The Detroit times., 1916-09-22
District Attorney Is
Asked To Check
Election Frauds
HENRY Nj. LELAND
MAKES APPEAL
Declares Voting Under
Present Conditions
Is Farce

In letter 20 John +. Kinnsne
United States district attorney
Henry NJ. Leland charges ballot boz
stuning vote stealing and other
frauds In past elections and pre-.
diets the same on a grander scale
\ at the November elections. He asks
that federal inspectors be appointed
for each precinct in Detroit. II is
understood also that the department
) OF justice has ordered Mr. Kinnane
"a Investigate the alleged election
frauds In Detroit
Mr.. Kinnane declined 10 indicate
any possible course OF action. and
would not comment on the letter.
Mr.. Leland charges that local
power has failed TO curb alleged
election frauds. and that tire only
relief lies in Mr. Kinnane's hands
Mr.. Leland enclosed a pamphlet
supporting TO show election frauds
Mr.. Leland's letter follows
Sept 10 1915
Hon. John z. Kinnane.
United States District Attorney,
Postoffice Building,
Detroit, Mich.
Dear Sir
A glance At our Detroit papers VIII
advise you OF our corrupt election
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. which have
which have lately attained such de-
nant bcidness that decent citizenship
Local power has failed TO correc,
the election crimes in Detroit and
Z Detroit citizens who believe in the
necessity OF honest elections now APP
peal to you as the only remaining
source Of relief from the conspirscIes
tioual rights and privileges, and
which undermine the whole fabric OF
government
We have lost the right OF suffrage
ot pss rs tso we &c oyp oa 70 5f
against the government are organiz-
- II Detroit 10 use the election
< machinery for their own personsl
cf this city has no voice in the con
duct OF local. state or national af-
fairs, and by the use OF illegal and
UNCONSTITUTIONAL practices we are
Alec deprived OF voice in the selec-
ton OF representatives of govern
Ment.
I enclose Trustworthy report OF
the corruption IN one precinct two
pears ago. Current issues OF our
continuance and growth Of that cor
ruption up to the present time. Any
investigation yon make viii reveal
widespread belief that In the APP
preaching November election all rec
ords for ballot stuffing and stealing
Will be broken In Detroit.
We insist that under the constitu-
tiou OF our country we are entitled
20 have our votes counted a. we cast
OF our ballots by criminal conspirs-
tors Since we cannot obtain these
tights locally. we appeal 70 The ma
this respect may be preserved
Since IL has been so long a time
since we have had IN Detroit an
honest election. and since our efforts
20 secure local relief from these
tiers OF so great Import 10 the nation
are TO be decided ar the November
election. In the belief that n register
Of our votes upon these questions -
OF Importance 20 the entire country
and that we will he deprived OF our
franchise, and that the nation viii
receive an incorrect report OF our
votes unless radical and effective
precautions are taken, we appeal 20
the United states government thru
you. Its local representative, for the
appointment OF AZ least one federal
Inspector for each election precinct
IN this city AT the approaching Mo-
vember election
This r. asked not In the interest %
any candidate or party. but 20 pro-
mote In this city and country the
purity OF the ballot and the rights
81 citizenship.
Believing that this petition "a war
ranted by the facts in the case. and
trusting that you will make such In
vestfgation OF these facts as will as
sure yourself OF thsr correctness
steps to guarantee as our rights,
Very truly yours,
HENRY NJ LELAND