Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-09-01
What Gen. Weaver said I'm Boston
about the Alabama Election.

about the Alabama Election.
II is said that Gen. Weaver says nothing
in his speeches in Maine about the Alabama
election Of all topics this is the one upon
which our people would like to hear from
him. We hope he has not permitted ms
mouth to be closed upon this subject by the
democratic leaders. In Boston ne talked
freely to reporters and his remarks are gwen
as follows in the Boston papers. To Irav-
eller reporter he said
..When the democratic officials appointed
anv opposition inspectors they took bind
negro. or some one who could neither read or
write. or some man, who, if intelligent. could
he relied upon as a friend of the opposition
at all times.
Reporter yet. as understand you. there
was no violence anywhere, l should like to
ask you how the fraud was accomplished!
Gen Weaver-The methods employed to
set aside the actual will of the people were
various For instance, here is large negro
county, we will say, and they set rumors
afioat that there was likely to be difficulty
at the election: this would have the desired
effect: the negroes were intimidated in large
numbers and STAYED at home in fear. Then
when the negro comes to the polls to vote he
is asked where he resides. and how old he is
and how he knows it. and all manner of ques-
tons which delay and confuse him, the whites
in the meantime expeditiously polling their
full vote without any OF this sort Of Interrupt,
ton.
Thus they consumed the time in many
places in questioning the negroes until the
hour arrived for Closing the polls, when hun
,irrds of tn. m stood in line ready 10 vote
without the opportunity of doing so. II
that does not succeed they count the ballots
and substitute them as they please. Take
the case of McGhee's Switch polling place
where we know positively, that 500 votes
were thrown for our candidates, against only
80 democratic ballots; yet the returns gave
$50 majority for the democratic ticket. They
simply DESTROYED the ballots as cast, and sub
-tituted other tickets.
In some places the voter was required to
walk up 10 a big door with hole near the
top, TO which he had to reach up and pass
over his ballot to the hands of q man behind
whom he could not see and who, of course
could destroy it or do what he liked with it.
Toa reporter of the Boston Transcript
Gen. Weaver said that there was no pros
pect for a fair and honest count in Alabama.
without the Intervention of federal supervis.
ors at the polls Democrats in Alabama Of
the better order. are well aware of the fact
that it is settled rule of the party to count
this one especially.
The democrats have hundred ways Of
preventing the colored people from voting
and that without resort to actual violence OF
murder. For instance, whenever negro at
| tempts to vote the republican ticket he is
challenged and all sorts Of questions asked
him. as to take time--probaby ten or tif
| teen minutes: then. when the time for clos
ing the polls arrives, there is sure to be q
| great crowd of colored men who have moi
| been able to get in their votes Then they
will circulate a story the day before the elec
| ton that there is liable to be a row at the
| polls and will advise the negroes, unless they
want to get killed. to tay away.
| To the reporter of the Transcript, Genera
| Weaver read a letter from man in Mont
| gomerv, Alabama, who Gen. Weaver SAID
he knew was reliable. The letter is as fol
lows
Tine result of the Alabama election is, Of
course. known to you. ami probably. also. the
| means BY which il was attained. Fraud was
| practiccd openly and unblushingly all oveI
| the State. and counties that gave large ma
! jorites for the greenback and republican can
| Gidates were, under the new system of count
| ing reported as giving most astonishing ma
| jorities for the democratic nominees. Ii
some Of the precincts of Wilcox county the
returns show larger democratic vote thar
| the total number of males over twenty -ont
| wears fage, as shown by the last census. %
| all parties combined From Greene and Other
counties the same kind If returns have beer
received and it is now evident that there wa
preconccrted movement on the part of til,
| d, mocratic managers to make an immens,
majority. probably in the hope of crushing
ont all opposition but they will not succeed
There is little band of us here who are de-
termined to stand up for our rights. and t.
vote them to the last. We will run cand
date for Congress in opposition to the demo
cratic nominee. and. if we could receive
fair count and the aid of the United State.
| supervisors we would elect him.