The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-10-06
HOW A STATE WAS STOLEN
AStory of Fraud, in Keeping with DEM
ocratic Practices of the Past.
Beaten at the Polls, the Democrats of Arkan-
sas Burglarize a County Office, Steal the
Returns, and Alter the Tallies.

Mr.. John Msdsrs. one of the leading members
Of the Union Labor party in this State, recently
wrote to Hon. Charles Z. Cunningham, of Little
Rock, concerning tie frauds perpetrated
by the Democrats in the late Arkansas
State election. Mr.. Cunningham is the
nominee OF the Union Labor party for
Vics-presidsnt. was formerly chairman
Of the Democratic State central committee,
and is one Of the most prominent men in the
independent movement in the Southwest. In
reply to Mr.. Medert. he said that the election
was San outrage upon common decency and .
rsproach to q republican form of government"
He also inclosed an address on the subject, issu-
ed by the executive committee Of the Union La
Dor party. of Arkansas. which appeals to the
sense and justice of the liberty-lovine citizens OF
the State. II recounts that in the election
which occurred on Sept. 3 only two tickets were
Ia the field. One was headed by Z. Nj. Nor
wood, who was nominated on May 2 by a con-
vention composed of men who had become dis
gusted with the methods of both the old parties
and had formed the Union Labor party: The
remainder of the ticket was composed or former
Democrats. with one exception. There was no
need Of fearing the domination OF the negro. as
there was not one OF them on the ticket The
Gazette, the organ of the Democrats, admitted
that that party had received the votes OF over
5000 of the coiored race, or about ore-third OF
their total vote, and this is not disputed. because
purchase and Intimidation may nav" secured
that number. The Democratic party had for its
leader J. p. Eagle, who was nominated in june.
The address then goes on to say:
"At the time Of the nomination Of the Union
Labor ticket everyone believed that there would
be three tickets in the field. But when the Re-
publicsns met. about two months after, they de-
cidsd, on account of the promise in our platform
Of free elections AMI a fair count, not to nomi-
nate a ticket, but to recommend to the Repub-
licans OF the State to support the Norwood
ticket, hoping to get 3 fair count in the future.
The Democrats had the use of an unlimited
campaign fund. and kept every lawyer 90 the
stump, aiding their daily papers to spread false
and exaggerated reports. While We, to meet
those false reports. had no daily papers and
barely enough campaign funds 10 keep the head
of our ticket on the stump, assisted, locally, by
the plow-boys OF each county.
Under these conditions the election came off
Sept 3, and the Democrats claim the election of
Eagle by Is, 0O0 majority. We deny that fact,
and claim that the popular vote was In favor of
Norwood, ald that the returns ss reported 20
tbs Secretary of State are, IN many cases, fraud
ulent and exaggerated; that the people In many
counties were so intimidated that they failed TO
vote their sentiments, more particularly IN such
counties as had State arms sent into them just
before the election; and in every such county
there was more or less trouble, and in all or
them the returns were talsifed. In others ma
~iorities for Norwood vets transposed from the
Norwood column TO thai CT Eagle. In others
ballot boxes were iltercepted and stolen; all
containing majorities for Norwood. In others
voters were called upon just before the election
and whipSed and shot at. In one county an op-
position printing Office was destroyed and the
voters inrimi6ated in every conceivable manner;
and in the capital county OF the State. the
clerks Office. within leo yards of the State
house, was raided and the returns from ten pre-
cincts stolen Afterwards two were returned
and one other taken, the latter one containing
more Norwood votes One box, which was
locked up IN the Office uneOunted, was found to
have been opened and 159 ballots missing
Appended TO this statement OF facts is . re-
port Of the vote of the State. collected with
great care, and from reliable sources. In a few
of the counties, where gross discrepancies OK
listed, IL was not possible 10 get the correct
figures The committee is OF the opinion that
If justice bad been done Norwood would have
been elected by at least 5000 majority. The
following, however, will give some idea of the
extent Of frauds ~prseticed by the Democrats in
order TO get their IL. 900 maIority: