The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1884-02-26
To the Democrats and Citizens OF
Monroe County, Ohio.

Az I made . statement OF how I vo-
ted 10 caucus, and do not care to con-
time the controversy longer than nee
essary but ~ ] promised then to- come
again, with explanation, I will now give
. plain view Of the matter. A person 10
generally not conside,ed guilty until
proven guilty, hot II seems rs though
Editor Of Spirit would wish the people
10 change this rule in my case, ard re.
quire me TO prove myself innocent be
fore there is any evidence OF guilt. It
might be we'll for the people to know.
that Mr.. H. R. West, although at Co.
lumbus, was not in that caucus nor anv
other persons except members and the
officers OF the Legislature, as q rule OF
the caucus excluded all others, conse-
quentiy H. + West knows nothing more
about the votes OF the caucus personal
ly than any other citizen of Monroe
County not In Columbus at the time. hut
be would have you TO believe that /, Il
B. West, an he who carries the secrets
OF that caueas because /, II r West
Editor OF the Spirit was at Columbus.
Now, what has been presented by the
Spirit to show that voted for PAYNE
Absolutely nothing except the mere 90.
serf;ea of n 3 West that some Pendle
ton man, had told him voted for sec, e,
ballot, that some Payne man claimed me
Dor Payne, before the caucus, and that
some correspondent to Cincinnati En-
quirer had given me for P,yne; but he
ssys it will take more than an assertion
from me before the people will change
their opinion as to nv vote. Whist Ia
this evidences Of Mr.. Spirit hut second
Aand assertions.
In the Spirit OF Jan. f5sh and at the
Indignation meeting great stress was
placed on the Cincinnati Enquirer as au-
thority. as to nv vote, as they said the
Enquirer ought TO know who the Payne
men are, but when the Enquirer OF Jan.
18th gives me in the Pendleton list and
for open ballot, the Spirit Of Jan 20 b,
thinks |. 10 not good authority, because
It might want to shield some OF its men
What does Il want to shell me for.
when say ! did not vote for Payner ?
No, sir, the trouble 10 the Spirits au-
thority dropped ont from under il.
The News Journal OF Jan l6th-Pen-
dle,on Paper-gives list OF the Payne
men, also list Of 2S men, who voted
against their constituents, in aeifher OF
those lists does It place me and certainly
It shoold II the Journal had. any reason
To know thst votel for Pavne. h the
Ness Jesrnal shieldisg Payne nses toof
The Spirit also says some OF Payne's
friends claimed me as o Payne man be-
fore the caucus. They might have done
90, but believe they did and II they
did. thev had no reason for it as told
them plainly, tha, l would vote for Pen
dieton.
Now as to some Pendleton man say
ing voted for secret ballot, / don't
know what be might have said. but am
certain he could not know or remember
how every member voted on the Prelim
mary questions, and II be did think l
voted for secret ballot be was badly mis-
taken.
Nov ell the evidences the Spirit has
for me voting for Payne is as have
said . second hand assertion, that l vo.
ted against Penileton on preliminary
questions, then makes his own assertion
that / voted for Payne.
/, myself, certainly know how ! voted
on these questions. and those close by
me would, II any one of the caucus hear
how I voted on the preliminary ques.
tions, which were the only votes cast
openly or viva voce.
I say voted in favor OF Pendlet0n
on the preliminary questions and so do
those who ought to know o. you will bee
by the following letter and certificate :
fCopy of Letter.l
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF OHIo
HOUSE, OF REPRESENTATIVES.
CoLuMBus. O.; Feb. Sd, 1884
J. n. HAMILTON Dear Sir.
Learning that your constituency was
accusing you OF the heinous crime OF
voting for 81 B. Psvne, We take pleas
ure 10 saying that you sat between rs in
the caucus and We saw you have PEN
dleton Ticket in your hand when you
started to the desk to vote. We have
every reason to believe and do believe
that you voted it. Make such use OF
this statement IS you may deem proper.
Yours truly.
j.. B. CUMMINGS,