New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-03-23
TIE MISSISSIPPI PLAN.

HOW THE ELECTION WAS CARRIED FOR GENERAL
CHALMERS IN THE sHOEsTRING DIsTRICT-MR.
LYNCH LIKELY TO OBTAIN Tux STAT IN THE
HOUSE.
lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRrBUsE.l
WASHINGTON, March 22.--There IS little reason to
doubt that John T. Lynch, the cOored contestant
from the Shoestrng District of Mississippi for tho
seat in the House of Representatives to which Cen
eral Chalmers was returned, will be successful in
his contest and will be seated at early day after
the assembling of Congress. His testimony is of
the NEST convincing character. both as regards the
fact that the voting largely in ls favor and as
to the nature of the frauds by which the result
reversed. The chief item in the evidence is that in
regard to the distinguishing marks" which were
borne by the Republican tickets, placed there. ac
cording " the allegation o: Democratic returning
officials to enable colored men who could not read
to distinguish Republican from Democratic tickets
and thus be enabled to vote as they wished. Tho
mark consisted of printers dash placed between
the names Of candidates printed upon the tickets
and those bearing this dash thrown out, large
Republican majorities by this means being reduced
70 npOrities.
MIR. Lynch has the afidavits of the editors and
proprietors of The Ftcksburg Herald, Democrats. in
the Office of which paper the Republican tickets
were printed to the effect that instructions
gwen them in regard TO the printing except to get
, mp the tickets in legal FORM Experienced Demo-
cratic printers have also testified that tho Chalmers
tickets were 90 defective in the matter of punctua
tou as to lead to the inference that they nten
tonaiy so prepared for the purpose of making this
special issue in regard to distinguishing marks.
This point alone. il admitted. must establish the
validity of Mr.. Lynohs claim Tor the number of
votes thrown out for this reason. If admitted, will
give him clear majority.
Mr. Lynch, however, claims shat extensive frauds
were comsntted in five OF the twelve couaties OF
his district and for the purposes of illustration he
has taken testimony in regard to the operations OF
the Democratic returning officials on election day
In two of the counties. The following examples
will serve to illustrate the character OF these
frauds:
F. b. Cooper was United States Supervisor in Roth
and Stone Precinct in Washington County. One
device Of the Democrats was printing tickets with
the names OF Garfield and Arthur electors upon them,
bur with the name of General Chalmers for Con-
uessrnan. Mr.. Cooper swears Ghat he himself voted
such ticket but erased tho name of Chalmers and
suost'tuted IN W.'ting that of Lynch. When the
sickots were counted his own ticket was not among
tne number. Open tickets were voted by the
Republicans and Mr.. Cooper swears be saw and
read the name Of Lynch npon the 297
tickets which went into the box at that precinct,
but Lynch was returned as having received only 170
votes. The election inspectors, all OF whom were
Democrats, counted only 100 votes on the night of
election day. seventy-six Republican and twenty.
iour pemoefauo votes Then. in spite Of protest,
.ne5 aolourneo uhtn tnenext morning. They locked
the box but refused to seal 1t. When the hor was
retained the next morning IL contained a lot of
new fresh tickets. which had boon placed in II sur
Ing the night Election day was RAINY, and the
tickets cast oy the voters were soiled and
hepce were dlstingnshable from thu naw onos