and assistance OF some
Il the Inspectors It has been CUSTOMARY
tlr any leader contemplating the comElis-
--1n cf ballot box stlfirg frauds to re
move. shortly before or on the morning Of
primary day. some Or al OF the inspectors
and
-aulace them with gue-iIIas-
In some cases also the regularly ap-
pointed inspectors have been requested 10
arSeE- themselves and their places were
@.f1E by Euer-!las who represented them
serves - 7elEg the real inspectors ana
EIsC their names. Particular attention
VIII - paid 70 this sort OF case because.
= watchers can Identify The persons who
made -t7s fraudulent entries II the books.
CONVECTION Is certain. because the books
themselves can be introduced in evidence
and t-= persons who did rot vote but whose
names We're voted upon can be called as
--luu-sses.'
stand by tleir guns and remain in the poll
--E places in spite Of any row that may
- raised they VIII be able 70 furnish ire
best SORT 4 evidence. Alr. Prentice says.
After Delinquent Policemen.
y years past policemen assigned 10 poll
s1- places have openly taken the side OF
certain contestants. a. we'll as winked at
--= commission Of frauds. Mr. Prentice
say. Arrangements rave been made this
year r. report any such deInGuencies on
re part Of policemen, and the Attorney
Generals Office Is prepared TO prosecute
such cases with extreme vigor-
Violations Of tle primary law may be
prosecuted before The Court Of Special Ses-
sion without q jury or before the Court
of General Sessions OF the Supreme Court
Wherever possible the first named court
7-E be used as aEording means Of dispos-
--E q the cases more expeditioUsly. The
--cre serious cases viii be subjects for in
Llc--en- and viii be taken up IN the lat
Ter courts Ny Prentice paws tribute 70
District Attorney Whitman. SAYING that IN
attorney Generals office in every possible
TIE course pursued last year of having
a Judge from outside the district assigned
70 take Ep election fraud cases viii be
followed This year
L E-- letter 10 the Police Commissioner
re acting Mayor said that appeals had
r-eu made 10 him from number Of
sources 70 SEE that no disorder was per
-llc-ed or primary day 1t Is stated he
wrote. that = some Of the districts frauds
aye threatened and that the practice known
.gleTlIlalsrl- Is anticipated"
Ire instructions issued 70 the force by
Commissioner Baker last night were more
e----clt ana emphatic than ever before.
fa@re can be no possibility OF nlsunder-
sIehcll W1at tney mean
I1NEIPNISEF1 pAETMEETo