New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-09-13
mitchell ST|RS POLICE
Tells Baker Election Thievery
Here Must Be Stopped.
TOLD OF POSSIBLE FRAUDS
Acting Mayor Again Writes to
COMMISSIONS About Primary
Elections Today

Acting Mayor Mitchell wrote another let
ter TO Police Commissioner Baker yester
day in regard TO the primary elections to-
day in which he said he feared that frauds
would ne attempted and reminded the
Commissioner that II was the duty of his
department to do everything in its power
10 prevent them.
Mr. Mitchell said be had learned from
President Dooling Of the Board Of Elec-
tons that the latter had received de-
mand from the chairman of the Demo-
era tic County Committee that q large num-
Der Of election officials previously OPP
pointed he removed and others selected in
their stead
Mr. Dooling called the attention of the
acting Mayor 10 letter received from
Deputy Attorney General Prentice saying
that the experience of his office had been
that in mary districts in which ballot box
stuffing frauds were attempted a number
Of inspectors Of election were removed
shortly before the primary election The
rea son for this has been that ballot box
stuffins can be Of no avail unless some Of
the inspectors enter in the enrolment book
the word voted opposite the names Of
number of persons who had not voted.
John BOYLE. jr., secretary of the Repub-
President Griscom told Acting Mayor
Mitchell that there were reports Of guerilla
activities in the Republican fights in the
1st and 4th districts. The acting Mayor
told him that the same care would be
given to protect the Republican as the
Democratic primaries.
Nj MitcheTs instructions TO Commits
sioner Baker are to have at least four
policemen at each primary where a con-
test is on. one Of the four TO be a SER
geant senior patroIman. He ordered
that he ;the policeman in charge). ''be
given clearly TO understand that he will
be held responsible for the commission Of
patent frauds. and particularly # more
ballots are found in the ballot box the
close Of the polls than correspond in num-
Der with the registered voters who appear
at the polls. BY this I mean that any such
sergeant VIII be placed trial if such
state Of fact appears. Election thievery
in this city must be stopped"
The most trouble to-day is expected in
the Democratic fights in the 18th 18th and
S5th districts. III the 18th Thomas F.
Devine. who is aiding Francis P Coughlin
in his fight to wrest the leadership from
John p Curry, has put up a check for
5000 to be paid in rewards for evidence
that VIII result in the conviction Of any
one for frauds in the district
Well informed members OF Tammany
Hall say that the only member of the ex-
ecutive committee who may be overthrown
to-day is William z. Morris, leader of the
Both District who is being opposed by
Edward Y. Handy.
The Sheriff's office will not take any part
in the primaries as in other years. Under
Tng--
terday that no request had been made TO
that office for the presence of deputy
sheriffs at the polling places of the dis
trlcts whore there are to be contests The
under sheriff said he believed the police
would be able TO handle the situation with
out any aid from his office
Deputy Attorney General Prentice in his
Office, at No. 299 Broadway, last night made
q statement covering his plans for the
prevention Of fraud at the polling booths
during the primaries to-day He said that
he had been Informed that in some dis
trlcts Of the greater city il Is likely that
the inspectors of elections would refuse to
permit watchers within the guard rails at
the voting places. so that they will be un-
able 70 see what goes on
Mr.. Prentice quoted Section 80 Of the eler-
ton law. which provides that regularly ap-
pointed watchers have the right 70 be
within the rail from at least fifteen minutes
before the examination Of A ballot box
when the polls open at a primary election
until after the results of the vote canvass
are announced and the inspectors have
signed their names TO their statements
covering the days baoting
In order that the watchers will have fair
play. Mr.. Prentice has detailed special
deputies. one Of whom will be at each
Magistrates court in the city. 70 cooper
ate with the assistants detailed by Mr.
Whitman. These men viii aid in securing
warrants. Mr.. Whitmans men will devote
most Of their time to handling disorder
cases.
Mr.. Prentice said that he had advised
the watchers TO keep lists Of all men who
vote legitimately at the polls. Then if
there is any suspicion of stuffing the ballot
boxes these lists can be compared with the