Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1911-11-02
The Gigantic Election Fraud.

believed that fraud was about to
be committed to insure the defeat
of Prohibition. The Democrats
called attention to the matter then.
Whether the prohibitionists inves-
tigated the lists, we do not know.
1t was stated that the lists would
be purged and afterward and be-
fore election that they had been
purged. But it appears that the
purging was not very complete, as
from 5000 to $1,000 persons voted
and Immediately disappeared, as
they could not be found in st.
Louis two months after the cleo
ton.
Democrats throughout the state
feared before the election that in
the mad rush to beat prohibition
frauds would be perpetrated in st.
Louis not only to beat the amend
ment, but also in the interest of
the Republicans. When the start
ling Republican majorities were
announced it was believed great
crime had been committed. Had
the defeat of prohibition depended
on the st. Louis vote no doubt a
great outcry would have been
heard and the matter would have
been thoroughly Investigated, as
men and money for this purpose
would have been forthcoming in
abundance. AS it was, the three
defeated candidates were left to
fight the matter out as best they
could. And they deserve the praise
of not only Democrats, but of all
good citizens, Republicans and in
dependents as we'll, for ,contesting
this election and trying to uncover
the gigantic frauds in the regis
tration and election.
Evidence now being taken indi-
Gates there was great conspiracy
concocted and carried by Repub-
lican politicians to cast thousands
of fraudulent votes. 1t seems ne
groes we're collected in Memphis
and probably in other places, and
shipped by the carload to st.
Louis. They were met at various
stations in the suburbs of the city,
cared for, names furnished and
then they were registered, each
one probably in several different
precincts. Then after having a
good time they were sent back.
On election day other negroes
were brought from Illinois and
nearby places to do the voting.
It seems strange that such plot
could be successfully carried
through; but the evidence indi-
Gates that it was. The chairman
OF the State emocratic committee
charged before the election that
the city committee was not doing
their duty, that the members were
so intent on beating prohibition
that the Republicans were allowed
to do what they pleased. There
was too much truth in this. 1t
was whispered at the time that
leading Democrats in the city had
been assured by Republicans that
the imported voters would only
vote on prohibition and not for
candidates. II this be true, these
men, Democrats and Republicans,
should be exposed and punished.
An attempt to carry election by
fraud is treason against American
institutions. To beat the amend
ment by fraud is as wicked as to
elect candidates by stufing the
ballot boxes.
1t is also charged that the boxes
were opened, Democratic tickets
taken out and Republican ballots
substituted; also that tickets were
scratched after they we're put in
the boxes. 1t is difficult to believe
these things could occur without
the consent of Democratic judges
of the election. But it is said that
men appointed as Democrats were
found to be Republicans.
Then money has often been
successfully used in such cases.
Evidences seem TO show that Mis-
souri, was carried by fraud at the
last election. 1t was not solely in
the interest of the state ticket that
the frauds we're committed, but all
so to defeat the amendment, but
most especially to secure the elec-
tion of the local ticket.
We repeat, the men who are
trying to expose these election
frauds deserve the applause of all
good citizens. The great outcry
raised about trying to disfranchise
citizens because Of technical er-
ror is all stuff. Nobody expects
ITO throw out votes because OF