Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-06-01

proper time to register: yet he did not
feel it necessary to explain this to NAL
lory.
They say there's 10000 of them not
registered and that's enough to lose
went on Mallory. each additional obser-
walton revealing that it was possible for
a comparatively illiterate man to possess
a high degree of political astuteness.
Then there's the votes they buy or
, iEtimidate. and that's all the extra ones
they need in order to win
II am prepared to admit said Jerry.
wishing to he honest with the hercelY
frank Mr.. Mallory, that intimidation
is praCtiCed | have seen It practiced-
but buying"
81 have seen 'em bought like cattle
here at other elections" assured Mr..
Mallory. "I've seen little bunches of
voters get together and hold out al day
for their price. Sometimes " the election
was close they got 1t: sometimes IL 1t
wasn't the market broke and they cashed
in for quarter a piece"
Horrible :" CALCULATED Jerry, and yet
he believed Mallory. "But--wtth the
secret ballot system" he reasoned, II
don't see how they make sure that the
vote of the intimidated or purchased
man is delivered"
our old friend. assistance to voters
for one thng-marked ballots for an
other" explained Mallory.
| Assistance 10 voters" I've heard or
that. of course. but l don't understand
| how it works"
Mallory looked surprised
"Say?" he exclaimed. You're kind of
short on information for man that
around maxim the sort OF SpeeCheS you
can tear off
Jerry responded frankly:
You must have already suspeCted--
all Philadelphia knows, If II cares TO
think of it-that am tyro in politics.
I'm ashamed to confess that I'm doing
nv first serious political duty in TINS
campaign. That's why I'm so impatient
so eager to win
You won't win" said Mallory semen
! tiously. and then went on with reply 10
Jerrys question. Assistance to voters
! Why, that's a clause in the law that says
a man who swears he is physlcally dis
| abled-can't write or can't see or some
| thing, can ask for assistance, and take
a man into the booth to mark his pa =
| lot for him. The way it works is that
the bosses make any man they am I sure
| OF swear he is in need of assistance
Ycu'u see a storekeeper that can read
and write as well as you do, a school
| teacher even-COme in and ask Tor as
sistance, and you'll see the dlvision 'a, ltao :,
| But he has to perjure himself 10
swear he needs assistance If he doesn't.
| objected Jerry.
"Perjurin' don't worry 'em none' az
'''isu "But election election officers mus, know \ =
"a lot OF times they know. but hey
don't say anything. II one OF 'em took
himself too seriously and did object, he's
| liable to pick up an unexplained walop
on the jaw either then or later. BESIDES
the custom Is so ancient it's got to be
kind of honorable"
"Um :" said Jerry rather glumly. And
YOU say they have a scheme for marking
| the ballots?"
"Yeh: that's another way" responded
Jim. proud of his ability to instruct
| jeremiah Archer.
| bn haI haa n
| be In cshoOts. Then one of the reg
ulars Is sent in to vote, and the ballot
clerk slips him two ballots together
instead of one. lie marks one and
| votes II, then takes the other outside,
where they mark the ballot and fold II
and give 1t to the next voter they want
| to deliver, who puts Ii In his pocket.
' He goes in. gets a ballot, retires to the