Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1888-09-20
THE ARKANSAS OUTRAGES.
The Democracy's Villainous Practices
In the South Fully Exposed.

In the South Fully Exposed.
Mr.. E. D. Sanders, candidate for the
Office of Sheriff on the Peoples ticket
in Crittenden county, has laid before
Gov. Hughes statement of the method
by which the election was carried in
that county.
Mr.. Sanders says there were, in round
numbers, $500 votes polled in Critten-
den county. The Democratic ticket
received 400 and the Peoples ticket
., 400, yet the minority controlling the
election machinery has counted out a
majority of ,45O for the Democratic
ticket. The people who have been thus
defrauded of their rights feel so out
ragged that they can hardly restrain
their indignation, but instead of TAX
ing the matter in their own hands,
they appeal to Gov. Hughes to do some
thing to right the wrong.
The judges of election were chosen
by those having control of the county
offices. When the polling places were
opened they were found to be in charge
of judges who, in many cases, were not
even residents of the township. AT
Hopefeld the judges of election were
saloon-keepers from Memphis.
That they might have some means of
knowing how the votes were cast, the
supporters of the Peoples ticket sta
toned two clerks at every polling place
but two in the entire county. These
clerks kept a record of every ballot cast
for the Peoples ticket. BY a previous
arrangement, all of these tickets were
voted ''open." That is, they were not
folded but were handed to the judges
in such a manner that everybody stand
ing around could see what they were.
This was done by the supporters of the
Peoples ticket so that there might be
no question raised as to how they voted.
And in this way the evidence was OBJ
tanned that the majority was over
whelming for the Peoples ticket.
The statement which Mr.. Sanders
laid before Gov. Hughes is plain,
straightforward paper. 1t is the work
of honest men and has no legal -four
ishes. But its homely style makes it
all the more interesting. No unpreju-
diced person can read it and not feel
the force of the appeal.
GILMORE, ARK, September 6, 1888.
- is EXcellency S. 2. Hughes, Gov
ernor State of Arkansas, Little Rock.
Ark: HONORED SIR-ThiS will intro
duce to you Mr.. E. D. Sanders, late a
candidate for sheriff of this (Critten-
DEM county, who goes to present our
grievances to you.
On September Sd was held a general
election in the State Of Arkansas and
in our county, Crittenden. We had in
the field two tickets. One was nomi-
mated by few men at Marion, Ark.
our county seat, men who do not rep
resent the people or voters of the Dem
ocratic party in our county. The other
was nominated by the dissatisfied
members of the Democratic party and
the Republicans of the county.
Our present sheriff, Mr.. w. F. Wer-
ner, was the candidate on the first |
named ticket for reelection. The stat
utes of the State of Arkansas command |
that the County Court shall appoint |
three judges for each election precinct: |
that in case the Court fails to make the |
appointments the sheriff shall make |
them: be shall fix the place of holding |
elections szd shall issue his proclama-
zion at least tweqty days before the day |
of holding electioB.
At noon on the oath dag of August |
Sheriff Werner issued his proclamation /
to the election precincts. The County
Court appointed the judges before Dam
iel Lewis, county judge, was driven
from the county by these same men.
They, however, did away with those
and appointed judges
from their own friends wholly, and mol
one knew who the judges were TO be
except some few of the friends Of that
ticket. /
S Atthe closing of the polls on election
night the Peoples ticket had certainly, +
rs can De proven, polled three-fourths
IF the votes deposited in the several
ballot boxes. la all bet tTo precincts
Ia the county the tickets and returns
were carried to the county clerk, 0fEeei
IN overcoat pockets, saddle-bags andj