Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1888-12-27
OUR NEXT GOVERNOR
JUDGE A. B. FLEMING DISCUSSES 1HB
GUBRRNATORIAL CONTEST.
The Republican Frauds Will bs Fully Investigated
Preparation Of the Cass-Hundrsds Of
Illegal Votes Round-Ths Sehsms 10
Capture the House Of Delegates.
Snlcinl 7sLorcm 10 t,1 R.atalr.

Special 7tLs0rGH 10 ne RSRtStCr.
FAIRMOST, DECEMBER 26 Judge A. b
Fleming has arrived home from trip to
Charleston, where hiss been on business
connected with the Gubernatorial contest
To your correspondent the Judge stated
that he was we'll pleased with the steps
that had been taken to ferret out the gross
outrages committed by the Republican
managers, and expressed the utmost conf
dence that the final result would prove the
Justice of the Democratic cause.
81 feel, A" said he, that the people Of
West Virginia demand that this contest be
made. To put it mildly, there is grave
suspicion that hundreds Of illegal votes
were cast for the Republican ticket. TIE
State can not afford to let any
imputstion rest upon the honesty of
its elections; and tie Democratic
party can not allow questionable to
20 unchallenged. can say from the bot
tom of my heart that I did not seek the
gubernatorial nomination; but being 3 can
didste believe it to be my duty to my
State and to my party to see that the re-
suit Of the election is honestly Obtained l
have entered into this contest from these
motives alone, and st the request Of the
State Executive Committee, but if the
people sustain me in it, ard have every
reason to believe that they will, it will be
pushed until the truth of my election is
fairly and squsrely established. -
al have been surprised at the extent OF
the frauds that have been brought TO light
in certain counties Of the State. No
further proof is needed to convince me Of
the existence of skilfully planned scheme
to corrupt the ballot l firmly belieRe
that il the voters of this State had b zen
permitted to express theic sovereign will
inde p sndently of illegal influences, the
D.moctstic majority would be VIII up in
the thousands instead of the hundreds. u
at ia not difficult to locate these frauds
They were practised in almost every quar-
ter of the State to some extent, but in at
least four counties they surpass anything
ever b fore accom- olishsd or attempted at
at election in West Virginia. l do not
know that I care to paCticularizs these
CAGES. The whole matter will be brought
to light at the proper time, but it is snt-
fiCient to say that in the counties of ber-
Ger, Mcdowell, Fsyette, KsnaTha and
probably one or two Others, q great many
illegal votes were cast in nearly every pre-
cinct.
The large msjority Of these ballots
were polled by residents OF other States
There is great difficulty in securing evil
dsnce aRaiGst tie men, for many OF them,
| having perjured themselves at the poll5,
will not hesitate 10 perjure themse YES
sgain In order TO escape the punishment OF
their crimes. The only way by which the
fact of non-resideacy can bs established is
to trace up their sntecedents. This, OF
course, is 8 very lsboricus process. How
ever, our attorneys have met with good
suc,eJs. A lengthy list OF illegal voters
hss been prepared already and many more
will be added. We eXpsct to have inccn-
trovertible evidence TO prove that these
men voted illegally and yCted the Rspub-
| liCau ticket
THE law requires that the name of each
voter whose ballos is contested shall be
contained in the notice Of contest, with
the grounds Of challenge. This necessarily
makes the preparation Of the casa SLOW,
bat we have every reason to believe that 1t
will he completed in good time, and IN
such way ss will leave no possibility OF
successful answer.
az am glad to see that the REGISTER
has referred to the plan of the Republican
managers to capture and contTo! the
House cf Delegates. My attention has
been called to the matter from other quar-
ters. II three or more Democratic dele
gates should be absent at the opening ses-
sioo, the Republicans would be able 10 or
ganize the House"