Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-05-03

Harry ]. Trainer, Select Councilman
from the Sd Ward, who recently renounced
his allegiance to the Ware contingent and
has become follower of Penrose and
McNichol made startling charges of ballot
box frauds in South Philadelphia last
night speaking at a meeting in the 36th
Ward n Ware stronghold, at the Young
Mems Republican Club. Gath and Wharton
streets.
The Select Councilman gave as mis- au-
thority for the statement concerning the
81 vtiated ballots one of the members Of
the election board who participated in tho
alleged corruption. He warned those or
his hearers who will be watchers at the
primary elections to remain in the polling
places until every vote has been counted
honestly and the tally officially reported.
Mr.. Porter, Select Councilman Charles
Seger, Homer H. Hacker, candidate
against William S. Ware for the con.
gressonal nominations; Daniel j. Green,
candidate for nomination to the Legis'
lature, and Mr.. Trainer were the speakers
at the meeting, the purpose of which was
to further the interests of the anti-Vare
movement in South Philadelphia.
WILL RIP OPEN SCHEMES.
In his address he said the balance of his
term as a member of Councils will be
dedicated to ripping open schemes
inimical to the interests of the people"
Although he refrained from attacking the
loan bills directly, he indicated his atti-
tude upon the measures to be voted on by
the people on May 16 by the following
words:
Far better that we postpone the spend
ing of $115, ,0O0. 900 of the peoples money
for four years than that the spending OF
such vast sum be left to a man in whom
there is no public confidence"
AS a practical politician acquainted
Ntg,v,e
been won in South Philadelphia, Mr..
Trainer urged the workers to fight tooth
and nail on election day the efforts of
politicians allied with the faction con-
trolling the election boards to assist"
voters
IF you were to know the number Of
ballots deliberately destroyed at the polls
in South Philadelphia" Mr.. Trainer said,
you would be amazed From one man
alone / learned that in the last election
"a ballots were 'double-crossed' in one
division. and when l asked the man how
he knew it he told nae it was in his divi-
sion"
The Councilman described the methods
of the "double-crossers" as follows: "A
ballot Is found to be marked in only one
place, the party square. 1t is simple
matter to quickly mark another cross
somewhere on the ballot. Then it is ques-
toned before the election board, which
promptly throws il out as invalid. 1t is
not difficult to imagine the great number
of votes destroyed in a great section like
South Philadelphia IL the practice Is re-
sorted to generally, as it was in the one
division | referred to-"
sEGER TALKS COURAGE.
Councilman seger tod the workers not
to be scared by the fact that the Gov
ernor at Harrisburg and the Mayor at
City Hall are against you" For history
is only repeating itself. There was
similar condition 20-odd years ago" he
said when Governor Hastings and Mayor
Warwick were together Mayor Warwick
knew more about politics than Smith and
Brumbaugh ever knew. And that effort
was defeated. Don't be frightened by
the police. Insist that you are right and
that the law is behind you. Then you will
get your rights"
Mr.. Seger revealed Bit of inside politi-
cal information when he referred to advice
as 10 how to win elections as given him
by Congressman William s, Ware.
'Your Congressman" he said, told me
one time the reason / did not win my
division in the 7th Ward was because L
I'd not follow his method of surrounding
the polling place with 20 or 80 men with
badges ON. He said he puts badge on
severy one of the fellows who are with
u.s. and stands them about the polls from
the time they were opened in the morn
ing. Then he said, the other fellows
say whats the use2" ."
Mr.. Porter said the Ware brothers have
proclaimed the great good they have done
for south Philadelphia without any other
cause than to further their own political
interests .As a matter of fact" he said,
..south Philadelphia has not benefited half
~ much from public improvements as
West Philadelphia other sections of
the city. The Wares have been too busy
filling their pockets with the Delf OF city
contracts.
Il am not before you as a Penfose man,
HcNiehoI man or Snyder man, but as an
3ndependent citizen Tomorrow I may be
sleepinR on a bench in Afoyamensing
prison. for a certain candidate of the
eontractor-b0sses has said ne would have
me arrested for libel. 1 might as well
announee here that neither Brumbaugh
smith, Ware nor Amber can intimidate OF
fziehtan me- / am IN this fight to a
finIsh. and that finish will come when
this city IS rid OF the domination OF two
contractors"
~ Hacker said. It Is about tIms
sEsrother Ia and BEothsF Bill be given
: respite from their arduous duties Al
washington and Harrisburg and the
neoDle Of south Philadelphia come back
= their own IN the affairs Of their dis
lrietn He said Il he Is elected to Con
zness Be would exert every effort for tbs
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