The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-11-29
GOOD CAUSE FOR CONTESTS
How Gen. Jas. r. Chalmers Was Count
ed Out in the ShOe-String District.
Democratic Frauds, Also, Nearer Home Led
to the Defeat of Frank B. Posey-The Mis-
sissippi and Indiana Election Methods.

James R Chalmers. Of Ssrdis. Miss, one OF
the countsd-out Republican congressman, is in
this city stopping at the New Denison. He was
the candidate against James b. Morgan. IN the
Second district of his State, aud he says he is
only one of many Southern Congressman who
were robbed or their election and who will make
contest for their seats. '.The Republicans OF
the South are now more interested in having a
Republican majority in Congress than anything
else.' said he to a Journal reporter last night
1T is a vital question with us. If Congress Is
Republican We expect legislation that VIII
give as a fair election throughout the South.
General Harrison is the man who can. we think,
assist as. He is by nature qualified for the
work. His ability as a lawyer will tell him how
to proceed. and bis experience as a soldier will
give him the courage TO carry out his purposs.'
What remedy DO you proposel"
II have already prepared a bill which
will give us a fair election. My
measure has been given considerable pub
licity IN the South. and has been condemned a
good deal by the Democrats. My idea is to stop
the tampering with ballots after they are cast.
1t is a mistaken idea that a large number OF men
are prevented from voting. They vote. but the
vote is not counted as cast. My bill provides
tAas ~ u dppdTcEb III buy SSdHAy sH"s
frauds are going to be perpetrated that q
special election board, composed OF representa-
tives of all the leading candidates, shall be pro.
vided. Whenever one hundred citizens shall
make affidavit that they believe frauds are
being contemplated the government, under my
proposed bill, shall take the matter in hands.
and the special board shall be organized. Then
/ would have every mAu who votes show his
ticket. OF course / would not have this plan
put in operation only where there is positive
evidence that frauds are to q psrpetrated."
IN what way were you counted outP
Several plans were resorted to. Tbs ballots
were changed after they had been cast. and
names of Republicans were scratcaed off the
registration books. TO give you one example:
In Coldwater 165 colored men, and
five whites voted for me, and
showed their ballots. When the vote was
counted, l was credited with but seven votes.
In Fayette county / GOO names were scratched
of the registration books. Men would come TO
the polls, but were not permitted to vote be-
sons who thus lost their votes were marked
dead" while others were designated as having
''moved away" and so on. Many of the leading
Republicans found themselves reported as dead
when they appeared at the polls"
ID You have any doubt about getting your
seat in case the House is Republican,
Not the least. Morgan has stolen a seat
from me three times, but once was seated by q
Democratic Congress, the frauds being so fla
grant that even Democrats would not stand by
Morgan. This year his majority is made greater
than the whole number of votes in the district"