The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1912-11-30
AMENDMENTS COUNTED OUT.


The revelations resulting from the
grand jury probe in New Orleans es-
tablish the fact that deliberate
conspiracy was formed and carried
out by ring politicians in that city
regulars" they call themselves,
and they are undoubtedly regular in
certain undesirable practices-to pad
the vote in favor of the constitutions
al amendments Endorsed by the eau
Gus of ward bosses and against
those of the measures that were
condemned by the ipse dixit OF a
majority of that sage and patriotic
council of highly influential citizens.
Twenty election officials have al
ready been indicted for alleged fal-
sification of returns on the amend
ynent vote at their respective polls,
and the number Of accused is ex-
pected to be largely augmented by
the time the grand jury has con-
Guided its recount Of the ballots.
AS an indication of how general
the understanding was that the
amendments were to be counted out
or in, as the dictum Of the bosses
suggested, the statement is made ID
the press that no less than LII OF
the 144 New Orleans ballot boxes
are under suspicion; and the truth or
| error of this astounding estimate will
evidently be established beyond cavll,
as it is understood to be the
purpose of the grand jury, with the
sanction of the court to reopen all
| anol1r9f q
tally and tabulation of the vote Q
the constitutional amendments.
There can be no doubt that this
honest compilation of the New Or
leans vote will show marked changes
from the sworn returns of the cleo
ton officers as compiled and pro-
mulgated by the secretary of the
state. The variations between these
returns and the grand jury recount
| ia the boxes investigated up to date
are in some instances SO great as to
justify the characterization OF a
wholesale steal of the peoples votes
and an outrageous perversion and
reversal of the popular will.
At one poll, for example, where
the vote on an amendment was tai
lied and returned by the election
commissioners as only 6 for and Isl
against, the grand jury discovered
that the real vote was 81 for and
81 against, showing that less than
one-tenth Of the affirmative vote had
been tailed, whereas the negative
| had been more than multiplied by
three. Whether there was similar
crooked work done in any OF the
country parishes can only be sur
missed, but instances are not wanting
of some remarkable condolences In
| the numbers Of votes returned Tor
and against the entire list of nine
lteen amendments in other parts OF
| the state besides New Orleans.
1t is apparent, therefore, that the
proposed amendments that met with
defeat according to the returns, not
only encountered the thoughtless and
| inconsiderate vote, as demonstrated
| in The Chiefs editorial on the sub
ject last week, but went up against
| the unprincipled election thief and
false counter as well, and that the
Imanipulations of the latter pernic-
lieus class were alone sufficient IN
some cases to account for the rejec-
ltion according to the promulgated
returns Of propositions that were
really approved by the popular vote.
| This amazing exposure emph asizes
the. necessity for rigid and thor
ough completion Of the probe now
being SO effectively conducted by
| the New Orleans grand jury, fol-
flowed by such punishment Of con-
victed vote stealers as will tend to
discourage future repetitions of their
| dangerous and wanton offense against
the laws and Institutions Of our
country.