Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-03-05
ELECTION METHODS IN VIRGINIA.
The Danville InyestiratiOn To-day.
SENATORS SHERMAN AND VANCE DIFFER AS TO THR
LINE OF INQUIRY TO BE PURSUED.


The first witness called by the Danville inveSti-
gazing committee to-day was Mr.. John A. J. Lee, OF
Craig county. He thought the Danvllle circular
intensified party feeling. 1t was exceedingly un-
popular In Craig county to be readjuster. The
county had formerly been readjuster, but a great
revolution In sentiment took place. He could not
explain the cause OF this reyulson.
THE RACE ISSUE.
j. c. Fowleg-a resident OF GoodSon. q town half
In Virginia and half in Tennessee, declared that
the democrats raised the race issue The Danyille
days prior TO the election He was sure the demo-
Gratis made immense effort 10 raise the issue,
ana ne had never seen such excitement since the
firing on OF Fort Sumter
Mr.. VANCE OBJECTS
Mr.. Vance said he felt called upon to protest
against such testimony
Mr.. sherman thought 1t was proper to show the
policy OF the democratic party in raising the race
MT Vance replied that the course OF dragging I'm
l the little tricks OF politicians. the circulation OF
noIgers. exaggerations. &C. TO arouse feeling and
orliS out voters, was wide departure from the
legitimate object OF the inquiry.
MI Sherman insisted that he thought the line Of
| Inquiry proper.
Mr. Vance said If this committee undertook to
correct all the fasehoOds and tricks reSorted TO in
lhe campaign 1t would sit 4 long time and become
general laughing stock. II the committee pur
sued this line the democrats would reply to it. and
Woud send ll over the state for witnesses TO prove
~ WAS decided TO so on with the inquiry as
mapped out.
THE SOLID CoLoRED VOTE.
Continuing, the witness said the effect Of demo-
cratic appeals was to solIdfy the negroes for the
cOalftfonstS. Witness described the excitement at
his town on election day, and said democratic
speakers denounced readjusters bitterly Witness
was asSaied one time by readJuSter official, and
was protected by the democratic sheriff Upon
crosS-eNamination witness said the coalitionistS
distributed Circulars too. and some about the Dan
ADMITTED that the coalition circulars denunci
atory He admitted that the negroes more near
~ soild In virginia than the whites He thought the
negroes remained solid because they believed the
whites were opposed TO giving them their rights. He
cited the capltation tax law and the whipping
law as evidences OF democratic inclination to trench
upon the rights Of the negroes. tie said the negro
spliilty was against the democrats and not against
the whites. Witness was formerly democrat, but
Is now Il republican; Is clerk of the United States
courts at Abingdon, and has been for about thirty
days.
THE DEMOCRATIC CIRCULAR
The witness Identified circular which was cur
rent in his neighborhood previous to the election.
1t was an .'extra" OF the Wythevine va) Enter
p'tS@, OF Monday, November 5th. 1889, (the day be-
fore the electionD The headlines were as follows:
The Bloody Negro Riot In Danvillle. An Immense
Mass Meeting In Richmond Held Sunday Evening.
Malone Responsible for Bloodshed. White Men OF
Virginia Urged to be True to Their own Race In the
Race Conflict Which Mahone has Brought About
4 lie DOiy of the circular was dispatch from Rich
mond, embodylng series OF resolutions adopted At
an enormous mass meeting o, white citizens" Set
ting forth that a conflict had been brought on at
Danvllle for the purpose OF creating a issue.
telegram from Danville was appended to the cir
cuar as follows: ''If you only knew our suffering
mere OF account OF negro rule you would vote GiG-
1erent. We are standing in our doors with guns.
protecting our families. Post this UP at the court
house door" Signed Z. \. Robertson.
THE MAYOR OF DANvIILE GIVES AN ACCOUNT OF HIS
KILLING HATCHER
After recess yesterday j. ii. johnson {white),
mayor of Danv1lle, was called as witness. He
gave the details of his killing OF Hatcher who was
removed from Office by witness and resented 1t by
attacking witness with a knife Witness got the
drop on Hatcher and killed him; was tried and
acquitted Witness had heard OF ladies being
showed OF the sidewalks by coIored people, but
upon investigation such reports were usually found
10 he exaggerated or without foundation. Mr.
johnson said the Danville circular was untrue