New-York tribune., 1879-01-30
SOUTH CAROLINA FRAUD.
CHARLESTON, HOME OF THE "KISs-JOKEs."
oyr wrEK's INVESTIGATION BY The TELLER COM
MIrTEE-A PLAIN STORY OF THE METHODS

CU,RIEsrOy. s. c.. Jan, 27.-Tbe Teller In
vestiyatine Committee have now completed a weeks
work in this city Their sessions have been continuous
since Tuesday and the grinding OF the outrage MILL
s the Southern press facetouGly pleased to term H.
has lasted daily from 0 a. TIL p. The committee
grow aweary of the same sad tale of murder tyranny
intimidation and fraud, but the Republican portion
OF il arc well satisfied with the incontesfabe evidence
they have obtained The whole story OF the ragicomc
election in the South last Fall Will soon he before the
public As far the facts elictted and clucidaen pS
the committee go. they fully confirm the letters of a. L.
W to THE TRIBUNE, published III November last fe"
new points will demand attention when the committee
cease their labOrs.
Asis well known IL was necessary In South Car0lna
last Fall to elect a full ticket There was no oppostoh
on the part the Republicans to the DerOcrailc noun"
nations for the chief State offices, but the Democratic
leaders were resolved on victory all along the lhe'
Never since the Concderacy died has the Democracy
Of south Carolina exhibited such vitality. They
were determined that the whites should rule,
and rule alone They were also determined 10
carry tho election by fraud rather tinn by 1ofce'
The resolution OF the state Central Committee to ex"r
Sc fraud was speedily and systematically carried INTO
effect and the kiss joke" supplaDt,d the "sAteeh'
sDoorer" Tissue ba prepared by the STATE
Democratic Committee and distributed 70 the county
committees Tne ballots for Riahlnd County appear To
have been printed iD Columbia; those for the rest 90
The counties printed IN Charleston, al the once OF
The Ncrs and Courier. These ballots variousy known
ns issues"" kissioRes" and little liainpons, are
very much alike, df, ring slightly IN length and
breadth The elargest is about Oh inches long aud li
inches wide The print is the finest have seen IN h'
south and the paper Ia similar texture to Dat which
faces engravings illustrated books tha Is, The PRINT
the smallest and the paper the hshteS'' oota'n"e'
I'm addition TO the tissue ballots others OF large wrap
pel slze were struck OIL Armed with these bdiiolsthe
democratic party went strenuous to work 1t is sad
on the best authority that not q single Republican man
agcr OF election was appointed throughout the State
and the way was thus left clear The Republican party
much the stronger Of the two, found tse
blown 10 atoms by species OF political TORPEDO III
vented by the Democratic party.
Al the present moment DO more than refer TO
the evidence additional TO the above, gwen on the
frauds ID Charleston County. Ths typical evidence
shows beyond u doubt cayil how the lied Demo
cratic voe obtained. There WAS no disturbance i'll
the CIV OF Charleston PRIOR The elrciOn The Demo
cratic nominee for Congress was NJ. L. OCOnnor the
Repmbl nominee was f. ". NJ Mackey-DOth acti'e,
shr.wd politicians No minor factions existed. Inc
wontcd speeches and demonstrations were mado by
Doth parties without interruption. Under ke-
publican rule the eight city wards had been
cut I'D into seventeen precincts. Under Demo-
cratic rule the number Of precincts was re-
dnced TO eleven Those wards in which the c0ns0lida
lion took place were strongly Republican, In tne
county generally the policy vas pursued 50 tha
in All the poing-paces were reduced about one-half
The inconvenience 10 voters resulting IRON this ruse
may easily he imagined. The black inhaDilanls of the
islands which surround Charleston and on which the
famous sea island cotton is grown were especially un
fortunate On the morning Of the election the plans OF
the Democrats were revealed. Eacb pong-pace was
manned by its Democratic managers. its Democratic
cerk, It's Democratic supervisor ana Its DtmOcrauc
"rallyers" Ostenslby 1t was the duty OF these
last gentlemen TO "eXplaln " 10 tho EePuoh
can voter why the Democratic candidates were
personaIIy 90 superior to the Republican candidates;
to discuss with HIM length II necessary. aud to cha
Ieugc II necessary his vote general principles In
many cases however misapprehension arose and ne
came painful duty OF the raiyers to insist that
might was right. rhe Republican supervisor had to
face this formidable array alone at best win the
assistance of the deputy marshal. Ho was forbidden
by the managers employ clerk to keep his polllIs
and 1t therefore devolved upon him to register the
names OF the voters well to watch the box. This
double duty too OnerOuS oil COURSE Out Dy such oO
actions he Democratic managers clerk supervisor and
'rallyers" attained their end. Hundreds OF coored men
were CHALLENGED the most frivolous preences Gray
bcaded elders were rejected because they could not
proye they were above wenyODe years OF age, or be,
cause they could not slate their year OF birth Younger
men who failed brug certificate of BIRTH or Demo
cratic credentia OF respectahiity, suffered IKE te
Country aud city voters whose precincts had been
abolished were denied the right TO VOTE on the allegation
that they were repeaters. This political quarantine was
vigorously enforced against those who asked for
or showed tho Republican ticket; but was re-
moved from those few who preferred the
Democratic tcket. Meanwhile. pro1ting by
the distractions OF the Republican supervisors the
managers gleefully stuffed the boxes with the KISS
Jokes" They pOked them Ia with pencils whenever
they had little spare time; they wrapped them in larger
ballots they shook them into the boxes from ballots
which they needessy challenged at the very mouth OF
the box; and they squeezed them IN IN sod hafolded
chunks and packets Many Of the Republican super
ysors saw no kiss-joke5" " till the boxes we're
opened. although they had watched every man
drop his ballot at the poll When the boxes
were eanyassed at the close OF the day. the
number OF ballots was IN almost every instance
I'm excess-argely eIcessof the names on the super
vsors' or managers poll lists. Al the managers pro-
ceeded with closed eyes aVerted face to reject the
extra ballots they recklessY drew ont the Republican
Tickets but left the " kssj0kes" " undisturbed At
many polls the counting was conducted behind barred
doors The supervisor OF the Washington Engine House
prrcinct stayed I'LL the g,.s had thrice off
aud the candles blown out Then he heard the significant
click OF pistols whereat he took the hnt ana his leave
The ballOt-DOX In question was reported lost
next day, and has not since been seen; prob
ably for the reason that II contained hve times as
here, the committee subpgnaed the county commits
election Nth their contents The result Of the cxami-
nation which has not vet been punished Instructive
ser % no,id Of which 5OI were tissue At the Marion
Engine House 730 Democratic ballots were poed. OF
which 3j4 tissue. AT the Ashley Engine HOus"
$50 Democratic ballots were polled. of which 19 were
issue Tue boxes tue Palmetto EugIne House and OF
the Market Hall nave now no c0nents These boxes. on
the report OF the manager Democratic majority
OF about 1000. Rcmember that every voter In the
county previous to baio lag. Is PERTINENT to
INQUIRE how the crrAs cOutrvrd to perform this eat of
writing L il stiIi more pertinent 10 inquire of the
county commissioners what they have done with the
bal ots tha, should I'LL the two boxes to OycrlOwng.
Nor was pollnso k.ssiokes less arnbiious the
cninIry than in the CITY. Tho examination OF
the boxes shows the tactics to been
adopted in every precinct in the county.
Ar Cooper Store, ST. James, Goose Geek, IG3
negroes and l24 whites voted Upon being opened the
box contained an OF l3J ballots. inns excess
cons ,tcd entirely of "Ki5sokes" although the super
visor hpd seen enter the box AT the 1hirtytwO
Mile HOUSE, st. James. slntee. the box when opened
vas tound to contain 800 ballots, 3f in excess OF
the nnII.lal Tho manaaers TOOK aMay lne smrpms I'd