Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-03-11
ELECTION DAY
IN TERRE HAUTE
Year Under Nero eliminates in an
Orgy of Fraud and Thuggery at
the Polls-Hands of Esau Man
acled.
By IRWIN L. GORDON

| erty holders when the abnormal street IN
provement assessments were made. with Il
arrogance of czar Roberts ordered &
properties sold when the owner could not pa
the excessive tribute.
The Organization was planning more gral
buildings must be erected more stree
must be paved. fine park must be place
In the middle of I'd street before some 4
houses OF i'll fame where the women cou
sit on summer evenings. band concert WE
planned for one night a week during sprir
and summer. This would attract men int
the lair.
Dsregarding public sentiment believin
Itself imperviouS to attack and absolutel
secure in the citadel of politics and lduo
the Organization continued its work of plur
der Roberts, however. always good car
tain, knew that his piratical boat neve
could weather the storm should an homes
Judge he elected to the circuit bench.
No Honest Judge Would Do
The citizens of Terre Haute were plannn
to run Charles Pulllam, an able lawyer, 10
the position. Fairbanks and Roberts wante
to throw Judge Fortune from the bench. a
he was too dangerous after the previou
years episode. Eli II. Redman, a Roberts
Fairbanks lieutenant. a man with scarcel
any legal training, who had failed to secur
a license to practice law in Illinois, wa
chosen as their candidate. Redman's son
Hilton, was notorious Tenderlon charac
ter, who had been arrested with Robert,
after the Mayoralty scandal and who haC
been mixed up with the police for years
Father and son are now under Indictment
Judge Fortune thought he had sufficient
power to fight Roberts and Fairbanks tc
secure the nomination last spring He ran
against Redman, but, lacking the support OF
the Organization was showed under. Pull
liam secured the Republican and Progressive
In addition Congressman must be elected
and a United States acknowledgements
Moss was up for recollection and Shively was
the Taggart candidate for United States
Senator.
The situation In Terre Haute resolved itself
down to this: A United States Senator must
be elected who would represent Taggart and
Fairbanks; Congressman must be elected
in the 9Th District who would represent Tag
CART and Fairbanks, and Judge must be
elected to the circuit bench in Terre Haute
who would choke the paving suits. who
would let off the crooks al the wink of Rob-
erts and who would not lift his hand to stop
the flow Of Fairbanks beer in the largest
Tenderloin in the Middle West
Voters From the Cemeteries
The gang set to worl-1rst "sush fund"
was raised. This was done in Pennsylvania.
Tribute was eXacted from every saloonkeeper
n Tcrre Haute. This was done in Pennsyl-
,ania Tribute was exacted from civic and
70 to ,tr,
yvania.
When the registration days came the Or
sent out orders. as they did in
Philadelphia, to get every available man on
he lists. Cheap lodging houses were packed.
aloons registered enormous numbers, while
he houses of i'll repute, vacant lots and
CEMETERIES gave up their voters. More than
500 fraudulent names were placed on the
lists This was exactly the number fraudu-
emily registered in Uniontown. Fayette
'ounty, Pennsylvania, where State Repub-
can Chairman Crow is political leader. No
ne. however, has been punished in Fayette
!ounty
In other words direct parallel to the
actics of the Philadelphia Organization was
rawn in Terre Haute-only not so many
ere registered. The foreign and the negro
oters were whipped into line as they are In
outh Philadelphia. Along the river front
ards the same conditions prevalled-the
lugs, strong-arm men and dissoute char
cters got in their work.
The police department made great prepara-
ons for the election. Nugent was appointed
agman, according to his own confession and
nat of his associates. He visited all the
iloons and gambling joints More than
1000 was secured from the Tenderloin sa-
ons. Chief of Police Holler let 1t be known
lat any place that did not come across"
ould be "closed," There were no refusaIs
nong the saloonkeepers and gamblers. The
ghest single assessment was $500 made
sainst the Shay Brothers. who operate the
rgest gambling establishment In the city.
his place is still open. One crap game
one has a backing of $1,000 house money.
Scores of men were sworn in as deputy
1llcemen, These We're toughs from Taylor
lie, small settlement across the Wabash,
no terrorized the citizens on election day.
One Foot in Each Camp
One of the clever moves made in the pre-
ection fight was the bipartisan deal ar
nEed with the Progresslves Nugent was a
d hot Progressive That is to say. he was
lief of the Progressive Department OF
emocratlo Headquarters" He not only col
cted money for the party. but so ingra-
ated himself into the ranks that he could
Il his chief every move Of the opposition
) the Republican party had been third in
e 1912 election. they had no representation |
the election board-Democrats and Pro- |
essiyes alone remained. A large number |
these Progressiyes became strong Roberts |
emocrats. Thus the Roberts Fairbanks |
achine was tri-partisan.
Election day, November 3. came at last
len began the fight to elect the Democratic
,ket, TO get through the machine liquor
The Government contends that |
ore than $500 fraudulent votes were cast.