The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-11-04
THE ELECTION IN FAIRFIELD.

SuUscilDe 10 lhE NEWS AND HER
AID.
THE ELECTION IN FAIRFIELD.
Tho Democrats Turn Out to Man, Full of
Enthusiasm--The Radical Negroes Crowd
Certain Boxes, But Are Prevented From
Creating Risturbance-.A Quiet Election
and o Splendid Democratic Triumph.
The election in Fairfield passed off
rs quietly as could be expected, in
view of the fact that party lines were
closely drawn and both sides intent
upon victory. There were two tickets
III the tield-the straight Democratic
ticket, printed OH pink paper, and a
mongrcl concern containing tho Re
publican electors, Blythe for Congress,
the so-callcd Greenback ticket for State
officers, and the negro ticket with
Isaac Miller's name substituted for
Isaac Purccl's) for the Legislature.
In addition to these there were some
tickets containing the Republican cleo
tors and tho Democratic State ticket
otherwise; also some straight
Democratic tickets printed OH white
paper. These two classes of tickets,
we are informed, were voted to q
large extent by the colored people.
The following is the result of tho cleo
ton as thus far received:
WINNsBoRO.
1t was the plan Of the Radical lead
ers to concentrate tho negroes on ccr-
tain boxes, and thus either keep the
Democrats from voting their full
strength or cause bloodshed. Antici-
pating this, the Democratic voters Of
the Winnsboro precinct camc early to
the polls in order to get full vote and
enable colorcd Democrats to vote with
out molestation. The poll was held
III tho Court House, and on one side
the steps were occupied by the Demo-
Gratis, room being left for voters to 90
up and vote. The stops on the other
side were used for the voters to como
down after casting their ballots. The
negroes came at first in small num-
bers, and very few made any attempt
to vote. They waited for their crowd
to gather, and for sufficient supply
Of tickets. The crowd came pretty
soon, and by halfpast eleven O'Clock
there werc over thousand negroes
present. The normal colorcd vote in
this precinct is about six hundred,
and the remainder were made up of
bodies of negroes. who should have
voted elsewherc-at Ridgeway, Dur
hams, Gladden's Grove and even
Blythewood and Feastcrville. More
than four hundred negroes were
thus gathered here with the purpose
Of capturing the box and overawing
Democratic voters. About twelve
o'clock there was a general movement
of negroes toward the staircase, and
the press was 80 great that it was with
difficulty that anybody could got up.
Many Democrats were delayed in vot-
ing, and some voters had to be lot up
on tho other side, to enable them to
cast their ballot. When the pressure
was greatest, some negro (whose name
we have not yet learned) cried out
"Push those men away, and let us get
up there" Upon this n strong move
mcnt was made by the negro mass to
press ths Democrats away from their
position, and the entrance was thus 80
completely blocked that nobody could
get up. Some time was lost, tho ne
groes refusing to cease their pressure,
oven when requested by Major Wood
ward and assured that they should
have full opportunity to vote. The
voting went on continuously, being
delayed somewhat by the useless crowd
ing of the negroes, and by tho proper
questionings Of the Democratic chal-
lengers. Some of the negroes, we
learn, did not get to the box, but this
is the result of their massing so many
voters here from other precincts. 1t
was clearly the purpose Of tho negro
leaders either to capture tho poll or
raise disturbance. The coolncss and
forbearance Of the whites prevented
both results. Tho negroes voted most
ly for tho Radical-Greenback ticket,
but q large number voted squarely
with the Democrats. A number, too,
were persuaded by tho Democratic raj
liers to vote the ticket headed with the
National Republican candidates for clcc-
tors. The pressure on the poll by tho
Radical negroes gave fine opportuni-
tics for clcctioncering, and they were
finely employed. Tho utmost good
humor prevailed during the ontirc
day, and nothing like disturbance
occurred. Tho following is tho un-
official majority at the different boxes
IIoreb, 1906; Winnsboro, 295: Ridge
way, 800; Oakland, 115; Bear Creek,
241; Jenkinsville, 8; Gladdcn's Grove,
1877; YongucsviIlc, 2l0; Fcastcrvillo
and Monticello had not reported up to
tho time Of going to press, but were all
Democratic. The Greenback ticket
got two votes. at Jonkinsv!llc.