The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1876-12-13
RAPlDES BEFORE THE OVER.
TURNING BOARD.

TURNING BOARD.
We scanned the proceedings Of the
Returning Beard closely while they
were pretending to count, to learn
what was said about and done with
Rapides by that august tribunal OF
fraud and chicanery. The only item
that met our notice was on one of the
last days of it's sessions where the
papers from Rapides were brought in
to be opened. Just what papers were
opened there in the presence of wit
nesses we did not learn, but from
what took place, as reported, We dis
covered that the only protest men,
toned at all was the one of +. >.
Barrett. When Mr.. Smith Of the
Committee, as was his usual custom,
asked to be furnished with the hg-
ures on the tabulated statement,
there was no tabulated statement to
b, found, and Mat. Wells said he had
left the papers at his room. Even
the protest of Barrett was not forth
coming and Rapides was uncerimonl
ously laid over among the contested
parishes on the simple assertion OF
Mat. Wells that Barrett had filed a
protest. Now we rise to ask for an
explanation and unless the President
of the Overturning Board is engaged
with more weighty matters we would
like to have an answer to few SIM
pie questions:
What business did Mat Wells have
with the returns from Rapides in his
room at the hotel? How did it hap
pen that those returns were unsealed
before they had been publicly open
ed? If Barrctt's was the only protest
on file what had become Of the one
filed by F. Seip, Democratic United
States Supervisor with B. W. Wood
ruff and which was or ought to have
been attached to his returns? We
would like to have an explanation of
these little matters.
The sworn protest Of F. Seip
charged that at or near the Two polls
in Alexandria, which gave large
vote, there was negro riot and tu-
multi growing out of the legitimate
q rest of negro, which together with
the open intimidation and threats OF
violence to colored Democratic voters
deprived many such of the right to
vote the Democratic ticket as they
would have done from free choice.
That many, probably l2O negro
minors and convicts were registered
and voted the radical ticket at the
polls of this parish, in violation Of
law, and because no opportunity was
furnished him to revise the registra.
ton list.
That a large number, probably one
hundred voters, who desired to vote
the Democratic Conservative ticket
and who offered so to do were refused
the right to vote by the Commission
ers of Election because their names
were not upon the poll books fur
nished by B. W. Woodruff, Supervi
sor-while at the two Alexandria and
the one Pineville box which were
large Republican boxes, Republicans
were allowed to vote Republican
ticket, whose names were not on the
poll books. Having thus one rule
for Democratic voters and a different
one for Republican voters. That 8
Democratic poll was abolished by
the Supervisor on the pretext that he
could only establish certain number
and afterwards large and new Re
publican poll was established where
it was not needed. There were Other
points relating to the conduct of the
Republican Supervisor of Registra
ton, Woodruff.
Now the Overturning Board threw
out twelve thousand Democratic
votes on less testimony than this
and for less cause than we could have
established and will yet establish be
fore the Courts in the contests pend
ing and to be made, but it deems
our case unworthy ofthe slightest no
tice. Such is radical justice and
such their care for consistency anC
fair play. Of such is the kingdom
of radicalism.
liz the Gazette cannot earn and re-
ceive support by following this tack
the Gazette ought to fizzle, and til,
"young man" deserves to starve in hi!
tracks, Rapides Gazette.
And "fizzle'' she will, young man
you may bet your bottom dollar
The people, the only people who hav'
any patronage to give, will never Civ
r. RI Mat Wells' ORGAN or assist !,