Intimidating poll watchers

During the 2nd ward Aldermanic election in 1969, a poll watcher approached a public housing high rise building where the polling place was located and watched as the precinct captain standing outside turned around and gazed up at the roof. His cohort standing up there looked down at him and waved. The captain just looked back at the volunteer and smiled.

When that person entered the polling place and approached the election judges to submit his poll watcher credential, the largest arm he had ever seen blocked his path and a voice said, “That’s as far as you go.”

He left quickly, fearing for his safety, and was not able to resolve the problem that had been reported. The Machine candidate was likely to win that precinct, but his minions were determined to display their dominance, anyway.