New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-07-05
ON TAMMANY'S TRAIL
Republican County Committee
Prepares for Election.
TO TRY TO STOP FRAUDS
Elk Congressman Bennett Says
Recent Legislation Hurts the
Cause of Honest Ballot.

Stems have already been taken ny INC
Republican County committee 10 prevent
Tammany Hall from perpetrating any
| frauds I'm the coming election. just Wda'
method will be pursued has not been de-
termined but Republican leaders are look
ing forward with much apprehension ~
| having the office of tho state Superin-
| tendent of Elections in the hands OF ram
many Hall The SAKE bill, increasing inc
! latitude for marking ballots, and tho Levy
election bill. which has passed the Legis-
lature, and will probably be signed by the
Governor. will also make fraud easier
the leaders say
At recent meeting OF the County com
mittee the following resolution introduced
by ex-Congressman William S. Bennett was
passed:
Resolved. That the executive committee
be requested 10 consider the feasibility and
desrabity Of the formation by this com.
mlttee, either acting alone or in concert
with other bodies. OF an organization 10
enforce the election laws in the interest
OF fair and honest election in the com
ing November
Edward r. Finch. chairman OF the COM
mittee for the prevention of Illegal regis
traton. is now considering what can be
done along this line.
II have suggested TO Mr. Finch that he
duplicate the work of the Superintendent
of Elections" said ex-Congressman Ben
net yesterday. "Of course. IL would cost
lot of money, but 1t has been done In
part before.
Il do not want to cast any reflections
upon Superintendent voorhis. head of the
h. 10 aItsta rfap ri land
Of mine. but you must remember that he
Is eighty-four years old and Tammany
Hall will run the Office
In order to show the character OF some
OF the men who had been appointed as
deputies congressman Bennett told a
story of a man arrested for Illegal regis
tration in 1907. This man was tried and
convicted, but turned states evidence.
While out on bail he got together four
others, each one OF whom voted illegally
sixteen times. man who testified in an
effort to save this man was recently APP
pointed a Deputy Superintendent Of Elec-
lions. Mr. Bennett said. Furthermore. the
man. when tried. again said the testimony
OF his friend, now a sworn officer of state,
was false.
Another thing that has given me
great deal of apprehension" said Mr..
Bennett. us the fact that there was a band
of twenty or thirty Of the Tammany
guerilas in Eldorado Hall on the night
that we elected s. s Koenlg president of
the County Committee. These men did not
attempt to vote. but simply watched close
y everything that was going on.
Evidently they wanted to get acquaint-
ed with tho faces Of the Republican work
ers, much as crook tries 10 become
familiar with the appearance If the vari-
Gus detectives. 4 member of tho Com
mttee Of Fourteen, who is familiar with
the faces Of many OF these guerillas, saw
them at the meeting and has given me the
names OF number Of them. When these
suerilas get bold enough to come right
into our meetings # is time 10 b. careful"
II Is estimated that II would cost about
$4,000 10 duplicate the work Of the State
Superintendent OF Elections in New York
County OF course. II could be duplicated
In part, as was done by Herbert Parsons,
when he was president Of the County
Committee. for proportionately smaller
amount.
An example Of how necessary It is to
mon" said Mr.. Bennett was seen in 1909
on the last day of registration that year
Mr.. Parsons was called down to the ground
floor Of tho Metropolitan Building, whore
the Offices Of tho County Committee used
to he. II was about O'Clock I'm the even
ing and Mr. Parsons found in the lobby
man with his ribs crushed in. his ankle
broken and suffering from other injuries
He had been a watcher and had been
assaulted by guerillas as he left the place
Of registration. The man said nothing 70
tho police, as he feared he would not get
square deal. He had dragged himself
10 the Metropolitan Building, but was NOT
able 70 get upstairs. Mr.. Parsons sent
the man 10 his own home and cared for
him there, but he will always be q Grip
pie
What We need In the coming election
is sort of vigilance committee, com
posed OF trained men. for | am convinced
that Tammany Hall will strain every
nerve 10 make clean sweep OF every
office this fall"
Mr.. Bennett said IN would be expensive |
to build up such an organization as the |
state pays for. but he thought II would be
possible for a political organization 10
do II cheaper than the state. The ques-
ton IS whether enough men can be inter
ested in such 2 movement I'm an off wear
10 contribute the amount necessary for
the purpose.