Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1888-12-21
OUR GOVERNOR-ELECT
JUDGE FLEMING COURTS A FULL AND FAIR
INVESTIGATION
or ihs Election Prauds-Lst the Truth be Known and
Let Justice Prsyail-An Interesting TAX
With tho Next Governor Of
wsst Firgliia.

FAIRMoNT, W. VA, December 90
The interview published in the Tribune
with Gen. Goff, in which he claimed prsc'
tically everything in this State, and &C.
cures tie Democrats of gross frauds at the
recent election, sounds very strange when
read in the lccality where the facts are
known.
This is the home of Judge Fleming, the
Democratic candidate for Governor. 1 asked
the Judge If he had read the interview 10
Question. Tbe Judge said he had, and he
was surprised at the statements it contain
e6. Continuing, he said: "While l see
nothing in what has occurred to indicate
Democratic frauds, all appearances point to
the most outrageous Republican frauds. /
care not to refer to what would seem to
be conclusive evidence of wholesale
fraud in certain counties pointed out in the
recent address Of the State Committee.
The committee, after carefully examining
these charges Of fraud, requested me to
make contest in casa it should appear that
have not majority upon the face Of the
returns, which returns iuclude all illegal
votes This l will cheerfully do, believing
it to be my duty to lend helping hand in
an iuves igati0n which the good name of
the State Tequirss should be rigidly made
Gen. GOff has long since published to the
world that he will confess his claim to the
election before all suitIble tribunals. !
have in publIcp print accepted his challenge
to full and fair investigation.
''Now, General Gaf said among other
things
SIT reminds me OF Satan trying to re-
buke sin. Why, the men who are waking
the echoes with their howls about frauds"
in West Virginia are the very men who
were guilty OF frauds. They were stepped
to the eyes in fraud. l did not believe
until this election that my political oppo-
nents in West Virginia would resort to
such foul means In political contts1. l
want to say low that some Democrats in
my State, and some who are leaders of no
mean degr6e, will be vigorously prosecuted
in the courts for violations OF the laws
against bribery, corruption and fraud in
the recent election, and if am not greatly
mistaken more than oae of them will see
the inside of prison before many months
roll by. The Republicans intend to ex-
pose the frauds aud convict the offenders.
They would better subside their
emotions and keep quiet. A full investi-
CATION will not rebound to their credit,
comfort or safety
81 have until row." Judge Flsmiug
continued, "persistently refosed to he in
tsrvieWed. 1 regret that Gen. Goff has
made such grave charges and clustering
threats. think it would be more dignI.
fed if he were to leave sach matters to
our enthusiastic friends Bat considering
what Gen. Goff has said, deem it proper
to say that so far as 1 am concerned
court for myself and the Democratic party
the fullest investigation. Open wide the
doors OF the Court HOusfs, and if our pIis-
obs will not hold the fraudulent voters,
boodlers ard perjurers, the law-abidiDg
peOoIe will guard them until punished &C
cording to law. The kindly advice to
'subside,' preceded and followed by
threats, will not be heedtd by those few
for whom il was intended IIepsst, the
Democrats fear no investigation, and will
not he frightened into pursuing a course
which they believe will right the wrong
and punish the offenders. Hew close the
line, let the chips fall where they may"
"Whst do yOu know about Republ c ms
having been arrested and indicted for al
legged offeDses against the election laws?"
II have no personal knowledge on the
subject see from the newspapers that o
few arrests have been made by Federal
officers in Ohio county. learn from the
press, as well as from other souTcss,
deemed entirely reliable, that in Mercer
county, where the Circuit Court is in ses-
sion, between three and four hundred per-
sops have been indicted"
''Did the Democrats spend much money
IN the campaign"
mo; they did not have as much money
as was needed for legitimate clmpaigu
purpose and were greatly hsmpered in
the campsign by lack of funds have no
idea that the Democrats had or spent QUE
tenth ~ much as the Republicans.