The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-01-18
VOTES 81 EACH
IN ELECTION IN
RHODE ISLAND
Department of Justice In
ouily May Reveal Work of
Mysterious Hand"
BEER FOR BALLOTS IN
SOME DISTRICTS ALSO

Providence. Jan. 1.-THE announce
n.rt In Washington last night that the
Dopar,meut Of Justice had decided to
investigate reports OF bribery and cor
rgp,on alleged to have been practlsed
in Rhode Island in the last November
election came as a surprise to the
leaders IN the state of the Republican
ard Democratic parties, and there s
IDENTITY Of the individual Who has sue
crcded IN 50 interesting the Attorney
General
Rhode Island went over with a hard
,humr 10 the Republicans. which fact
,r addition to the disquietude of the wage
workers on account OF diminishing en-
p,1,mcu. was attributed TO tie free use o:
roncy While Rhode Island has a secret
halo, system. this has never thwarted
vote mauIpulators who were declared 20
have been active in tho recent election.
Generally there was free distribution OF
beer after voters had been to the polls,
and tire law requiring saloons to be closed
2 adlca bottled goods in the vicinity of the
roi'!ag places in the country towns.
North Providence Republican managers
wei. alleged not only to have lavishly is
sued brass checks redeemable at selected
saloons illegally run. but It is charged that
tree WAS what was designated as the
mysterious hand" Those who had ar
: aged to sell their votes we're declared 10
have been escorted from the polling place
g. room across which hung a curtain
n slit In the centre.
Behind this screen stood the purveyo-
o the uribe fund. who, when the prospec-
tive voter had been stood before the cur
tam aud on the receipt OF a signal had
thrust through his hand. delivered a two
dollar bill The man with his 81 was then
led away to make room for the next vote
+ Ter u is said that $500 was given
uIt In this way.
In Tiyerton, 1t is alleged the voters
o were In a reception room, were sup
ped with cashable slips OF paper before
they entered the voting booth. As each
approached a shelf to mark his ballot one
Of the official supervisors of elections
watched how he was preparing his ballot
As the voter left the place the man on
watch outside got signal. II IL was a
nod tie latter placed the slip delivered
ly the voter in one pocket. II II was a
shake Of the head the slip was put into
another pocket. meaning that the check
in the latter instance was not to bs
tashed
This espionage OF voters was so openly
conducted that Tax Collector William
Williams entered a protest. demanding
that policeman arrest Patrick Welch
whom h' asserted was the agent of tn,
republican machine. Instead, william,
himself was crested on the charge Of
assault, as he had snatched one of The
ash tickets from the alleged agent,
aand. lie was put In Jail. but soon OBJ
tanned bail. while the officials refused e
arrest Welch. The assault charge fel
through
There may be other matters brough
20 the attention of the Department o
Justice Generally they may have 20 d,
with towns normally Democratic whicl
gave Wilson big majoritles. but which a
this election went the other way.
From Westerly, where there was
Tioss fight on for license, proof In ofTeret
that the voters who were out OF the stat
were sent round trip railroad tickets ant
!n addition were allowed a full day
pay by the liquor interests. which ar
said TO have been working in sympath,
with the Republican town machine.