Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-03-01
House Committee Says No Clganized
Effort Il Made rrupt Elec-
tions iirs "a.
SENATORS MCLRS TER WAY
Members Of Upper 'r Think
Methods Are
DAN BUTLER IS e. ATED
Report Asserts City Clerks Work Is
lTonest.
SOME MINOR FORMS OF CHEATING
-
DAN BUTLER IS E ATl
SOME MINOR FORMS OF CHEATING
lt ~ Fannd rhat There Was Repeat
Ina In Third NvSrd and Thnt Rub
her sands We're Uscd ON
Snmr Machines.

- am. = No general organized effort was
made TO corrupt Omaha last election. &C
cording 10 the unanimous report Of the
members Of the house committee Of the
legislature winch has completed its in
vestieations. This report was presented
this afternoon at the opening OF the days
session
. he rcport is signed by all members Of
the committee. The senate committees re-
port has not yet been Submitted.
The report OF the house committee takes /
up tic charges made by Governor Aldrich .
count by count Il Is held BY the commit
tee according TO the report that rubber
lands were used on voting machines and 4
that repeating was practiced in the fifth (
precinct of the Third ward. The effect Of
the rubber bands Is declared to have been /
inconsdolQbic.
a complete cxoneration is given to Dan
Butler, city clerk Of Omaha. by the report, /
which declares his work honest and con .
sclenuous."
The presence OF professional freeholders' /
al the polls is admitted by the report, |
which. however suggests that these So
called professionals may have been free
holders, nevertheless,
II is held by the committee report that
The charge that blanh affidavits were cir
cuiated, rs alleged IN affidavits filed with /
the goyernor, Is unsustalned
Colonization ~ Admitted.
Among other charges OF the governor
which the committee holds was not sus-
tanned Is thar Of the casting OF a greater
vote IN the Third ward than the total OF
yotng population for that ward.
Il is admitted that Greeks we're colonized
~ Sii South Thirteenth street the pool
hall exposed by The Bee.
The famous succession OF legal opinions
handed down on election day is held TO
have been legal and proper. The law is
held 10 be ambiguous.
The report summarizes rs findings with
thsssleogari n, ton fllps sAtta8
I'VE bef6VeN thai the officials OF Omaha
by careful investisRuou and vigorous pros
ecutlon could prevent the recurrence OF
any frauds In the future and could pro-
teet the rights OF all legal voters and pun
ish those who lnegally vote.''
what senate WIN DO.
The senate committee has shown so far
no intention OF conourriug in the house
report The unmisakaple ''whitewash''
character OF that document will probably
not meet with the approval OF at least
three members OF th esenate committee
\ and two OF them, Lee and Kemp. viii be in
favor OF more severe description Of af-
fairs in Omaha. These two are receiving
some support IN the comnittee discussions
from Albert. who would not be in favor Of
too strong document but would probably
sign enc much more direct and more
searching than the house report.
Hoasland win stand against a complete
whltewAsh and Tibbets il the only doubt
ful one. This lineup indicates that report
more favorable TO the contentious Of the
in fha kNha
the time comes.
House Report In FuIl.
The report OF the house committee in full
is as follows:
Your committee went to Omaha Feb
ruary 1 and took the evidence of large
number OF witnesses and all witnesses
who we're reported TO be able to give the
COMMITTEES information in reference to said
election frauds We also caused to be
opened the poll books of the Third ward
OF the city OF Omaha and made an
animation OF said poll books. We have
also made personal investigation so far
as We are able 20 do so, OF the voting
machines, th eplaees OF registration of the
number of voters and OF other matters per-
taiuing TO said election.
Your committee has also fully consid-
cred the evidence submitted TO it by the
dayits and ali ot TT eevidence ia here
with xibpaItted in connection with the re-
pOrt.
Liata GOvcenOr's Charges,
Before commencing our investigation
IN committee made a careful analysis Of
the governors message and concluded that
the following charges were the material
one therein contained, namely:
a. That at the election held in Novem-
ber last there were nearly three times as
manv ovtes cast as the census report
shows that there were male Inhabitants
in the Third ward OF Omaha
2. That a large number Of frauds came
through IN eoffice OF the city clerk In
and fof the city OF Omaha either through
negligence, carelessness or otherwise and
that thousands OF Illegal ovtes were cast
through corruption In tn ewsy Of forged
registration certificates going out Of the
office OF the city clerk
Third That professional freeholders
'rhree-That professional freeholders
we're stationed around 10 make affidavits
for stransers or anyone who might desire
20 vote
"Fourth-That men who registered at the
proper time but failed 20 be present al the
polls that their votes were case for them
pyhow.
"Fifth-That in many instances during
both primary and election day professional
freeholders were stationed in the city
clerks office for the purpose OF aiding
voters 10 qualify; that they did not know
the applicant for registration, but were in-
trodueed 20 him at said time. and volun.
teered their assistance after introduction
and WITHOUT sufficient acquaintance.
NsHh-rhat there was wen directed
and organised plan 20 provide al applL
cants for registration on election day Will
freeholders Said freeholder would swear
that ht Was well acquainted with said ap