Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1912-11-23
GAVE TWO PARTIES
AN EQUAL CHANGE
NO PROVISION FOR KOWALSKI
VOTERS. HOWEVER.
Witness Canales Explains Further
Modus Operandi of Conducting
Election in His Ward-Relator
Will File Trial Amendment.

uEt court was spent in the exam
attorneys for Louis Cobolini, the re-
lator in the election cases and the
cross examination by the attorneys
for A. b. Cole, the respondent.
The examination Of the witness
for the relator was conducted by w
r. Jones.
Mr.. Canales' testimony in part was
as follows: My reasons for direct
ing the lines to be formed was TO
give the Independent and Democrats
an equal chance at the polls. There
was no provision for the supporters
of Benjamin Kowalski, (the other
candidate for mayor to approach
the polls save through the lines Of
one or the other parties
Upon the examination by Mr.
Ottman.
Had the voters been allowed to
promiscuously approach the polls,
Boone for the defendant, Mr. Can
ales said in part:
The reason for forming the line
was to expedite the voting | did not
tell the officers that only Blues
were to approach through the BLU
lines or that only Reds were 10 ap-
proach through the other line. The
lining up of the voters with either
Of the two line was purely volu
tary upon their part.
There was nothing to prevent ar
Independent or a supporter of Mr.
Kowalski coming through the Blue
line if he so desired.
There were 3SS votes cast in the
second ward during the day. There
was about 20 or p challenges sus
tanned and about % challenges un-
sustained. The greater number of
challenges was made by Manuel Sal
dana, sr., Mr. Saldana was a sup
porter of the Blue ticket The challen-
ger for the independents was Frank
we would have voted only four-fifths
of the number We voted by the me-
thod employed | do not know how
many We're left at the polls at the
time of closing.
Il have lived some time in Browns
Vile and in the second ward The
ward has always given the independ-
ent candidates a majority Of from
so up. | testified yesterday that at
the time | would conduct the elec-
tion fairly. ! do not know whether
or not the parties knew my position
They said that all they wanted was
fair, square deal My purpose was
to give all parties free and fair
chance at the polls | have always
been a democrat | made my applica
tion for county superintendent of
schools on that ticket and was elect
ed. | have not yet qualified"
Mr.. Seabury for the relator again
examined the witness His testimony
was in part:
81 could not see the size of the
crowd in front of the polls at clos
ing time as ii was dark. | have been
at times closely affiliated with the
independent party. Two years ago
was candidate for county judge
on that ticket was appointed
school trustee by Mayor Cole and
fill thai. office at present. At the
last regular election the second
ward went democratic. | think all
ballots given me the citJ electio
were accounted Tor One illiterate
voter carried his ballot off With him
and left his poll tax receiD,S. The
ballot was later returned by Nathan
Lghtburn. | placed it in the box for
mutilated ballots, no. knowing whe-
ther or not it had been tampered
with"
Judge Scabu,y a. this point IN
froduced as evidence the poll list and
the returns from the second Nald
These ,-ill be used as evidence in so
far as they affect the mayoraltE.
Upon examination by Mr.. Roone
Mr. Canales said:
Il would not attempt to say how
John G. Fernanti y, John Gregg or
the other men spoken Of by me in
my testimony yes "rday afternoon
voted These men re well known
and | should suppose he party lead
ers would be acquainted with their
political affiliations Thnre was no
independent ricket on tbs ballot AT
the general election on Nov 9TH.
The method OF conducting an cleo
tion as employed by me has been
the method used in all confessed
elections in Cameron county for the
past twelve years"
Mr.. Canales was excused and F. ".
Kibbe was called TO the stand.
Mr.. Kibbe upon direct examina-
tion testified in part:
II went 10 the polls between five
and six o'clock in the evening and
found a crowd at the corner of Tenth
and Adams street. / went diagonally
across the street TO, the polls. AS
. was about to approach the polls an
Amariran nfficar told mo would