Omaha daily bee., 1911-03-01
FRAUD CHARGES
NOT SUSTAINED
lconunued from First Pagel

tCununueu from fifst faBo)
piicant, knew his residence to be on a GER
tain street with certain number. when
as a matter Of fact they had simply been
introduced to each other on that particular
occasion
'Seventh-That handful after handful Of
registration certificates. with the city
clerks name and seal attached thereto and
the signatures OF professional freeholders
attached, were carried around by political
workers. were filled out in the HAN Of the
city hail and not in the presence OF the city
clerk or election judges and in this way
as many fraudulent votes could be cast as
desired by the gang in control, and many
thousands were so cast.
"Eighth-That a large number OF notaries
public were appointed for the purpose Of
having applicants for registration make
oath on the day Of election, that blank
certificates were received in practically
every voting precinct In the city Of omaha
in number approximately 1900.
As to FreehoIders.
I'm reference to the third charge that pro-
fessional freeholders were stationed around
to make affidavits for strangers or any
one who might desire to vote, your com
mittee finds that said allegations are true
and are supported by the evidence.
I'm reference to this charge your COM
mittee desires to state that from the con
sideration OF the evidence we have been
unable to find that any of the freeholders
were not freeholders in fact, but we do
find that they had not sufficient acquaint-
ance with the person desiringto vote to en-
able them legally to qualify signer to
the voters affidavit.
1t appears from the evidence adduced
before your committee that in certain pre-
cincts Of the Third ward of Omaha there
are very few resident freehoders Your
committee Is OF the opinion that the aft
davtts should be executed at the place OF
voting and that they should be sworn to
before one Of the judges of election ara
attested by at least two registered votsrs
OF the precinct, We believe in this way
that frauds may be prevented and a better
check kept in reference to the registration
ana voting. And we think also that the
persons vouching for the voter should be
required to state in his affidavit how long
he has known the voter for whom he signs
and shall not be qualified unless he has
think the foregoing would be great
precautton in this matter, and also that
where a man votes by affidavit that that
tact should be noted on the poll book,
Casting Others Votes.
In reference to the fourth charge that
men VIM IeBlsbeIeu at the proper time out
failed to be present at the polls to vote
that their votes were cast for them any
how, your committee finds that there was
Indirect evidence tending to establish the
fact that this was done in one or two in
stances.
AS to the fifth charge in the message,
namely, that during both primary day ana
election day freeholders in reserve force
and stationed at the city. clerks office for
that purpose who did not know the APP
plicant for registration, would be intro
OnCp0 to said annlipnnt and. WOnld pid
in the execution Of the affidavit by attest
Ing 1t as a freeholders your committee
finds that said charge was sustained by
the evidence. and the same has been COW
cred In the foregoing portion of this
port, and the recommendations therefor
have all been embodied in this report.
In reference TO the sixth charge that
there was a well directed and organized
plan to provide all applicants for registIa-
ton on election day with freeholders your
committee finds, that said charge is true,
and that the same has been the practice
heretofore, Your committee finds that the
same is not illegal under the law, but
think that some care should be exercised
therein and that q remedy has been sug-
gested in this repprtS Your committee fur
Their finds that said practice WAS INDUCED
in by both political parties.
In reference TO tile seventh charge that
handful after handful of registration GER
tificates with the city clerks name ana
seal attached thereto, and with the sigma
ture OF professional freeholders attached,
were carried around by political workers
hall and not in the presence Of the city
clerk or election judges. and in this way as
many fraudulent votes could be. cast as de-
sired by the gang in control and that many
thousands were so cast your committee
finds that the governor was misintormed
in reference thereto and that there was no
competent evidence to support said charge.
NOtartes Public.
In reference to the eighth charge, that a
large number Of notary publtcs were ap-
pointed for the purpose Of having april
cants for registration to make oath on the
day of election, your committee finds, that
there were two special notaries appointed
In the city of Omaha on election day Tor
the purpose Of making out affidavits in ad-
ditiOn to his clerk his deputy and two
notaries in his office, and the two notaries
appointed by the acting mayor, Mr..
Brucker, were John w. Battin and George
Merlin, and that said six constituted the
office force for the making out of these
affidavits and no evidence was introduced
showing that any Of these parties neglected
their duties or were guilty of any fraud in
reference thereto.
Your committee further finds that about
800 affidavlts were made out In the office
of the city clerk. That on the afternoon
of election day the city attorney Of Omaha
rendered a written opinion, which is made
a part of the evidence I'm the case holding
that the freeholders might execute the
affidavits at the polls before the judges
Of election. The law prescribes that this
may be executed either by oath or by af-
construed the law to be that an oath only
was necessary, and probably this is correct
under the law. Your committee, however,
is OF the opinion that the law should be