New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-07-30

THE NEW MISSISSIPPI PLAN.
HOW THE DEMOCRATS MAKE SURE OF MAJoRITIEs-

HOW THE DEMOCRATS MAKE SURE OF MAJoRITIEs-
VIOLENCE GIVEN UP FOR CHEATING.
leading Mississippi Republican, who called Mt
the rooms of the National Committee Wednesday.
had talk with a representative of The TRIBUNE
on the condition of politics in his State.
Don't print my name" he said after few mo-
ments conversation. mos that Pm afraid to back
up my statements. but the newspapers at homo
would be sure TO misrepresent what say. and as
their readers would never the true version, 1t
would not be pleasant for should be made to
appear as going ont of my way to speak against my
own State in a Radical Northern paper. am going
on the stump this FALL and will say The same
things to the Democrats face to face; but would
rather not appear i'll formal interview in The
TRIBUNE"
The statements the Mississirpian had made re-
fered to the State election laws and the manner OF
carrying them out TO produce Democratic ma
joritles no matter what votes go into the boxes.
THE whole election machinery" he said,
"is in the hands of the Democrats. The
Governor appoints the County Commissioners,
and the Commissioners appoint all the cleo
tion inspectors. There is requirement that
one inspector at each polling place shall be of the
opposite party. Where this is not disregarded al
together the Democrats get negro who cannot
read, and who will not know one ticket from
another, or they get mean white man VINO pre-
tends 10 be a Republican and will sell out Tor
tribe. Sometimes they simply reverse the figures,
converting a Republican majority into Demo
cratic majority by II STOKE of the pen. Sometimes
the trick of sticking two three tickets together
by little mucage at the top is resorted to. when
these tickets taken ou of the box The inspectors
separate them by little rubbing motion with the
thumb aud finger. Then there appear to be more
ballots than names on the po-book, and this dis
| 70 J;oh hut
publican ballots TO make the account tally"
What is the condition Of the Republican party
in your State ~
There are Just as many Republicans there as
ever If we conld have a fair election and a fair
count this year we would give Garfield the electoral
vote of Mississippi by $4,000 majority But that
Is ont of the question. 1t is mposs bic to obtain a
fair count"
Could you not get help from the Courtsp
"No because the chancelors and judges are all
appointed by the Governor, and are all Democrats
Last year the Greenbackers resorted to the Courts
for a remedy for the fraudulent counts in counties
which they had fairly carried. They went to the
magistrates in accordance with the law, but the
Democrats in every case got chancellor to enloln
the magistrate from proceeding III the matter with
the Courts and the election officers all determned 10
keep the Democrats IN power what can we 90
What is the use of Republicans votlngI why, III
counties where we used to have 1000 or 5000 ma
iorty our vote has fallen to less than 100 all told.
| One county which gave us $500 majority in 1869
returned only 40 hepupcan VOTES III uhe iasV eiec-
| ton" q,
q Are there many Greenbackers In the State y
| "Yes, a good many in the counties where the
| whites largely predominate. The Republicans and
Greenbackers united comprise at least twO-thrds OF
| all the voters of the State Yet the Democratlc
| minority of One-third has complete control ana
will be able to perpetuate It's power am In iaNor
OF cooperating with the Greenbackers. On one point
they agree fully with us-they are IN favor of fair
elections and Of defeating the Solid South Democ-
| racy" ,...,..sy
"Yes. We have nominated one already. Our
State Convention & TsJ one OF ns largest gatherings
Suppose the Republicans make an actve can
vass and determine vote the ticket, will there be
any bulldoZingW
The Democrats have discovered that violence IS
useless 1t is much ease to commit election frauds.
Then the planters object to the old system OF
| raids and murder. 1t disorganizes their
| labor. Ii two three negroes are Killed
| on the plantation the rest get dissatisfied and
sometimes go off in body leaving the crop TO take
| caIe of Itself. The safe and simple way 10 carry
elections the Democrats have found out, is to have
the inspectors return whatever majority they want
| without regard to the vote cast"
80 this is the MJssisS ppi plan !"
"Well, It's pretty generally practised all over the
! South now Some lawless young men may indulge
| in budozng this FAIL but IT will not be general. or
nstigated by the political leaders"
| Would 1t be- of any use to send Republican
| speakers from the North to Mississippi u
| - Not as far the result Is concerned. They
would be treated with great courtesy and invited
| to the houses of the best people. Just az Ialmage
| was when he went South, but the State would be
returned as Democratic all the same. This is the
last chance the Southern Democracy VIII nave 10
| oct control of the Government, aud they are going
to make the best of II. No Southern State Will he
permitted to break away from the line. Every one
| will go for Hancock. no matter IL there Is ma
| jority of two to one against HIM on a far vote"
|