Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1888-12-13
Address of the State Democratic. Lrecu-
tive Committee.

tue COHlmtttee'
To the Law-AJidng Cii-eas Of the State Of Hest
Virginia:
The Democratic Executive Committee for
West Virginia invites your attention to cir
cumstances and conditions surrounding the
political situation in this State. West Vir-
ginia is now in the twenty-sixth year of her
existence. Seven years of that time were
passed under Republican, the remainder un-
der Democratic rule. We have had many
unpleasant political experiences and passed
through many severe political contests, but
throughout ali the vicissitudes of the States
career the purity of the ballot has heretofore
been unsullied and the honesty of West Vir-
ginia elections has remained unquestioned
In the year 1888, for the first time in the his
tory of our State, the people have been con-
fronted with fraudulent political methods
and their will has been antagonized by cor
rupt political influences With the opening
of the campaign we were advised of the pur
pose of the Republican managers to achieve,
by improper means, that ascendancy in the
State which could not be attained by an
honest ballot.
The "Solid South" was to be broken" by
the purchase of West Virginia Schemes
of colonization were boldly advertised, and
nonresident negroes were organized for po-
litical purposes. Upon your public works
and in your mining sections paid agents ran
sacked every hamlet and community for the
doubtful voter, and made careful note of the
circumstances of the needy and of the dis
tressed. Hired emissaries from without were
brought into the State to ply their arts, in
making money available for the control Of
certain classes, with whose wants and habits
they were supposed to be especially familiar.
The usual fair and manly methods Of reach
ing the people were abandoned Public dis
cussion was largely avoided; fair cOmpari
sons of the history and purposes of parties
were omitted; appeals to patriotism, to man
illness, to honor or to political traditions were
rarely presented by Republicans from the
forum or through the press.
The Republican speaker and the Republi-
can writer abdicated their functions in favor
of the Republican boodler, and the activity
and potency of money as political factor
were everywhere seen and fnlt. We appeal
to the experience and observation of every
honest and intelligent voter to verify the
statement that the reckless and lavish use Of
money by the Republican party in the late
election in this State has never before been
approached in West Virginia.
1t is claimed by the Republican leaders
that Gen. Gof has majority upon the face
of the returns of lO5. If the recounts now
in progress shall show this to be true, we
have to submit the following facts as illus
tratiye of the means by which this apparent
result has been reached;
First-That men have been hired to
''work or paid for their time in the interest
of the Republican party, and that by this
means indirect but no less criminal bribery
has been accomplished.
Second-That men have voted the Repub-
lican ticket in counties where they had no
right to vote at all, and in sufficient numbers
to affect most materially the apparent result.
Third-That men have in numerous in
stances. repeated their vote for the Republi-
can ticket, and without such repeating the
apparent election of Republican Governor
could not be claimed.
Fourth-That non-residents in large num-
bers, notably in the counties Of Mercer, Nc
Doweu, Fayette, and Kanawha have voted
the Republican ticket, and that without such
illegal votes the Republican candidate for
Governor would be in an actual minority Of
many hundred votes.
That the voting of non-residents in some
localities, of minors, paupers and imbeciles
in others, Of persons otherwise disqualified
wherever it was possible TO vote them, and
the corrupt use of money everywhere, dis
close a widespread conspiracy to debauch
the ballot in this State and to defeat the law
full expression of the will of the people at
the polls. Among the local illustrations
which address themselves to public consid-
Grafton we cite the following:
In the county of Kanawha the total vote
-. ;o-oosoJ without corresnondinr in
crease of population, from 7,4O0in 1884 to
500 in 1888 The number of tithables,
which fairly represents the number entitled
to vote is but 800. The Democratic vote
shows merely normal increase ofabout 200.
The Republican ticket has more votes by
nearly 500, than were cast for the fusion tick
ct in 1884, when both the Republican and
( Labor parties voted together, and the sepa
rate Labor ticket in 1888 has vote Of 100
I In Eli diu+--ir+ NJ Kauawha, a purely agIi-