1
GEORGE W. BERGE, EDITOR AND PUBLISHER
Volume 18
Lincoln, Nebraska, November 16, 1905
Number 26
Probing Ejection Frauds
One highly useful result will be obtained by the investigation
of New York election frauds. The many and devious devices by
which the bosses and their confederates steal elections will be re
vealed. Since 1896 honest voters have suspected that the Australian
ballot system was not impregnable to the assaults of those who make
it their business to defeat the will of the people.
From time to time new methods of corrupting the ballot come
U light. At first the repeating system found favor and is still in
use. Thousands of names are registered falsely and repeaters vote
UI, is names thus fraudulently recorded. But false
regis. ,n be detected if -the machine has strong and de
termined . vposition. In Philadelphia 44,000 names were stricken
from the registration lists, and the reform ticket was elected by a
plurality that could have been overturned hadnhese names remained
on the lists.
In 1896 the "campaign of education" disclosed the false regis
tration scheme in all its perfection. In that year the system reached
its highest usefulness. Thousands of men were rushed across state
lines to vote under falsely recorded name's. In Ohio, where . the
crafty Marcus Aurelius Hanna lived, the results were, immensely
gratifying to that king of bosses.' But there has lurked in the minds
of many the suspicion that the political resourcefulness of 1896 did
not end with the "campaign of education," splendid organization
and false registration. "
If there are superior methods of defeating the ballot they are
known in New York. The district leaders of Tammany undoubtedly
are familiar with the most approved ways of stuffing the. ballot
boxes., and of falsifying returns. It is reported that 30,000 Ilearst
voters discovered when they went to the polls that votes had already
been cast in their names. To be appreciated this trick needs only
to be seen. But there are also means of transforming a triumphant
candidate into a defeated candidate after the pools have closed.
The final touch is left to the corrupt election judges and clerks.
To secure such judges and clerks requires the finest kind of work
by the machine, but success often crowns the efforts of the bosses.
The investigation in New York will be backed by the Hearst
millions and by the money of other rich men who demand a square
deal. If there has been extensive 'fraud it will probably be re
vealed. The revelations will show how the campaign contributions
of corporations have been employed to make our elections futile.
The investigation will differ from the life insurance investigation
in one important particular, s It will be undertaken with a de
termined purpose on the part of Mr. Ilearst and his friends to send
the perpetrators of the election frauds to the penitentiary. This
being one of the main objocts of the inquisition, it is not likely that
the bosses and their henchmen will crowd to the office of District
Attorney Jerome to confess their misdeeds in the hope of immunity
from punishment. It will bo more difficult, therefore, to get at
the truth, but there will be some timid ward-heelers who will seek
to obtain immunity for themselves by turning state's evidence. It
is a black business, but it is a business that Governor Folk of
Missouri had to deal with. Jle did not hesitate to use thesfool
pigeon" in his hunt for bigger game. He bagged the game and has
earned condemnation as well as praise. Investigator Hughes in
New York has invited the big game to come and sit with him and
thus escape harm. Which is the better method?
This is a day of evil disclosures. For a time the miasmatic
emnations from the marshes of commercial and political corruption
will offend our nostrils and obscure the sun, but in the end the
moral atmosphere will be purified and there will be a healthier con
dition in the political and business world.
Senator Millard's Perplexity
Senator Millard seems to hold the balance of power in the
senate's committee on interstate commerce. This committee is to
framo a bill for the regulation of railways. Tho indications now
are that there will bo a majority and a minority report. The com
mitteo is evenly divided, Senator Millard's views being in doubt.
This situation has attracted tho attention of newspaper corres
pondents and Senator Millard is reported to be antagonistic to tho
president's plan for railway regulation. The senator, however,
denies tho impeachment, expressing the hopo that the committco
will bo ablo to framo a bill that will please the president.
Tho words used by Senator Millard, however, do not clarify
tho situation. He docs not explain what kind of a bill ho favors.
Ho ought not to find much difficulty in determining whether ho is
for or against the president's plan. Tim -president has stated hi
ideas clearly and if Senator Millard is not for the Kooscvclt plan
he is against it. Time was when President Koosovolt was rather
objure in his references to railway regulation, but on his southern
trip he said that he was in favor of giving the interstate commerce
commission tho power to fix reasonable rates on complaint and
after a full 'investigation. He did not say that the rate should go
it, to effect immediately, ntid herein hi plan U weak, but ho Uy
lieved that the rate? should 1h nuido effeetivo ns won as practicable.
H also recommended thnt the administrative ldv 1k given power
to examine the Inwiks and record of transportation eoinpnuu so
that tho government might U able to destroy tho rebate system.
Ml memlieni of tho wnatn committee ui interstate commerce know
whether they are for or against the president's plan. But Senator
Millard hesitates to declare himself.
Senator Millard may be in the same quandary that besets some
of the railway officials. Senator Knox's speech at Pittsburg has
given these officials some hope. They are gravely informed by
Senator Knox that tho powor to fix a rate is not such a terrifying
weapon in the hands of tho administrative body after all, that in
an independent action the railways can restrain the administrative
body from enforcing its decisions until they are passed upon by
tho courts. If by means of injunctions the railways can prevent
rates and regulations from becoming effective until tho courts have
lativo legislation tho railways need not urge their plan, which pro
dent's plan loses its power. If such is to bo the outcome of regu
lative legislation the railways need not urge their plan, which pro
vides for tho establishment of sjocial court to deal with railway
matters, for the samo object car lie attained by the use of re
straining order. As was done in Nebraska, tho railways can so
curo an order preventing tho enforcement of certain rates on tho
ground that to enforce them would bo unconstitutional localise it
would lo confiscating property without due process of law. It looks
very much as though Senator Knox made his speech for the puriHMC
of giving the railways a "tip."
Perhaps Senator Milhrd thinks that tho eiittu eouimitU'o cau
agree, on n bill which will follow the general outlines of tho pre.i
dent's plan and at the tm mo time have little real reiruhtivo jHiwer.
There i no doubt, however, m to the light in which President Koo.y