The Oklahoma Leader (Oklahoma City, Okla.), Vol. 5, No. 13, Ed. 1 Thursday, September 19, 1918 Page: 1 of 4
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The Oklahoma Leader
No. 13, Vol. 5
Successor to Otter Valley Socialist, Snyder, Oklahoma
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 1918
Weekly
HOW THE ELECTION
WAS QUIETLY STOLEN
By H. M. SINCLAIR.
(Continued from Lusi U eek.)
IMPROPER ADDITIONS.
Improper additions on the total yes
vote i ast as sent in bv the county election
hoards produce 147.462 votes. The addi-
tions made by the stale election board
and certified to the governor is 147.Q6i
"'yes' voles.
This makes a dill' retire of 39.) "yes
votes which are automatically counted as
"no" votes, or a difference of 790 in in
final count. Rather clever on their part.
Inst another m ans rtf cheating the people
out'of a fair election law.
The total vote cast as certified to the
governor is given a*- 304,1116. I he proper
addition on figures used is 303,119. which
makes a difference of 98. votes that are
made and counted as "no" votes hy virtue
of improper addition on part of the stale
election board office.
And the correct addition of 303.119 s
wrong, for the total vote cast as certified
liy the .county election board and correct
additions produces 300.720 voles cast, mak-
ing a difference of 2399 which were made
hy the state election board office because
they were needed to overcome the large
"yes" vote lhat was cast.
We defy tin* opposition to deny these
TUn ..rlTiiiKr mni>li'.np .111(1 P<T-
found
for tiie* same gang- that has
^uilly < f such work us this.
\nd with the election machinery abso-
lutely in their hamls, with the power 10
(i, iiit and short pot on ballots as tliey
...;;u non officials in charge that slid.
.'ires and fail to report legally east votes,
hl.'w 10 vou. as an honest ciliv . go 1 ■
•ir polls and vote the Democratic ticket
ill's lai! vflien it is known that the 'ma-
, ;■ 'n " undidates were all selected.
The torsi "yes" vote casl - —1011
I'ite "ve- " vole a- reported < '
Total steal
The total vote cast in ihe county as re-
nnrtod to the stale election hoard offie ■
1859 which contained 20 spoiled and
'vdlfiOcd lei"ots end these spoiled ha.
lotf. should have been deducted, making
lira voles cas;. The state election board
certified 1887 as the total vote casl in
;!u' county.
This m isi - the election law vote stand,
correct i d, lull "y. 87 • "no."
Mr. illiams would have ii appeal as
709 "y .s." 1178 "no."
And Hi is is the way the "Democrats
wakr Oklahoma «fe for themselves and
v. t boast of whal a true democracy and
V 1,1. g..,od election laws we have in this
. Late.
county election board was subpoenaed and
made a deposition to the master commis-
sioner as follows: lhat there were 105
"yes' votes cast; that the certificate iii
the return envelope showed 105; that the
tal!> sheets added 105; I hat the ballots
recounted' 105; and he further took the
blame when caught in the filthy mess.
He fussed up a little- when I served the
papers for.him to appear before ill-- eon-
but finally made up his mind to obey ti
And thi- i- the main reason why Free!-
ing go; busy with that order to noi open
up ballot boxes and give testimony. From
ibis place on we met opposition.
The official r/rtiliratc show- 3476 vol s
cast, including 17 spoiled ballots, which
ho ltd be deducted.
fot.ll "ye-" vote cast when properly
corr cicd amounts to —
Total "yes" vote improperly reported
amounts to 2233
Steal 5!>
Total votes cast as certified to the
g.eernor — 3553
Total vote cast as reported to state
election hoard p45
vote when not legal voters or cast mutil-
ated balloi- in such-large numbers does
not speak well for their intelligence. We
feel llial the work was done by_ the pre-
i inet election officers .4tid the basis iff such
a-showing was due to the supplied amend-
ment ballols.
S. T.agle precinct had 61 "yes' votes
according to counters' report presented to
ie court. The official certificate showed
or six less.
fordan \ alley's cotinler report showed
1411 "ves"; th certificate showed 128. a
difference id 20 \oles.
And this is "Democracy," the genuine
pine stuff. The kind the Democrats have
v\ctt u- ill Oklahoma. 1 be kind we are
:sked to vote for this fa'l. \nd the ques-
tion is. "Arc vou chump enough lo fall
for their game and put them back in
power when mu Ii crooked work as this
has been done?" We might add Honor.
BECKHAM COUNTY.
assertions. Ihe adding machine and cer-
tificates are ready lo prove ever assertion
made.
And what about it, Mr. Honest Voter.
Are you going to become an accessory lo
the crime hy voting the Democratic tick-t
this fall, when it is known that the ma-
chine nominees were all selected in the
primary to represent the Democratic party
for four years longer.
Yes, what about it, Mr. Honest Voter?
Where is your honor and manhood? It is
up to you to prove where you stand.
HARPER COUNTY.
In Buffalo, the county seat of Harper
county, we found that Mr. B. 1'. Williams
was the real master, even to the telephone
system, and this said Williams is the «•«-I('^m "aY,'d"h,eluding 246-201.
retary of the county/election bojl and a ttho,e book of ballots
hanker. He refused to sign a deposit,on • , f I|u. lv|.i. I, were actually
after answering questions pal to mm by , ^ ^ (hig op t(mt cllpple,n :„-
lh' master commissioner appointed by the j Th , , ,.r>. Vi ballots "till in
court and the reason that he did so was | • , ,lnV(„m| an.j ail 0f th. se unvoted
because he had done some crooked work j ^ (.oanied "no" votes.
in trying to defeat the election law amend j , ^ , th„ ol,jeci 0f ,hat supple-
m n'a' report given by the state election
HARMON COUNTY.
The supplemental returns sent in hy th
eoiui \ e'.eatio i board to the state election
bo ard sliows there were 1582 votes cast in
iiarmon county and 532 "yes votes were
• a-: on the election law amendment.
We arc forced to accept the election law
vo' of 532 because the recount is denied
hut we certainly do not accept the total
vote east, for it is incorrect.
The official certificates tflid county cleik s
deposition is to tlie ir correctness in her
office reveals the following frauds; .
In \V' I i io!ii., precinct they certified
261 votes a having been cast. The official
certificate in the county clerk's office shows
:r,e wer no spoiled ba'iots. 16 unusued
-ballot-, and til* number of 'he unused
Steal 1- -1--- - *
MAYES COUNTY.
There were a total of 3113 votes cast
certified lo the stale election board office
hy the county election board, of which 85
were spoiled or challenged ballots and
these 85 spoiled or challenged ballots were
added on to the 3113 votes hy th;; state
election board and 3198 were certified lo
the governor as the total number of votes
c$sL_ .
I nis addition is of different figures than
fhe county election board and made with
pencil, not i lk as ihe original certificate
hows. Absolutely proves that the state
election board did manufacture more vol s.
These 35 mutilated or challenged bal-
lots should be deducited from the 311.1
reported as being cast, making 3028 as the
true number of votes cast in ihe county
or close-1 hereto.
■The ballots and reports in this county
had been burned. The county clerk did
ot have a record worth while. Not nec-
essary. for it shows plainly upon its face.
The big crime in ibis county Inipp'ii',1
in Bryan pre: inet fio. 1 wher th' "v
.. .. .1 ''ti.. " irn I r. nn tllf*
The county election hoard of Beckham
11 unty certified to the state election hoard
thai there were 3424 ballots voted and
thai there were 35 spoiled or challenged
ballots. The state election hoard added
these mutilated or challenged ballots on
to the humber sent them and certified
to th- governor that there were 3459 votes
cast in the county.
fhe above facts are absolutely proven
by tlie official certificates of the various
precincts and the deposition of the county
i lerk as to their correctness in his care, i
These official certificates and deposition
further prove that these spoiled and chal-
lenged ballots and other irregularities
should be deducted and not added on to
ihe vote reported.
The official certificates show lhat the.
total vote cast ;n the county wilh spoiled
ballots deducted amounts lo 3364 and not
3459 as certified t« the governor. A dif
ference of 95 votes which are counted is
"no" votes.
This finding absolutely proves thai .til-
stale election hoard did add on all mutil-
ated ftifd. challenged blalots and that the
entire number should have been deducted.
And we defy the opposition lo deny ii.
GREER COUNTY.
Total vote reported cast in the county. 261.t
Total highest presidential elector vol*', 2540
Difference between presidential and
reported vote -— 71
The county clerk of this county had a
complete re ord of official certificates a*
ihe law requires and his deposition proves
the following facts;
In the reported vote casl are 16 loo
many shown as having been casl as fol-
lows: One in Willow Precinct No: 1; one
in Willow Precinct No. 2; two in Man
gum No. 3; two in Mangum No. 4; two i.i
Mangum No. 5: three in Mangum No. 6;
two in Quartz No. 1; two in Quartz No.
2. and one in Quartz No. 3.
This reduces the total vole east or the
"no" vote 16 and makes the total vote casl
in the county 2597 instead of 2613 as
shown on the certificate.
'I'liis official record also proves there
were eight amendment ballots short in
iiainey Precinct; nine in Tilley No. 5; 15
in Quarl* No. 1, and nine in Quartz No. 2.
A total shortage of 41. or that number of
voters who did "not have an opportunity
to vote on the election law amendment
and hy not having that chance to vote
:heir voles 'for ihe county or state ticket
made them vote "no" on ihe election law
amendment and all this by virtue of an
unfair law made hy the machine to lie
used in such events as the election law
amendment and others not pleasing lo
the powers tlull be in Oklahoma.
(Continued next week.)
SUPPLEMENTAL RETURNS.
ment.
1 produce two tables, one the deposi-
tion mad - hy th county clerk of the offi-
cial certificates in his office and the other
ihe "yes" voie thai Williams sent to the
state election board.
You will note that hi shifted figures to
cover up ihe large "yes" vote that was (,cunterg. rcp(„... Ju9t
cast at Laverne precinct and also fa hd |g [re c„„nled as
to report in ihe election law vote of oilier
precincts where there was a large "yes"
vote cast.
The mark "x*' denotes where no record
of official certificates were in county clerk's
office and where Mr. Williams failed to
report in the "yes" vote of several pre-
cincts.
Counters
Report-
Wil-
liams'
board?
McQueen p.e'inct is «;iven 011 this sup-
pi. menial report as 57 votes ca«t, which is
just ihe same a.- is given for 1 leasanl llill
precinct which precedes it, but the cor-
rect vote cast in ibis pre inet is 38 as given
difference
votes.
Coralea precinct is reported as 46 votes I
i isi whe i the official certificate and coun i
1' is' report both show 26 or in other words
just a plain steal of 20 votes and all j
ounied "no" in ihe finu: count.
A d'ff tvnee of four votes exists in Pleas- ;
ej licl precinct end one e:c h in Lone |
nd Drydei nrecin l.s and all of this
and "no" vole on the election law was not
reported. Bryan precinct No. 1 had 55
Democratic, 79 Republican. 11 Socialist
and 1 Progressive votes. At least 90 "y"-
votcs arc taken from us hy virtue of lite
crooked work that was practiced by th
machine.
The Democrat insector in Bryan Pre-
cinct No. 1 made a deposition that. iL sva -
discovered that there" were not enough
amendment ballols lo supply all the voters
with a ballot, that he ca ' d up the i
tary of the county election board the day
before election a id advised liim of th
fid that litis county secretary told him
I: would mail more ballots to him on Hi ■
morning train, that the morning train
came in and no ballots were received;
that he called him up again and was ad-
vised that they would' be put ia the mail-
so lie would get I hern on the noon train,
that the noon train arrived and no ballots
were received and that on th ■ night train
after the election had closed he received
an armload of amendment ballots.
lie also swore in this deposition that
no report blanks" were sent to report
Precinct.
to Co. ti: k.
Figures
Browning
29
29
Roosevelt
37
37
Martin.
33
33
Sheridan
47
47
Jackson
28
28
Wolf
22
22
Murray
X
74
Doby
32
32
llailey
31
31
Buffalo
36
36
Lincoln
38
38
Saline
25
25
Laverne —
32
32
Stockholm -.
32
17
Bryan
t\
36
kibby
17
23 '
Kern
36
x
Flynn
23
x
Mav
x
x
Haskell _
18
18
Supply
x
x
Weighlen
33
33
34
Carter
34
Lone Tree
43
43
Yelton --
21
21
Speermore .
20
20
Totals —
709
Find-]
invs I
29
SI
3
22;
74';
32.1
31
36 ,
38 i
25 ;
168 I
32 I
36
17
36
23
78
18
20
33
31
43
21
20
PAWNEE COUNTY.
Note
:V1 was
the vote
given as
1011
m recinct of
of Laverne pre-
the' vote
cincl. The vote of Laverne precinct ac-
cording lo depositions presented to the
court and signed by counters and election
officials of this Laverne precinct was 168
"yes" votes.
And the precinct election inspector. Mr.
\lrdidge, swore in his deposition that he
filed one of the certificates with the coun-
ty clerk. The county clerk did not show
il in his deposition. Thirty-two votes
shown as cast and 168 actually cast af-
forded plenty of incentive for lliis ccriili-
cale to disappear.
May pre inet reorled as blank h> county
election hoard. Counter in litis precinct
swore I here were 78 "yes voles east. I he
Supply precinct had 20 "ve. and 7 "no
votes also not reported.
Studv llii-. table then line up in front
of a looking gla«s and say thai you as an i
honest man can go to the polls and vole I
tar and itry.tc1 preciir is an.
established li\ the very best of evidence. ! ihe "yes" and "no" vote on and therefore
• All loid there were 62 votes that were was not reported.
count d as "no" voles in tlirs county which i And to add insult to injury lliev burned
id no: exisi at all. And this is not ali ^ J,™ ballots so no information could be ob-
for th ie are six precinct* in the counts | tained.
dnl not file their official c rtificates | j\m| (his i« how Democracy performs in
with tile county clerk and in which.more I oklahoma. Yet the Democrat nominee
. - },.s^ p.iiled ballols are counted twice.' tor governor insists thai Oklahoma s elec-
A 1 llc se official per iiica:es and county j tion laws are the best whatever and Joe
i 'erk's d. position reveal the fact that ; Morris boasted of the fact that ihe >t.i, moisteninc the gunimod fIps anil pre?
there v.■65 amendment ballots chort it; election board office was absolutely (. ,, r i._u ,i i - ~1 I .,
■-andy preiinct; and 48 in Gould precinct, si, light while under his charge.
The county clerk of Harmon county is |
Mrs. Loon v. who wants to do ihe sipiar< |
bine and the county attoi ley and other
I'll- county election board of Pawnt
county sent a certificate to the slate elec-
tion board lo the effect that there were
V)6i M ies casl in the county and two of
til ineniber^ of the eleelion board Mr.
Ilen>. inspector, and Mr. Barnes as mem-
ber, swore in their depositions thai these
were ascertained from the counters
lificatcs and also showc
and c halleiiged ballots.
I VIr. Berrv and Mr. Barnes both swore
special commissioner appointed j t|li]t ,|K.y ||,is report to the stale
election board in two separate items and
thai no additions were made by them.
They were shown a photograph of the re
linn and both of litem swore thai an addi-
tion e i- made after il left their car* .
advi-ed her not to give a depo '
.. ion to special cemmiMioner appointed ]
hy b conrl. 1 hey would link this pure
woman in tlce .lir.y deal oi covering up the
lime of slca'ing tile election and killing
the initiative ' d referendum in this state.
When and hy what authority an officer
of'the law should not give a deposition of
a public record, is a new one anil wilh
uh a precedenl how could the court be
'f -en'ained t What then is the use ol a
master or
by the court
."-ueli dii.s work as this had ouglil lo
uiakr lie- "honest Demoera's" fele proud
of that partv under the management ol
Cur Boh and S. P. Kreeling, tog tlier with
Mr. Joe S. Morris, secretary of the State Election Board, in testifying
from ihe stand in Judy.e Oldfield's court staled lhat when lite official returns
were received hy ihe Slate Election Board it was found that the total vote
cast in the county had been Improperly reported and that he, acting for
the St ile Election Board, called u.i several of the secretaries of the count;,
e tv-tion board and instructed llietn to open up the ballot boxes and ascer-
tain ihe total vote <• is in :!te co.iiily from ihe stub number last voted, anil
his order was complied with in many counties.
As a result Of this order the county secretaries disobeyed the law.
which has a penalty of one to lliree years in ihe penitentiary attached. And
ilieir findings as reported to the State Election Board includes all spoiled
mid challenged ballots that should have been deducled and all other irregu-
larities such as ballots torn out, misnumbered stubs, etc.
See how it operaled by findings in Harmon, Muskogee, McIntosh
Creek and other counties as are given in reports in this booklet.
1 quote for your information and proof of my assertions the law as
now upon the statute hooks of Oklahoma, section 8, chapter 106, -Session
i aws of 1911.
'*['reparation oj returns -custody of ballot boxes anil contents.
"Section 8. That section 12, article 2. chapter .'II, of the Session Laws
iif 1907-03. relating to general elections, he amended so as to read as fol-
lows:
"When the ballots are tied and the knot is sealed, the bundle of voted
•allots and the stub ballot book, wilh all the unused ballots attached to
their stubs with the original certificate of ihe resull in the back thereof, and
the iwo tally sheets shall lie placed in llie envelope labeled 'Voted Ballots,
Tally Sheets,' and 'Stub Book of Ballots,' this envelope shall not he. opened
cxcept upon order oj the Supreme Court or district court or a judge there-
of in case oj contest or some legal proceeding necessitating ihe opening ol
same.
"The two duplicate copies of such certificate shall lie placed in the
envelope labeled 'returns.' The several envelopes shall ihen be sealed by
gummed flaps and pressing them down firmly, then a seal
i i sealing wax shall ihen he placed upon such gummed flaps, so that the
wax will extend well over on the body of the back of such envelope and
should be made to cover a space as large as a silver hall dollar. In th<
center of the wax, while it is vt hot and soft, shall be firmly imprinted the
.,recinct election seal. The duties above described shall he performed 1;\
ihe official counters. The clerk and judge shall then write llieir name
,-ross the gummed flaps of each envelope extending them on the body ol
ihe envelope, one upon the one side of such wax seal and one upon tin
other. Ihe several envelopes shall be placed in th ballot box hy the in-
-iieclor in the presence of the other members of the board and ihe counters
"T ^"mmila^l'^d "ecurely locked. After the ballot box is securely locked the inspector
5 2 '.hull m>t open il again, hut shall deliver it in that condition to the secre-
ary of the county election board.
' The county election board shall not disturb anything in the ballot
box except the envelope marked 'returns,' which when canvassed shall be
letiirned to the ballot box and the box will again be securely locked an.I
ict.iined bv the -ecretary of the eduntv election board until opened l v
■ ■ ■ . I f.. .. in.n I til •
llie litt'e henchmen who are like
l hat knowi th his master's crib."
"the
\nd lhat
certificate
Th--re were
br.M-il hy the
of 3553 votes cast in tlu: county and 223*
"yes" voles on the election law amenJ- j
nicnt and ihese same figures were used by
ihe still' eleclio.i board in certifying to the
governor, the basis for his proclamation ^
lhat the law had failed t«> carry. And;
l oih of tli — figures are radically wrong j
for the follov. reasons:
Jn S i. \ pi<•< inet there were casl 10)
"yes" vott on th- election law amend- |
ment and but 55 "ye.- votes reported I>\ i
llie county election board as being ti: |
total number cast.
Mr. .1. K. Chamberlain, secretary of the j
. i order of court or until it shall be necessary to open the same for use at tin
the f^i.res as shovvn on t!.;- ^ ( ai ^ |h(. ,)a„ots sha|, bc destroyed; provided, that
iharacter ; In no case shall the ballots be destroyed until ninety .lays af.er the election
These .162 votes were added on after j which lliey we
they arrived al the slate election hoard
iftiee and absolutely proves our assertion
KINGFISHER COUNTY.
eliified to the slate election I "Hue and absolutely proves <.u. usscn.i... i
,iini\ election hoard a total j that v„les were iiiaftiil n tnred hy tile slate ' aniiiss of n turns
i n.in i I I .1 ..I.. .. I. ■ I.. ill mi Iktf.ftiiiitfl _ - l * , • "* \
■cliori hoard, who. while sitting hehind
I-Iosed doors, denied < ilara Smith and
Mrs. \\ m. \. Vt nil lo make a t heck un
til they were ready lo sive the relurns
d \■ r lo the public fur inspi etioii.
Then was a large shortage of amend
nicut hiilliiis in thi^ ' ountyit wa> dis-
covered in lime and 7(10 otlicr- made and
sent. The fart tli.it the returns show ->
many challenged buTlols i -, sulli'■ient'ground
to warrant a suspicion lhat these are th*
h i Mots that with challenged.
To assume lhat 362 cili/ens of such an
i nli'ditened county would undertake lo
re cast. -
Section 1.7, chapter 157, page 322. Session Laws 1913, reads as follow-:
ts—violation oj duty.
"Section 7. Violation of Duty b\ Slate or County Election Board
* hy member of the stale or counts eleelion hoard of a general or primary
election who shall wilfully violate any of the provisions of law relating to
. amassing the results of any election shall be punished by imprisonment
in the penitentiary not less than one nor more than three years.
And now. Mr. Attorney General S. P. Freeling. il is up to vou to en-
force lb.' laws of this state and prosecute the members of the Slate L ection
Hoard for violation of duly. And it will become you more by tar than 10
send out telegrams lo county election board secretarie- instructing tln-in
In cover up crimes committed bv your "honorable Democrat officials in
tins state.
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Ameringer, S. & Sinclair, H. M. The Oklahoma Leader (Oklahoma City, Okla.), Vol. 5, No. 13, Ed. 1 Thursday, September 19, 1918, newspaper, September 19, 1918; (https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc148575/m1/1/: accessed April 18, 2024), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, https://gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.