The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-11-23
BATES'S CONTEST.
What is Being Done for the Defeated
Candidate for Congress In the Third
Tennessee District.
The Amended Returns" Hardly
Sufficient to Affect the Result.
Republicans Very Indignant at Gov.
Taylor's Action in It.
1t Is the Opinion OF Conservative Men
That the Governor Cannot Give
Bates the Certificate of
Election.

\ NASHVILLE, Tenn, Nov. 22..--The pub
lcation in the Nashville papers concern
Ing the contest in the Third Congressional
District excited much comment among
men OF both political parties today, and it
was the chief topic Of conversation in po-
litical circles. The Republicans were very
earnest in their expressions OF indignation
at the course pursued by the Democrats,
while some OF the best Democrats in the
city expressed doubts as to the wisdom OF
the policy into which the Governor was
being drawn. Said one man high in the
councils Of his party: ~ fear our friends
in Chattanooga are acting very unwisely
My understanding OF the law Is that the
Governor has only the authority to issue q
certificate Of election upon the face Of the
returns, and II he go behind the returns
and acting upon questionable authority
give the certificate 10 Bates, Il would be
very much 10 the detriment OF the inter-
ests OF Tennessee in Republican Con-
gress."
The Board Of Canvasscrs spent the en-
tire afternoon listening to the argument OF
the contesting parties; and promised de-
cison this morning. But while this discus
sion was going on here the forces were
gathering in Chattanooga, and this morn
ing's train brought another delegation OF
Democrats, headed by Mr.. Greed 7. Bates
himself What are called the amended
returns" from Meig and Rhea Counties
are letters written by the Sherifs after
they had sent in the regularly certified re-
turns from those counties The following
extract is taken from the amended returns
sent Gov. Taylor by Sheriff VIM. Brown,
Of Rhca County: "In the Eighth Civil
district of Rhea County there were cast
sos votes, ii. G. Evans receiving 422 and
C. i. Bates l73 for Congress, three voters
not voting for Congressman of the
SAID sos votes, all OF which are
counted in my certificate above.
Two votes are shown by the poll list, as
certified by the judges and clerks holding
the election, TO have been illegal votes,
there being two more ballots in the box
than names on the scroll, and am IN
formed by said judges and clerks, and be-
lieve that said two votes were east and
counted for the Republican electors, the
Republican candidate for Congress, and 40
ON all through the Republican ticket, and
the same are embraced in the aggregate as
shown by my said return above, and fur
Their certify that said Eighth Civil District
OF Rhea county, when the vote was cast rs
already stated, the ballots were received
for u majority Of them from the voters by
one OF the judges and by him handed to
the officer, who deposited them In the bal
lot-boN"
Sheriff w. s. Edgeman, Of Moigs
County, cortifcs "Snce made my first
return Of the November election QSSs), IL
was ascertained that n large Illegal vote
was east In the Eight Civil District OF
said county ut said election, mainly OF en-
tirely for the Republican ticket aud that
great irregularities existed at said election
IN said district, the illegal voting being
mainly done by residents OF Rowan
County districts, Of which said Eighth
District OF Mcigs County has been made
and the lines definitely located. The
Eighth District Of Moigs County was care
fully pollcd, and the names OF all legal
voters therein ascertained. This list was
compared with the poll lists OF this dis
trict made at the August election NsSS).
The names appearing in these lists were
checked off on the list Of qualified voters
OF the Eighth District. and all
-~s,e names Of persons who have
come 20 said district. or who
had arrived ut the age Of twenty-onc years
since the August election, wcrc then
checked off In said list Of qualified voters,
and In this way said list WIS found 10 be
correct, but II was asccriained that twenty
one more votes were counted cast NJ the
November election, 1888. than there wero
qualified voters in said Eighth District, as
L. a Ia q a
reside within said district But the names
Of persons on the poll lists Of the Novcm-
Der election which were not ON the list of
voters made a. aforesaid, were In part. nj
least, tie names OF persons who are known
90 me 30 reside In Roanc County, Tenn"
Mr. Evans said 10 your correspondent:
that he did not see how the Governor
could give the certificate oi election TO his
competitor. Said Mr.. Evans: 81 was
elected beyond all doubt, and the returns
OF the Sheriff declare mo elected. | saw
Gov Taylor in Chattanooga Monday. aud
he told me he would give me my ccrtih.
cato Of election. thought no more about
IL until dispatch from Judge Dulin told
me that my friends, the enemy, were here
IN force and trying 10 secure the certificate
for Bates. Those amended returns were
gotten up by n lawyer. In one district
they claim that two Illegal votes were
pollcd, aud in the Dayton District, Of
llhca County, twenty-onc Illegal votes.
II these twcnty-ihrce votes wcrc taken
from mc-and Il Is not shown that they
were east for me, but Il they were taken
from me and given 10 Bates, II would not
affect the result II the two districts are
tliroNn ont Mr.. Bates will be declared
elected by plurality Of only two votes. {"
one Of MIR. Batcs's friends said: "Thore
ran bo no doubt that there were great
frauds committed in Evans's interest In
the election. Negroes were brought in as
rcpcalcrs, and even greater Republican
lrluds cah be proven IN Chattanooga. II
there had been fair election Bates would
b. tho winner on the face Of the rcturna.'
All parties TO the contest went before
The Board OF CanyaSsor again this morn
Ing. The Board heard no further oral
testimony, but will give both sides ill o
o'clock tomorrow morning 10 present any
additional matter or argument In writing.
The matter will then be decided.
A special from Chattanooga saws There
4 A. ~.