Democratic Sentinel, Volume 15, Number 43, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 November 1891 — BALLOT-BOX STUFFERS. [ARTICLE]

BALLOT-BOX STUFFERS.

the California Vigilance Committee of 18."><J Dealt with Them. William T. Coleman, Chairman of the Vigilance Committees of 1851, ’sfi and ’77, writes as follows on this topic in the Century: “The next important work was the action to be taken with regard to notorious ballotbox stuffers and other desperate characters. They were a curse to the country. Every one admitted it, but no effective action had been taken against them. In many cases they held the polls at election and attacked, maimed and terrified those voters who were opposed to their friends. If arrested, such was the dread they had inspired, and so great their influence with the courts, that , conviction was almost impossible. This Immunity from punishment increased tKelr Insolence and violence, and it was evident that no reform could be made while they remained in the State. What was to be done with them? They could not be hanged; they would be a source of expense and trouble; safe and satisfactory imprisonment was plainly impracticable. It was therefore suggested that if, after fair trial, the charges against them were proved, no course would be so satisfactory and safe as banishment, with a warning never again to return under pain of death. This was adopted, and a black-list was mad? of alj these notorious characters. Evidence was collected, and orders were soon given for the arrest of these men wherever they could be found in the State. They were tried, convicted, sentenced and deported, many of them as first-class passengers, by sailing ships and steamships, at the sole expense of the committee, and in a style far above their desdrts; this was *ot appreciated, but flattered and exalted them to the belief that they were important personages and had suffered great damage, and they brought suits against the committee. Singularly, or perhaps naturally, these suits were only brought by those who were best treated. Those who were shipped in the steerage never brought suits, and were never afterward troublesome.”