Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1888-06-19
PRESTON COUNTY FRAUDS.

funeral.
PRESTON COUNTY FRAUDS.
Mr.. Frank Burt's sledge Hammer Blows
win Have q Paralyz ipg Effect on Certain
Alleged State smep.
To The Editor Of The Register.
SIR: Since the publication of the Preston
county frauds have been almost contin-
uously absent from home. / now desire
briefly as practicable to make few notes
on tine situation.
In your issue of the 10th nit. appeared
communication from Major d. w. Gran
don, also note from myself in connection
Herewith, together with affidsvits from
voters in Preston county, showing that
they cast their ballots for Hon. John T.
Siler, the prohibition candidate at the
Congressional election Of 1886; Msjor
Grandon at the same time certifying that
the record at the Stats House did not show
that any votes were polled for Mr.. Siler in
Preston county.
The next publication / find in relation
10 the frauds is letter from Senator Daw.
son, published ia both the REGISTER and
IateiiigeRcer-by the laeter under the cap
ton OF Proven lie by the Record'-
wherein Mr.. ID. admits that votes were
cast (six men had already so sworn and
sffirms IN an apparently sincere way over
bis own name that the votes were duly
counted.
After the publication Of this letter from
the Senator, Msjor Grandon obtained from
the Secretary of State certified copy of
the report of the Preston county commits
sionsIs, which appears in frli in your issue
of 23d ult., showir that no votes were cast
in that county for Mr.. Siler, proving su
thoritigely all that We charged. Thisdoc,
ument from tho Secretary of State WAS also
sent to the htelRgCRcer for publication. 1t
has not yet appeared in that paper, but
after the document bad been given to the
public through your columns the HteiH-
geaeer did then publish the truthful and
generous communication from Hon. T. X
CSrskadon, after having suppressed the
same for many days, or until the public
had learned the baked facts through your
columns by the perusal of the report OF
the Preston county commissioners. In
the same issue of the IatelligeNcer
appeared peculiarly crooked
editorial, founded at the start upon mis-
representation of Mr.. CarskadOn's letter
mot yet correcte5) and closing with On at
tempt to justify the frauds by the words
"pardonable careleesness." The editorial
asserts that "Mr. Carskadon finds that the
record in the County Clerks office shows
that the votes cast for Mr.. Siler, the Prohi-
bition candidate, were couated for him, but
that they were not certified to the Governor
By the County Court" Mr.. Carskadon's
letter published in the same issue says:
"Yet in the return of the County Commits.
sioners, whose sworn duty under the la ~
it was to have canvassed aud placed or
record the result of the election in the
county, and to have certified these votes
to the Governor and Legislature, not one
single vote for Mr.. Siier is reported" When
Mr.. Carskadon made the examination here
referred to and no record OF any votes for
Mr.. Siler appeared, a citizen was in town
who persisted that he did so vote, where
upon the Clerk hunted up the reports from
tho election precincts aud tho result was
rs startling TO the Clerk AZ the denoue-
ment has been to others who have often
asserted that no votes were pOlled for Mr..
Siler in Preston county.
The party of loud declsmatiOns for
free ballot and fair count is appropriately
christened e o. p. (gab of pretenders) and
the special champion Of their methods is
the Senator from Preston, who swings into
kha r,Fl
He pursues the regulation methods of do
fence, and using the loyalty of noble men
of twenty-seven years ago az cloak for
his audacity, he boldly tells Us how easy
to roll out 500 majority for Judge Max
well, and l 300 for Mr.. Blaine. His bold
ness is really captivating. Easy! Oh, So
easy! No special effort, oh no.
Mr. Dawson says my language is fiery,
and quotes the charge l made. Hear it
again! THE fact is fully established that
the dominant party in Preston county vii.
fully and systematically suppressed every
vote cast in the county for the Prohibition
candidate" Fiery is it2 The Supreme
Court of the United States never prOmul-
gated q judgement more Just and IN keep
ing with the evidence. Hear the aflidavits
of men who votsd-read the record of the
Republican returning board ut KingwoOd
and their report to the Governor at the
State Houss-the evidence is unassailable.
Mr.. Dawson asks with immaculate sim
pGcity, who are the men thus charged?"
and then leads his readers away down among
the Republicans and Democrats who con-
Quoted the election. lpgenious diversion,
did you say? Not at ell. Read the charge
and proof against the dominant party. No
one has accused, much less suspected, these
men Of any wroGg, Me- Dawson's own let
ter shows that the returns were properly
made to the dominant party. Then what?
The Prohibition votes are lost, gone, sup
pressed, thrown out, not counted for the
Prohibition candidate, no record of them;
they disappeared when fully in the control
of the dominant party, and can only be
found by hunting up the returns from the
various precincts. The purpose they have
been made to serve can only be copjsctured.
In this connection desire TO say that Gen
Flick's nsme has not been mentioned with
any purpose of duplicating him in these
frauds. | know General Flick and take
great pleasure in testifying that he is one
Of the grand men Of the nation, with heart
and brain, big like his body. When the
stupidity aud intolerance of the Republi-
can party was crushing out the citizenship
of this commonwealth, General FlieScame
to the front, aud the Flick. amendment
will eternally commemorate the bigotry
OF picsyuns glHtty- leaders, while the hero
ism q -d0,hor will only he dimmed by
ais continued utilization with degenerate
ballot box cheating combination. l wish
the good Lord would convert him TO the
great principle which will be Incorporated
in this Government, and which is de-
msnded for It's perpetuation.
| would esteem 1t q source of pleasure
could / extend to the Senator from Pres
ton the same charity which be assumes
to bestow upon Major Grsndon and my
self, but find no halt cOcked-ism" in
his position. He lives in Preston. had &C
cess to the records, and the familiarity he
manifests with the subject matter, makes
il strictly fair to presume that he knew
the situation, aud when / say his position
is such as fidelity to party ought not to re-
quire of any man, i only reiterate'the
voica nj the hoaasf maaoaa of praatnn md