New-York tribune., 1922-11-06
Hylass Seeks to MuzzLe
Election Investigators

Frequent clashes between the spe-
clal investigators and watchers as
signed to polling places on Election
Day by the State Attorney Generals
Office to watch for fraudulent voting
and the uniformed police assigned to
the same duty are anticipated as a re-
suit Of the instructions which Mayor
Hylan yesterday issued to Police Com
missioner Enright. In his letter to
the Police Commissioner Mayor Hylan
directed that the police permit no
undue delay or interference" with
voting by the special investigators.
The vague and indefinite language of
the Mayors letter will make the police
men on duty and the local election
officials the judges Of what consti-
tutes undue delay" it is thought,
and will undoubtedly give rise to dis
turbances which in some districts may
become serious.
Mayor Hylan's lett or also contains
an attack on Abrahall S. Gilbert, spe-
cial Deputy Attorney General in
charge of elections. who has been
active in hunting down registration
frauds in the city, and under whose
direction the special Investigators will
operate on Election Day, In his let
tef Mayor dyian says:
AT the last session Of the Legis-
latage, the Republican majority passed
law creating a specia! bureau osten-
sibiy for the enforcement of the cleo
tion law this year, and appropriated
100000, Of which the people Of New
York City pay about 70 per cent.
Abraham s. Gilbert, former law part
ner of Federal Judge Mayer, to whom
the latter awarded 8 fabulous fee at
the city's expense after he decided, rs
master, that the gas companies in this
city could continue to charge an
exorbitant rate for gas, was appointed
special Deputy Attorney General
under this special act.
"In public statement wh.<.l made
last week, / suggested that Mr.. Gill
bert might appoint any number of
Election Day watchers or workers
in the guise of special deputy attor-
ney generals or investigators and
that these persons, armed with state
power, might even ats empt to prevent
citizens from casting their honest bal
lots.
Since made th:s statement. sThe
New York World has disclosed what il
charges is Republican plot to help
elect the Republican ticket through the
employment of these alleged special
deputy attorney generals and sinyeg-
tigators' at $40 for work on Election
Lay and IS ertra for work on election
night: None of these persons, so far
as ] know, is being engaged for sery-
ic.. upstate.
1t is the duty of the police force IN
guard the polls on Election Dav And 70
see that no disturbances are creatsd
am told that many Of these so-eaiiad
investigatcrs' who are being engaged
are inexperienced young men. chosen
beeause Of their Republican leaninrs or
m,,l'ngnsss " to be Republicans. This
nay 81 or may not be so, but the fact is
that they will be assigned to yarious
polling places. ous
PseEse see to it that they do not. bv
their conduct, undnly delay or inter.
iere with the process of election. III,
fact that they are designated for ths s
asy as special Deputy Attorney Gem en-
efale or as investigators does not
give them the legal right to unwar. ar
rrantedls Interfere with any 81 citizen nah, ;r
the sacred discharge of his duty -