Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-10-26
TACTICS FOR ELECTION DAY


a circular, dated October 5, and signed
civilian Malone, Chairman State Execu-
tive Committee" has fallen into the hands
Of The democrats, and is published.
The first portion of The circulars instruc.
tons differs little from that adopted by the
democrats in the kemper campaign some
wears ago. It advises the formation of re-
publican clubs, and division of these clubs
into squads Of nine or ten, each squad to be
under the command Of o captain, who shall
see that his men are registered; issue each
man his ticket, march them to the polls ana
SEQ than vote.
The second portion Of the instructions is
significant and of the utmost Importance.
1t is intended not only rs an effective meth
cd of bringing out the full negro vote, but
also as a check upon the democratic judges
of election. 1t begins by stating that two
earnest, active, resolute and reliable white
men should be at each precinct to keep o
check upon the poll. Such proceeding as
this has never been attempted il Virginia
before, but the republicans say also that
such an election law never existed in Nlr-
gina before. The circular goes on to state :
One of these two white men should have
in his possession roll Of all the republican
voters. As each republican comes up TO
cast his ballot his ticket should be shown to
this man holding the roll, and this man
should keep his eye upon the ticket as 1t
passes from the voter 10 the judge OF cleo
| ton receiving ballots, when he should check
| off the name Of the voter, and opposite to
his name for The first voter mark the figure
/, opposite tie name ofthe second such voter
make the figure 3 opposite tho name of the
third such voter mark the figure 3, and so
on throughout the DAY, thus checking and
numbering the republican ballots cried, so
| that, as will be seen, the last figure lie en-.
tiers will represent the certain number Off
publican ballots in the box.
The other white man who is to act and
CO operate with the one whose duties are
inst described will keep tally of all the
ballots cast, whether republican or demo.
cratic That is to say, he will, rs the name
Of each voter is cried and his ballot received
score for the first vote the figure !, for the
second vote the figure 8, for the third vote
the figure and so on, so that the last figure
he scores will represent tho entire number
of ballots cried and received, and thus you
have check upon the poll in that this one
man can testify to the exact number OF bal
lots received, and that the other or FIRST man,
whose duties arc described, can testify TO
tho certain number of republican ballots
cried and received.
Here, then, the two white men, whose
duties are described will be able to an
nouuce, as soon as tho poll is closed-the
second man, whose duties are described
the entire number Of ballots in the box, ard
the first man, whose duties are here dies
cribed, will be able to announce that there
are so many certain republican ballots in
the box. If the count which the judges OF
election shall subsequently, make does not
conform to that which these two persons
have announced that is to say, if there are
more ballots in the box than the number an
nounced by thu white man who has kept
the tally on our side, then there is fraud.
| IF there are fewer republican ballots in the
box than the white nan who has kept re.
cord of republican voters has checked on his
roll then there is fraud. If the count Of the
judges of election shall not so conform TO
the check which these two white men oil
ours have kept: then, right there, our trends
should demand correction Of the returns.
The two men Of our party who keep the be.
fore described check upon the poll should
promptly report in detail any and all irregu.
lartics which may occur 10 our candidate for
the Legislature, and also quickly TO the un-
dersigned, who is William Malone.