Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1888-12-06
CALLED DOWN.
Some Republican Election Judges too Free
with Their Cards.

CAMERON, W. VA, December 3.
To tie Editor Of The RfgIaer.
SIR:-I see communication In the IN
telliqeaeer of she 81 inst signed by several
Republicans of Cameron and Liberty dis
tricts. This smacks OF considerable bra
vado and we think that 50 far ss their as
sertions concern Liberty district, the less
they say the better. I WAS on the election
board at Cameron in Cameron district, and
only speak for this part of the district.
There were two yo!es cast at this voting
place which 1 now believe were illegal.
These parties swore themselves through
and the board could not we'll avoid recaiVe-
ing their votes.
If the gentlemen deny what is said IN
the REGIsTER pertaining to Todd's vote,
then they allege fal5ehood, aud the proof
is at hand to establish it. Todd left his
wife In Columbus, 0 ssven years ago. lie
came to Cameron, where hs has resided
since. He has voted here and paid his tax
here. His vote was rejected by the Rs
publican Commissioners on the ground
that he must vote where his wife lives uu-
less he is divorced. This is not the trst
time this has been done at elections III
Cameron and by one of the Commissioners
who rejected Todd's vote. / refer to the
Jerry Fitzgerald vote two years ago. We
hold that the man is the head of the fam
ily. He provides the home, and wherever
he sets up his domicile and lives the re-
uuired l.ngth Of time, with the intention
of becoming q resident of the State, ne be-
comes citizsn and can vote no where else
No el(ction board bas q right to say
what constitutes citizen, the law does
that. This chimney corner dictation OF
law is absurd aud election boards should
! be careful not TO set up law of their own
manufacture again the pain interpreta-
tion of the statute. That Todd ls legal
voter is beyond question and we defy any
man to show to the contrary. His vote Is
sealed in an envelope in hands OF James
Duulevy and should be Counted.
Now as t. Liberty district We do not
know how far the word fraud applies to
election boards. 1t is an easy matter for
them to say we were deceived, but there 10
this about that district: 1t is alleged by
as good men as live Ill the town
ship, that there were illegal
votes cast; that these voters were nom
residsnts, minors, idiots and paupars.
jeremiah Fish says there was thirty.
John McCleary says there were some.
Wiley Lowe says there we:e illegal votes,
aud we get the sams report from Others.
Tney name parties that voted, whom they
say they know are not entitled to vote.
The names of these illegal voters can be
had at any time, and we thipk it Is the
duty Of our State Executive Committee to
prsh these casas and make an example OF
them.
No man who has at heart the good Of his
country wishes to see any political party
downe1 by fraud and illegal votes. Ii
Mr.. Gcff has received majority Of legal
ties in West Virginia, no man will go
further than will to see him get what 10
Justly his. We hold this elective franchise
to Re Oae of the most sacred rights
enjoyed by American citizens and
when you corrupt it in any way you strike
deadly blow at our free institutions. The
ballot is too sacred to be trifed With, and
the voter who stoops go low as to offer his
vote illegally or au election board tGat re-
iects legal votes or receives illegal votes
knowingly should receive their rewards
under the strong arm of the law. Justice
should prevail, no difference who falls or
what political party goes under. have
no axe to grind, and have written no COM
munications to any paper upon this sub
iect, but we ore willing to stand up with
any or all those parties who sign the com.
mupication above referred to in defense OF
what we say. WIN. NJ. KINCAID.