Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-11-02
NET SPREAD FOR
PHANTOM PENROSE
VOTERS IN CITY
Committee of Seventy and
Police Ready to Arrest
McNichol-Vare Hench-
men in Case of Fraud.

Attempts of the Penrose- -McNichol-
Ware hcnchmen to cast fraudulent votes
at the election tomorrow will be thwart-
cd by the Committee of Seventy. The
committee placed in the hands of its de-
tectives today warrants for the arrest
of several hundred men who have reg
istered illegally.
The Board of Registration Commits
sioners struck 225O names from the voting
list upon complaint made by the Com
mittee of Seventy, as result of the
police canvass, but the names of several
hundred men were withheld for criminal
prosecution.
The Palmer-McCormick Committee of
One Hundred and the police will also
closely watch the polling places to detect
any fraud that may be attempted. They
will arrest and prosecute anyone who vio-
lates the election laws tomorrow.
COMMITTEES STATEMENT.
In a statement, the Committee of Sew
enty says:
In nearly 20 wards in the city large
numbers of names of persons not entitled
registration books. and after a rigid In
vestigation by the committee, many were
found to be absolute phantoms. Others
were disqualified by reason of removals,
and many transient residents of lodging
houses, whose residence in the division
terminated shortly after registration, or
who did not live the legally prescribed
time in the district, have been named in
warrants.
For a month ese Investigations have
been in progress. Y lie the Board of
Registration Commissioners struck some
225O names from the lists in tne city, the
Committee of Seventy deemed 1t neces-
sary to withhold large number of names
Illegally registered in order to bring
criminal prosecutions.
Warrants for t arrest of hundeds of
Illegally registered voters have been
placed in the hands of detectives ~ the
Committee of Seventy for service tomor-
row. The polls will be covered Tuesday
by detectives of the commi tee and those
who appear to vote without legal right to
do so will be taken into custody"
BURNS DETECTIVES TO AID.
Burns detectives aided the committee
in its investigation of the registration
lists, and will supplement the Commit
tees detectives at the polls tomorrow.
The Burns detectives will cover the
river wards and other sections of the city
where Illegal voting has been practiced
in the past. 10 insure an honest election.
Director Porter had a conference today
with William j. Burns, head of the de-
tective agency, and announced at it's con-
clusiOn that every precaution had been
taken to prevent the casting of fraudu-
lent votes and intimidation of voters.
The expenses for the vigilance of the
Burns men viii be borne by several pri-
Vate citizens.
Up TO the present time there has been
no shifting of any of the policemen, as
none has been charged with political
activity.
Director Porter has assigned detectives
to the downtown machine wards. In a
second order issued yesterday he an
nounced that the police must be impair
tial in policing the polls. ANY officer"
he said "who fails TO protect Washing
ton and Democratic watchers will be sum
marily dealt with"
A call for volunteer watchers has been
issued by all of the anti-Penrose forces
in the city The Penrose-M -McNiehol- Ware
machine will undoubtedly employ an
army OF paid election heelers at the polls
tomorrow, tC stand guard over Penroses
interests Therefore an appeal has been
made TO good citizens to offer their serV-
ices as poll watchers and workers, 10 be
ON guard at every polling place IN the
city from the opening Of the polls until
the ballots are counted.
CHARGE ABSURD. PORTER.
A charge OF illegal police activity has
been made BY Charles Love. Republican
city committeeman. from the sth Ward.
He said he had proof that Lieutenant
Pluckfelder. OF the 4th District police
station, at 4th and Race streets. had
called together a number Of proprietors
Of hotels and lodging houses ana told
them that they we're expected to see that
their dodgers voted for the Washington
party ticket He also accused the police
Ia other districts Of working Tor the
election of Washington party nominees.
Director Porter said, There's nothing
10 Il when aaked about the charge.
Lieutenant Pluckfeider sailed Loves
eharss absurd Walter ) Litlleton
Washington party eily eommitleenlzn.
also denied the charge