Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-10-26
Continued from PAGE One

do as I said before I'll break your face"
Connors evidently embarrassed, eX-
claimed mo you won't break my face
Il VIII If you do that again." answered
Glasgow.
At this point Judge Davis raped fer
order in the courtroom, which had been
buzzing and murmurng in excitement,
When Charles A. Wharton, a clerk in
the Town Meeting party headquarters, was
called ne said he signed petition ana
made affidavit lie admitted that he did
not know any Of the signers Asked why
he did this Wharton said that John w
Baskard, who was in charge Of getting the
signatures had asked every signer II ne
were a voter. The witness added he
thought that was sufficient.
Attorney william W. Roper chairman OF
the headquarters committee, said that ].
Louis Breitnger, who had charge Of the work
of getting out the signatures, COntended that
a mans word to the effe,t that he was
voter was sufficient 70 f.lrmit him 10 sign
the petition, and that he also so construed
the law
Martin J. CLARK, of 80 South Twenty
seventh street then took the stand, and
while he was testifying Attorney Glasgow
tried to show his intention was proper,
although he did not investigate the sigma
lures Of every man on the petition.
Mr.. Glasgow said the duty which mas
fallen on the court is grave responsi-
bility Just because a few men failed to
make affidavts properly it should not de-
stroy the intention of the 5000 citizens VINO
desired to nominate the independent candi-
dates.
TT is not the duty Of the court to de-
eide whether or not this ticket shall stand.
but it should decide whatever defects exist
in taking afiidavits and have them cor
rected."
Counsel for the Town Meeting party OBJ
jected strenuOusly to the lack Of specihc
charges, calling Judge Davis's attention to
the fact that "dragnet of charges or
alleged fraud and forgery was being pre-
sented.
The prosecution should he directed TO
be specific and inform us in what particular
cases the alleged fraud and forgery exists
said Mr.. Glasgow.
Il realize that it seems a physical i'm
possibility to finish this hearing speedily,
but it must be done" replied Judge Davis,
in overruing Mr.. Glasgows objection.
I'VE will finish speedily. No man VIII
| be deprived of his vote by this court, no
matter what his political atiliatton may be.
| Some of the evidence shows that fraud has
| been committed. Some shows that there
was haste in preparing the nomination
papers. Some shows carelessness some
| that the law was violated with design. But
| we must come to a point, so that the right
| Of every voter can be protected. The elector
| will be protected"
Thomas Raeburn White, counsel for the
| Town Meeting party, reminded the Court
| that under the methods being pursued by
| would be possible for him to attack the au-
| thenticity Of the entire Endorsement of the
| 116 petitions for nominating their Offices
which consisted Of more than 6lOO sigma
| lures
! CONNOR DEFENDS ACTION
"I do not propose to attack the whole
| 500 signatures" interjected Mr.. COnnor
] I al under the act | have
| a right to attack, under these objections
| not only the validity of the atfidavits to
| the papers but as many signatures in the
| body of the nomination papers as needed
! to show the fraudulent nominations of this
| party and have them thrown out of court
| Thet other side seems now to be begging
mercy from the Court and asking a plea foI
| grace, otherwise they would not object tC
! the attack on their signatures, but rely OF
| their intended motion to ask for amend
ments to rectify, If possible their defective
| and fraudulent nomination papers.
Not only the afidavits but all the nomi-
| nation papers reek with fraud" shouted
| Attorney Connor. Now / propose TO show
| by these witnesses that there are INSULT
| Client, honest valid Endorsements to maintain
| these nomination papers, and II that be
| true they cannot then ask for amndments
with any hope of showing good cause why
! they should be allowed"
UNFAIR" WHITE CHARGES
Mr.. White replied; This is a most un'
| fair position to place us in, We have come
| here to meet certain objections and now we
| are confronted with an attack on names Il
our papers which we have had no oppor'
tunity to investigate and frame a suitable
| defense"
Judge Davis said in the course of &
lengthy reply:
|
| we must determine to limit the proceeding
| to the afildaVits alone or permit testimon,
| relative to the names i'm the body of tn,
| petition in any case where il is necessar!
for a proper determination of the validit,
or fraud Of the papers"
Mr. Connor said that he did not propos
ealing the whole 6100 sgners but onl!
enough Of them to support his charge tina
there are enough bogus and fraudulen
names on the petitions to invalidate them
He said the proof Of this was germane L
the whole inquiry before the Court
In commenting on the proceedings befor
Judge Davis, this afternoon, Senator Var
issued the following statement:
| "It Is only natural to expect such test
mony as has been produced before Judg
Davis in connection with anything to whicl
Penrose has lent his support. The evidenc
has shown that there is no one intereste,
in the Town Meeting party who heretofor
! has supported independent movements. N
man of any probity, substance or standin
in the community has either signed tn
nomination p tpers or stands sponsor 70
them. They are one complete mass o
fraud, supported by forgery and perjury
THE evidence has shown that those VIII
are guilty Of these crimes are typical repre-
sentatives of the underworld, cheap an
discarded political tools and human derC
lets The attorneys for the Republica
Organization for a week have been bat
| Ting to strike down the stupendous frau
and have been fighting for the right. Will
the attorneys who have been sent by tn
Town Meeting party have been strugglin
to perpetuate this fraud and these MOI
strous incidents Of forgery and perjury. Tn
hling Of nomination papers Of this char
acter Is fitting climax to a political NOV,
ment engineered by Penrose, Gordon an
the lesser lights now under arrest for thes
forgeries and periuries When such
group start a political party one woul
naturally expect 10 find Penrose not "a
| away"
Foherf 4 Ilrlnhf one ~ the Town Nee