Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1888-12-01
candidate for Governor would be in an
Actual minority of many hundred votes.

That the voting of DOn-residents IN some
localities, Of minors, paupers andimoeciles
in others, of persons otherwise disqualified
wherever it was possible to vote them, and
the corrupt use of money everywhere, dis
close widespread conspiracy to desaueh
the ballot in this State and to defeat the
lawful expression of the will Of the people
at the polls. Among the lccA illustrations
which address themselves to public consld-
grafton We cite the following:
THE SHAMEFUL FRAUD IN KANAwHA.
In the cOur..y OF Kanawba the total vote
has Ircreased without corresponding in
cresse OF population, from Z, 400 in 1884 to
g. 700 in 1888. The number Of tthablss,
which fairly represents the number en-
titled to vote is but 1900. The Demo
cratic vote shows merely normal increase
of about 200 Tbe Republican ticket has
more votes by nearly 500, than were cast
for the fusion ticket in 1884, when both
the Republican and Labor parties voted
together, and the separate Labor ticket IN
1893 har vote of 700. In L k district OF
Kanawhs, o purely agricultural section,
without public works Of any kind, to
bring in new voters, aod where there Is
little or no growth in population, the total
vote increases ftom something over GEO TO
more than 900, or about so Fer cent. This
increase 10 district and county has been ac-
companied by an open ard shameless eX-
penditure of money amounting to many
thousands of dollars.
In Fayette county, amoug the mines,
800 votes were cast for the Republican
ticket by transient, migratory negro
population, many of them without resi-
dence or local identity, whose ballots
were accepted without question or Obstrnc.
ton by the Republican authorities IN
charge of the election.
In Mercer county the Republican vote
hes been increased from 500 IN '8l to
400 in 'SS. This increased vote was cast
in great part by non-resident negroes, many
of who cannot to-day be found. Iua local
election contest now in progress In that
county 300 illegal vo 'eS have already been
discovered ss cast for the Republican ticket
aud will undoubtedly be rejected on the
final count. In q single precinct ITO have
been challenged as cast by men who can
not be identified, located or found. The in
vestigations now in progress before the
grand Jury of the Circuit Court OF Mercer
have resulted in many indictments for lille
gal voting, and Loint clearly to the exisit-
ence Of a conspiracy to defeat the popular
will by the organization and use at the polls
of hundreds of nonresident negroes.
LISTEN TO THIS FRAUD.
In Mcdowell county the mines have
been opened but few months, scarcely q
man corld have acquired a residence IN
connection Herewith. In Elk Horn dis
trict, where these mines are located but
80 legal voters can be found to-day, yet
the Republican ticket received in that dis
trict $50 votes, a poll more than twice as
large as the entire majority claimed In the
State for the Republican candidate for
Governor. In that district 166 votes so
far have been ascertsined by name through
in a local contest TO have
been cast by persons having no legal resi-
dence in West Virginia.
These instances, which might easily be
multiplied, disclose the nature of the
methods to which resort has been had to
defeat an honest election in our State. The
q question which they present is simply the
question of submission or resistance to brl-
berry, corruption and political int4my.
As faithfully representing the party In
behalf OF whose candidates upon the Pres
identisl, State, Legislstye aud C5ngress-
iopal tickets an honest majority OF the le'
cal vote has been POlled, this committee
has determined to exhaust every legal re.
sourse to securs 20 the Democracy the
fruits of their victory and TO protect the
psopls in the expression of their will
through the bsllot.
THERE WILL BE A CONTEST.
The committee has this day by resolu-
tion rauuested Hon. A. b. Fleming, Gov
.rnor. ell, ct of the State of West Virgins,
the only candidate upon the Democratic
State ii :ket whose electiOn is apparently
affected by Republican francs, to take I'M
mediate action for an election contest
should the recountS now in progress sub
stsntists the Republican claim that his
opponent has q meagre majority on the
face of the returns. Prompt ami effective
efforts will be- made by the committee to
secure to the psop(e the results OF Demo-
cratic success where ever and on whatever
Office the Democratic party is honestly en-
titled to triumph.
This is no personal matter with Judge
Fleming The loss or possession oil the
off a of Governor is q matter OF no se5louS
moment to man Of his character and
standing. Bat in view of bis reprI ssnta'
tive position the party which made him lt~
c,ndidste is wrongsd should he be robbed
of his rights, aud the people whore Cover
nor he b. .s been fairly chosen are dishnn'
ored if an intruder is permitted to usurE
his dignities and assume his duties,
Since 1876 it has been the settled purpose
of the Democracy of the Union TO tolerate
no more fraudulent rulers and to submit
10 no more political usurpation. THIS pur'
poss is nowhere more firmly fixed than II
the bressts of our mountain Democracy
The party which corrupted and debluchsd
the States of Louisiaua, South CTolIna anC
Florida, and thereby stole the Presidency
cannot repeat 10 West Virginia the colcssa
roliticsl rCbberiss.
To maintain the right of the psopls Il
chose their own rulers, to yindicats tn
purity of our elections and to defeat boil
conspiracy against the good name OF tn
State we propose 10 purge the ballot
box of every dishonest vote, and
possible to punish every dishoues
voter. To this ead tee cooperation
of every law abiding citizsu is invited. B,
advice, By c7uasel, by punishing insta1
ces of wropg.doing in cornec sion with th'
election, and By substsrtiatiDg theu
with proofs, all may aid aud all may par
ticipate in grave public duty. Lat te'
work be properly done, let it be thorough
" done, and IN the fu!urs the corruptIo
of public conscience, and the enemies o
an honest ballot must find in other States
they find at all, suitable field for thel
operations.
TSigued. T. S. RILEY, Chairman.
r. II. OXLEY, Secretary.
Charleston, ". Va NOrember 80. 1885.
HOW'S THIS FOB ROTTEN?