Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-10-12
7ERRE HAUTE ELECTION
FRAUD DRAMA MAY BE
REPEATED IN CHESTER
City Stirred by Accusations
Made by Reformers Against
Republican Organiza-
d ton Workers
DEMAND U. S. PROBE

The bustiing city OF Chester was stirred
today over accusations OF election frauds
that have been discussed for years Re
Formers profess to see ahead house
cleaning similar to that at Terre Haute,
Ind. where many officeholders were con-
victed and sent to prison They believe II
will be good thing for the town. The
Republican Organization men are ignor-
mg the charges.
City Commissioner Cars b. Mould, ac-
cused I'm three afidavits Of paying N.'O
or 81 each for votes, first declined TO DIS
cuss the affair today and then offered 10
refer to amy bank president or cashier
In the city to lock into his record
MY books arc open" he said. II have
nothing to conceal. l have beep in pub
lie life nine years as city clerk and city
Commissioner. This thing has been
started by soreheads. There's nothing to
n. My record Is clean"
Assistant Street Commissioner Charles
McClelland. known to his associates In
the Organization as Butch could not
be seen today. He is accused OF par
ticipating in paying $3.50 for vote. A
man named Piggott, an ex-policeman,
likewise accused, could not be found nor
could Charles Longbotham. The latter is
the man to whom, Il is alleged, McClel-
land brought a voter.
Another Investigation is now under way
in Chester It involves alleged fraud at
the 1915 primaries. The cases called to
the attention of the Federal authorities
Involve the 1914 primaries. when a Con-
eressman was elected. The Democratic
City Committee, OF Chester, has appointed
q commission to investigate charges
growing out of the primary this year.
William T. Fowden, independent candi-
- - Hlasn la
strumental in bringing the affidavits TO
the attention of Francis Fisher Kane.
United States District Attorney, said to-
day that there are between 20OO and 20JO
votes for sale I'm Chester. lie added that
the Republican organization generally
wins by that figure.
According to Mr. Fowdcn the Grand
Jury's attention was called to the afii-
davits some time ago. 1t agreed to in
vestigate by one dissenting vote, Mr..
Fowden says but Judge Isaac Johnson
ruled that nothing could be done unless
juror had personal knowledge Of the
alleged fraud. Mr.. Fowden. who was n
member of the jury. had the affidavits,
but no personal knowledge, so no action
was taken. Judge Johnson was not in
Chester today.
In ordinary municipal or State election
frauds the Federal Government has no
jurisdiction. Investigation must be con-
QuCFeQ nN state OF DlunlClpdl duNnoTlNltSs
but in this instance Congressman was to
be nominated at the primary election.
Under the precedent first established at
Terre Haute, Ind, the Government may
act in the Chester case
The Terre Haute case was fully re-
ported by the EVENING LEDGER. Astound-
ing revelations of municipal fraud and
corruption were made i'm the Indiana city.
The vast resources of the Government
proved successful where municipal re-
formers failed. The corrupt Terre Haute
machine found it impossible to curb the
activities of Federal officials. and the ex-
posure that followed was one of the most
sensational in the history OF civic graf
In this country.
Since the Tcrre Haute ard indianapolis
exposures reformers of other cities have
been threatening the corrupt bosses with
governmental investigation. In purely
municipal and State affairs il is nearly
always impossible to probe election and
other frauds thoroughly for the reason
that the machinery Of the law is gener-
ally in the hands of the accused men. BY
bringing in the Federal officials this con-
troll is made useless.
The affidavits at Chester were filed by
James l.. Bankin, a lawyer Mr. Fow.
den and Thomas II. Higgins in be
half of two-score Independent voters
They are directed against the "maile'
hst- rule of the Republican Organization
I'm Chester, and specifically charge cor
ruption in the Sixth Ward Of that city
Should a conviction be obtained in th
ward. where the initial prosecution will
take place, similar charges of election
law violations will be made and investi
gated in other wards of the city.
continuous or endless chain ballot. II
alleged in the affldavits. was used freel
In this ward.
Five men have sworn in the 6th War
case that they got $1.50 each to "vot
right" according to the reformers. The
are John Dennison. Isaac Neal, job
O'Donnell, John Nash and Linwoo
Brown. The other men are said I
have sworn that they voted on tn
marked official ballots handed to then
and returned the blank ballots received a
tile polls TO the worker" who asked fo
them.
Under this scheme IL was necessai
for the alleged corruptionists to obta
but one official ballot. The man wi
voted this then returned his blank ba
lot, which was marked and turned ov
10 another man. establishing the s.
called endless chain" system OF vo
corruption.