Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1880-12-30

CONTESTED SEATS.
X. X. X.

several contested election cases. The
one which is the most prominently
spoken of now is that Of the Shoe
string district of Mississippi where
Mr.. John r. Lynch (eolored) was
elected by a decided majority over
! General Chalmer, the present incum-
bent. In consequence of the fact
that the printer took the liberty to
place a dash between the names, 2049
Republican votes were thrown out and
Gen Chalmer was declared elected
In the answer which the latter has
fled to Mr.. Lynch lie admits the facts.
and rests his case entirely on the tech
nicalities Of the laws Of the State of
Mississippi, which in this instance
were pretty clearly framed tor the ez-
! press purpose Of rendering the present
trick, or one like it. possible. The
law requires that the names of those
voted for mus st be printed with space
not less than one fifth Of an inch be-
tween any two names on plain white
newspaper not more than two and a
half, nor less than two and quarter
inches wide, aud without any device
or mark by which one ticket can be
distinguished from another. The
dash under each name in the present
instance is construed to be such a
"mark or device, although it is the
most customary thing in the world for
printers to place daShes under names
in the manner indicated.
But the object in requiring the
tickets Of the contesting parties to be
exactly alike is presumably to render
it impossible for the negroes, in Mis-
sissippi, most of whom can not read,
to distinguish one ticket from another
themselves, thus rendering them an
easy prey for any one who is willing
to deceive them by lie. The same
may lie said of the particularly with
which the width Of the ticket is de-
scrihed in the law. A variation of an
eighth or even a sixteenth of an inch
is sufficient under the law to make
the ballot illegal In the s'Shoestring
district all the legal requirements
were complied with in the rejected
tickets with the solitary exception
of the dash. To construe this dash
into a ''mark or device" is stretching
the point considerably, but it is deem
ed sufficient by the returning officers
to defeat the will of the people of the
said district by casting out over 1000
votes. This is not a pleasant thing.
to look at. Nor is the character of
a man, who, while openly confessing
that the popular vote was against him,
will take advantage of such trick.
ore to be viewed without disgust.
Here is nothing less than deliberate
swindle openly conducted under the
protection Of the law. Will it be
allowed to succeed?
Gen. Chalmers takes a not altogeth-
er inappropriate ground for one en-
gagged in such dirty piece Of business.
He says that Ignorant SUFFRAGE is
a shameful travesty upon the elective
franchise. and if such voting can be
checked or limited by right enforce
ment of technical law no honest man
should object" AS an exhibition Of
brass this is something very superior.
The proposition deducible from this
position Is as follows: The negro 4
ignorant and should not be allowed to
vote, but as we cannot prevent his
voting by direct law, it is altogether
right. and, no honest man should OBJ,
iect," if a completely of technicali-
ties are inserted in the law upon
which the ignorant voter may be trip
ped. This is the defense which the
American people should adopt to pro-
tect the ballot-box from those who
cannot read or write. As an educa-
tiOnal qualification of the franchise
this suggestion is both original and
picturesque. Whenever laws have
been enacted providing for similarity
of appearance in ballots hitherto, it
has been for the protection of the
voter and in order that others might
not know how he voted if he had
reason to desire it concealed. In this
case the law is framed to bother the
voter.
1t is not probable that Congress
will have such high respect for the
exactitude of ridiculous law as Gen.
Chalmers has. There being no dis
pute whatever as to the intention of