Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1880-08-24
THE ISSUE.

made over into pcTposu"'
debt.---F0gg's Chronicle.
One of the worst cases of fraud in
tabulating and certi6cating returns for
Representative, was that of Farming
ton.
Pennington, one of the largest towns
in Franklin County, was classed with
Perkins Plantation, and these two made
a representative district The candidates
were Lewis Voter, fusionist and Cyrus
A. Thomas, republican. Pennington
cast s42 votes. and gave the republican
candidate 80 majority. Perkins Planta-
ton cast 81 votes; ii for Voter and Is
for Thomas. fusion majority of one.
One rule laid down by the Tabulators
was that where the number of ballots
and the number of votes did not CORE
spond. the return should be rejected.
This error they detected in the Farming
ton return, and therefore cast it out, thus
throwing the election on Perkins Planta-
ton.
When they came to open the return
from Perkins Plantation, they found tina,
the number of ballots had been entirely
omitted. But that error was soon rem
edied. by some person having access tc
the returns who Immediately wrote IN the
number of ballots as twenty-seven. The
| Hale committee summoned the clerk OF
this Plantation, and he testified positively
that this number Of ballots was a forgery,
and that it had been written since the
returns left his hands.
Nevertheless. this return was counted
bv the tabulators. and Lewis Voter re-
ceived a certificate as being elected by
one vote. majority accorded him by
Perkins Plantation. Capt. Voter was
Democrat and vet an no lest man. On
receiving his certificate. he wrote a manly
letter TO Gov. Garcelon, declining to &C
cept i, on such grounds, and from that
time he became an outcast. lie was
paid for his action, he was bribed, and
ike charges were made by his fusion
friends. He was coaxed and entreated
TO go TO Augusta, hut he remained hrm
adherent 10 principle in politics, and re-
fused 10 stir. Then he was threatened
and various documents were prepared to
compel his attendance. The Republican
State Committee was in session at Au'
custa at the time when these documents
and messages were sent to Pennington
10 force the attendance OF Mr.. Voter
They were looking after the interests OF
| the party and Of the State. They tool
a particular interest in this case, because
Mr.. Voter was one of the only two homes
men who were fraudulently certihcated
SO they took every precaution to proven
fusionists from capturing Mr.. Voter anC
bringing him TO Augusta, against IN
will. Mr.. Pillsbury thought he wa
making a great revelation IN readln.
Mr.. Blaine's kilograms 10 Mr.. Merrill
postmaster at Pennington and chairman
/ OF the Republican town committee, Il
his recent Lewiston speech. We, how
ever. consider them good Republican
campaign material, and repubhsh them
with his comments, as reported by th'
L.,rison Journal. If Mr.. Blaine ha'
been less prompt or less positive, h
would not have done his duty as chair
man OF the state Committee. If tn
Republicans had been less determined
some bogus paper would have been served
and Mr.. Voter would have been kid
manned Here are the kilograms:
PENNINGTON. Jan. ).
To ]. q. BLAINE, AUGUSTA
Your kilograms received and attended to
| The matter OF Voters resignation - correct
Now Capt T. |. Merrill i the Repubii
can postmaster at Pennington. Mark TIT
fact sher that correspondence began. Tn
next dispa.ch was In the other direction
| will read it
AUGUSTA. Jan. ).
TO GAIT. T. l. MERRILL, fAKNINGToS
A s.u,v.. deputy Secretary of state, has starr
| eli Tor Pennington. 9Th The supposed intef
| ton OF bulldOZing Voter about not couain
down 10 Augusta. He probably has authorit
| from t,xrcelon. This i an outrageous abus
4 az the old gCntlemans rights. see Mr. Cutie
| and otae- iudicious friends and have Vote
| fortified. Send sawyer back with nea IN M
| ear JAMES q. BLAINE.
The next one Is dated January 9th an
Is 20 Capt. Merrill from Blaine. IL read
Is fOllogs
The warrant issued by the house - comp,
Voter 10 attend Is illegal. The Republicans /.
4 Maine viii never forgive you II you all0" 20
old gentleman 10 DE taken on an illegal wa
rant, 10 80 al your peril. II he Is taken. driv
10 Augusta ahead Of him by the fastest hors
| ia Franklin County. j. Il. BLAINE
!, Tie; we're in good deal OF trouble tina
day Another dispatch vas sent by Blain
| 10 Merrill the same day-Jan. 9Th. IL Teali
The warrant issued 10 compel Voters atten,
| ance Is illegal. Have II special care 10 proven
| kidnapping
You see ttey we're in a good deal {
trouble that day The sane day SCCthe
dispatch was sent TO Pennington by Blain,
u was u follows:
AUGUSTA. Jan. g.
} To REUBES CIT; ER AND f. /. MERRILL, FAM
Hon. Jos. Baker has given a fun opiI,cG thi
| Voter having resigned his seat anu gwen u
las ceEtigcate, cannot be Obliged To attend
| warrant 20 compel him 10 come here i iliega
| All the LAWYERS declare that you ought not !
allow the law breakers 10 bring him. The G.
element here Is grea. that IL would pro-
ably kill the old gentleman II he should CON
, | here D. u DIANE
The result OF this prompt ana deter
mined action was to prevent any furthe
Illegal action in the case and Mr. Vote
remained at home, standing rebuke
the fraudulent State officials, who ha
: given him a seat by unjustly refusin
to allow Pennington to correct its return
and BY forgery on the Perkins Plantatio
, return.
WEAVER on ALABAMA.-Gen. WeaN
: er came no from Alabama just before ii