The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1888-03-03
THE TALBOT ELECTION GASES.

EAsToN, Feb. Pin the contested
election case for Talbot county, Judge
Stump,t this morning, after hearing all
the evidence for the Democratic contes
tauts, and argument by their counsel
decides in favor of the Republican incum-
bents. The Judge rendered his decision
without hearing one word of the Repub-
Gcan defense; and. after reviewing the
case from the Democrats evidence before
him, showed that in all precincts, besides
Easton, private recount by the defeated
Democratic candidates had failed to dis.
close any damaging errors which would.
i'll any wise, effect the result of the cleo
ton; aud this where only ordinary care
was used in the counting and guarding of
the ballot box by the judges of election.
But that, in Elston district, where the
evidence showed there had been such a
tremendous amount of care exercised,
the recount will disclose a difference of
nearly forty votes from the election re-
turns in favor OF the Democratic contest
ants that the Democratic clerk OF election
would seventeen times write down for a
Republican tally that righGfully be-
long to Democratic candidate, and the
Republican clerk made the same mistake
at the same ti;ne-maklng Jhirty-six err
rors-and as there were fourteen caudi,
dates on the ticket, i5 would make forty
seven errors during the count, and all
opposed to the Democratic side would,
the Judge Thought, be too Inconsistent
for modern belief. The Judge then said
it Was his firm opinion that the hallnt-bOx
for the EAStou pgeciuct had been S utfed;
that some one had taken out seventeen
RepuailUan tickets aad replaced them
with seventeen Democratic tickets. The
talk about recount with such glaring in
conSistencies as these, said the Judge, is
against reason and justice. RecountS
should not be encouraged, as thay too
frequently vitiate the will of the people
and open the door to dlsSenSiOh aud fraud
The judge then asked what ralb 1t cjti
zen would have faI5u to day III a rec ouuJ
i'll Baltimore city, where sixteen Demo-
cratic judges and clerks OF election are
now serving out terms III the penltcutiary
for stutfing the b Hot bnx. | am now.
and have been for long lime, fully con
WINGED, continued the judge, that ibis
court committed an error in our decision
six years ago, i'll similar contest. We
were morally imposed upon then, aud it
is the opinion o; the full bench to-day
that, at that time, We erred il allowing
the Republican To be counted ou5 after
ne had been returned elected. Further
more, these contestants were given every
opportunity TO file their petition before
this court at the November term; but
they did not do so, from which failure
certain differences naturally arise. The
Judge then ordered the clerk to dismiss
the petition. These words of Judge
Stump fell like bombs in the Democratic
camp. The shots were hot, and they
were received with telling effect. The
Democrats, as a rule, endorse what the
judge said but those of the Turner fac
ton, in whose interest the Democratic
ticket was made last fall. are Indignant.
Judge Stump, from his fearless aud manly
decision to day, has ingratiated himself
forever in the hearts and estimation of
Talbot citizens. They feel that his words
to-day will put an end to the Democratic
frauds. which the honest citizens of the
county who represent all political parties,
have had to contend with for a long time.