The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1873-11-08
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ELKToN, NOVEMBER 8, 1873.
THE ELECTION.


showing the official vote of the county,
polled on Tuesday last The result was
surprise to all honest men of either party,
and was not anticipated by any but the
managers Of the Elkton ring who kept
their own counsels. When the vote was
half counted the opposition would have
willingly settled on the basis of giving the
Republicans the Commissioners and per-
haps more, so we'll were they assured that
every indication-in the event of an hon
est and fair election, pointed to such
result. But the count by the tally lists
shows majorities ranging from 800 to 500
and upwards on the State and county
ticket. The Commissioners ticket was
more hotly contested, and much splitting
was done on that part of the vote, Croth-
ers, the highest on the Republican ticket
for Commissioner runs within 80 votes Of
the lowest man on the opposition ticket.
AS we have stated this was surprise to
all honest men of both parties, but the
rogues of the "Ring" may have antici-
pated the result. 1t was we'll understood
that widespread dissatisfaction prevailed
with the reckless and incompetent manage
ment in county affairs which has been the
rule, and that reform was generally de-
sired in the county government, and on
this the defeat of the Ring" candidates
for Commissioners was hypothecated.
The failure to realize this result is attrib-
uted mainly to two causes-fraudulent reg
istration which made fraudulent voting
easy; and an abundant supply of money
which was used in corrupting a large per
cent of the Republican vote. Wherever
possible the Ring party made agreements
with the Republicans, who we believe,
KEEP their promises, while the Democrats in
every instance acted treacherously.
The Registers were more INSCRIPTIONS
in corrupting the Lists than ever before,
and names of persons known to have lost
their residence in the State and county,
who voted the Democrat ticket were re-
STRANGE of the canvassers; and numbers Of
Republican voters were DISTINGUISHED by
having their names stricken from the
lists. Large numbers of names appear to
have been added to the lists, increasing the
registered vote in the county considerably
over any former registration, notwith
standing the general belief that the county
has been losing its population faster than
the loss is being made up by immigration.
This tampering with the Registry Lists
was done at the last moment, and after the
registration day had closed. Scores of
names on the lists were pointed out to the
Registers and positive proof produced that
their representatives had lost their right to
vote in the State. The Registers generally
gave assurances that all such should be
taken off, but the published lists showed
that where they were Democrats they had
mostly been allowed to remain, and by
that means numbers voted who had not a
shadow of legal right to cast vote in the
county.
In addition to these fraudulent names,
large numbers are on the lists that appear
to be entirely unknown to everybody
Scores of fraudulent votes were doubtless
polled by the "Ring" party who give
these dead names on the Registry to the
judges, who are left without discretion in
the matter. Several of this species of
voters were seen about the Elkton polls on
Tuesday, and pair of them from Della
ware had quarrel with each other, and
being in Democratic State of mind and
fearless and independent as whisky can
alone made such citizens, they freely ex-
posed each other to the bystanders.
The registration law as it now stands is
an open door to the grossest frauds, which
are practiced to an unlimited extent by the
party in power.
An abundant supply of money was sent
into the county, which enabled the Ring
party to carry on the most energetic can
vass that has ever been known in the
county, and which resulted in corrupting
and adding to their poll large vote from
the Republican party, as comparison of
the vote of 1871, which was the last cleo
ton for county officers with the vote of
Tuesday last shows. The average vote of
1871 on the Delegate ticket was, Democrat
1858; Republican 2,544. Average major
ity 1870. At Tuesdays election the aver
age vote on the Delegate ticket was, Dem
ocrat 1896; Republican 2,461. Average
majority 434. The total vote cast for the
Delegate ticket in 1871 was 5,227 on Tues
last 1856, an increase in the total vote of
1870 in the county. The gain in the county
on the vote for Sheriff on Tuesday last over
that of 1871 was 113.
The loss on the Republican vote as COM
pared with 1871 is Is; every vote gained
over that of 1871 on the total vote we
believe was gained by fraud. There has
been no legitimate increase to the vote of
the county within the last two years, but
We believe decrease.
The Republican party has lost nothing
since 1872 by attractions from it to the
Democratic party, but the signs were
abundant that it has been steadily gaining.
This was the belief of a majority of intel.
ligent Democrats as we'll as Republicans,
what the party has lost as shown by the
last election have been bought outright,
and what ever gain has been made by an
increase of the vote in the county, has
been by fraud, and that fraudulent gain
has been added to the Democrat vote. A
fund of 5000, it is currently reported was
provided for the colored vote alone in the
Third District, and we have it pretty
straight that two negroes were paid $40
each for their votes, while others assert
they were offered money to vote the Demo-
crat ticket, but refused. The "Ring"
leaders have boasted that they bought
twenty colored votes in this District.
The aims house vote was hauled out in
wagons and the Judges of election went
out into the street to take the tickets that
were placed in the fingers of these poor
beggars, by their Democratic masters
The most ignorant of this stock were told
that they had taken solemn oath when