Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-11-15

spect; indeed the direct opposite is the truth, for
in about twenty-nine out of the thirty nine coun-
ties in the State the polling places were controlled
entirely by democrats. In order to make this
fully understood, must state that Mr.. Stearns,
the republican Governor of Florida has, since his
election, adopted the policy of appointing demo-
Gratis to office in most Of the counties where the
majority Of the voters wished such appointments
made. In pursuance Of this generous policy, he
has in twenty-nine counties selected democrats to
fill the positions of Judge Of the Cocnty Court and
Clerk of the Court These two gentlemen, to-
gether with one Justice of the Peace, selected by
them, constitute the Board Of County Canvassers,
and have full power to count and canvass the vote
in their respective Counties But this is not the
only power possessed by the democrats. Ia the
twenty nine counties to which | refer they also
had full control of the ballot-box on election day.
This they obtained in the following manner All
the County Commissioners are appointed by the
Governor and, in accordance with the liberal pol
icy already referred to Mr. Stearns in many in
stances gave the positions named to democrats.
The power of appointing Inspectors OF Elections IS
vested in these County Commissioners, and at the
late elections they appointed two democrats and
| one republican to attend each poll. Not content
| with the almost absolute control thus obtained,
they succeeded in several cases, by the practice of
| the various tricks which are well known to all
Southern democrats, in keeping toe republican
inspector from exercising the duties OF his Office.
| Immediately after the election, however, they
discovered that in spite of all their precautions the
republicans, who have large maJorlties in, and
control Of, the only thickly populated counties in
the State. had elected their ticket. AT first, as
have already intimated, they expressed them
selves perfectly satisfied with the result, and ad-
mitted that they had lost the fight When they
received Mr.. Hewitts dispatches, however, they
| made up their minds to defeat the republicans at
all hazards, and to this end they sent out men to
all voting districts under their control, with in
| structions to make the vote in them as large As
possible. This on Wednesday afternoon. On
the same evening Gov. Stearns sent out special
train with number Of republicans on board with
instructions TO visit the precincts under democratic
control and do all in their power to prevent frauds.
The democrats heard Of this, and four miles from
Tallahassee the train was run oil the track and
wrecked and it was then discovered that one OF
the rails had been torn up. Of course, the repub-
licans were unable to proceed, and the democratic
emissaries reached all the remote polling places
from twelve to twenty four hours in advance OF
them.
Since these transactions, twenty five counties
have been heard from, and from the most reliable
source, find that they give net republican ma
jority of 800. At the last Gubernatoral cleo
ton, in 1872, the same counties gave net repub-
lican majority Of 1857, and the republicans car
ried the State by majority of 500 At the Con-
BfesslOnal eicCtlOn nclu III 1919, Tue COun-
ties gave the republicans q majority of 1901
The fourteen counties which are yet to hear from
in 1872 gave a democratic majority of $50, and
in 1874 democratic maj ority of2 ,S52. This year
the republicans got out their full vote in these
counties and it is confidently believed that the
democratic majority was largely reduced. 1t was
not possible to iucrea se it by any honest means
consequently If the votes actually cast are fairly
counted, the republican majority will be from
200 TO 1000. 1t cannot fall below below .O0'
, votes.
$ fair count be had And, fortunately, it can b.
answered in the affirmative. The board of Stat
Canvassers is composed of S. b. McLin, the Sec
rotary of State; G. A. Cowgirl, the Controller, ant
W. A. Cooke, the Attorney General. All these
gentlemen are above suspicion, and have the re
spect of both parties. Mr.. Cooke, the Attorney
General, is a democrat, and n warm supporter Of
Tilden. The other two gentlemen are republ
cans. If the vote 10 correctly returned by the
County Canvassers there is no doubt that it will be
honestly and fairly counted. The only fear il
that the returns may be fasifed by the democrat
ic County Canvassers already referred to-. These
canvassers are required by law to make their re-
turns tomorrow, and then the State Canvassers
have thirty dvys to make their count. 1t will
, probably be two weeks before the result is Off
cally announced. In the meantime prominen
democrats fastening here from all parts of thu
South, and they have requested their Natona
Committee to send a number of representatv,
Northern men TO Tallahassee. This Afternoon
five companies OF United States troops came in
: and six companies more are expected to morrow
The whole force, amounting to about four hun
} bred men, will be under the command of Gen
, Ruger. Everything is quiet, and 1t is believed
that the presence of the troops will prevent an
outbreak while the vote is being canvassed.