The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1885-10-24
Positive Denials.


During the present political canvass in Bal
timore some very grave charges have been
made by the Independent Mugwumps, growl-
ers, chronic kickers and dissatisfied office
seekers, from Mr. S. Teackle Wallis down to
the ward politicians. Among the prominent
persons who have taken part in this TRADE OF
abuse is Mr.. Henry E. Wootten, of Howard
county, who recently wrote letter to the In
dependent Mugwump convention, containing
severe structures upon Hon. a. P German
and Mr.. Robert e. Scaggs. Not satisfied with
this letter, he made the same utterances at a
political meeting in Baltimore on Monday
night. The Baltimore american, Herald and
EUenil1g Nelcs published full report of his
speech, and called special attention to his
| charges. In the Baltimore San and The
Times on Wednesday last the following letters
were published. As the charges of Mr..
Wootten have been extensively circulated in
i this state, we deem it but just to publish the
letters of Mr.. German and Mr.. Scaggs. Here
| follow the letters:
BALTIMORE, October 20, 1885
To the People oftae State:
beg leave to say few personal words in relation
to the charges made against me by Mr.. Henry E.
Wootten, of Howard county, to which an extensive
circulation has been given. have been prevented
by sickness from giving the matter earlier attention
There is not word of truth in his whole state
ment so far as it relates to me- didnot know that
MT Eugene Higgins had been in the fifth election
district of Howard county, in any other part of
Howard county, upon the day of the gubernatorial
election in November, 1879, until the election was
over.
did not know on or before that election day that
there were any irregularities omissions in the
poll book of the GAINESVILLE district in Howard
county, nor did hear that any such existed until
some days after the election. then understood
and believed as now do, that if any such irregu-
larites and omissions existed they were due simply
to the carelessness of those who charged with
the duty of tranScribing and preparing the poll
book in question. have always understood and
believed and now believe, that the omissions and
poll-book caused the loss of more Democratic votes
than Republican votes. That the omissions and
misspellings of whatever character were unimport-
ant is proved by the fact that Mr.. Gary, the Repub
liean candidate for Governor, received in Howard
county at that same election fifty six more votes
than were cast for Garfield in 1880. / take these
figures from the Baltimore Suns Almanac
heard nothing more in relation to the matter
until Mr. Wootten became an independent candidate
for the House of Delegates in 1881. Then he at
tempted to make capital for himself on the stump
out of the statements which he has lately been re-
narrative and defeated him by a majority of 600.
Mr.. Wootten was states attorney for Howard
county in 1879. If there had been any facts afford
ing just grounds for criminal charge against the
the duty of Mr. Wootten to bring the matter to the
attention of the grand jury of his county. His
failure to do this either states attorney in 1879
or subsequently as private citizen and political
antagonist prove conclusively that no such facts
existed
Wootten's statements in 1881. content myself in
the wider field of controversy, into which he has
entered, with the simple statement now made.
A. P. GoRMAN.