The South western news. (Dawson, GA.) 188?-1889, 1888-08-01
TO THE PUBLIC.

IN regard to the recent Primary
Election, held in this county, when
DR.. w. G. Kendrick was elected,
and so declared by the Executive
Committee.
1t is due the public that they
should be placed in possession of the
facts from first to list, and, with
this end in view, l submit the fol-
lowing which are capable of proof
in every particular:
In April, the old Executive Com
mittee appointed the Both day of
June, for holding Primary Elec.
ton for candidates tor the legisla-
ture, and by resolution declare d
that the election should be held ac-
cording to the laws governing reg
ular elections in this state.
At the same time, they called a
Mass Meeting Of the citizens of this
county, tor the purpose of reorgan-
izing the Executive Committee.
After tie adjournment of the Mass
Meeting, many of the friends ofDr.
kenerick met at the court house
and insisted that he should oppose
., B. Stevens, who was then a de-
clared candidate, and had been for
many months.
Reluctantly, DR.. Kendrlck allow
ed himself to become the peoples
candidate. He realized the difficult
ties and the odds against him.
AS soon as he declared his will
lingness to become a candidate, the
political battle began in deep earn.
est, and every inch of ground was
contested by the contending fact
ions.
In the very beginning, Stevens
threw Kendrick on the defensive ;
and through the entire campaign,
he (Kendrick) fought from the de-
tensive, while the war, waged by
Stevens and has friends was entirely
aggressive.
Thus matters went on, every day
the conflict becoming fercer, and
each party gaining confidence in its
final success.
In the meantime, it became ap-
parent that grave questions would
arise, which would demand tie at,
tention of the Execu iv, Committee
noubt, as to what parties should be
allowed a vote, existed; and the
idea prevailed that minors, ard that
parties, who had not been IN the
county six months. would b
entitled to q vote in the election in
October, thus intoxicating the idea
that who ever could become {
legal voter in the October election
was a qualified voter at the Prima
ry.
Disbelieving such pernicious doc
trines, as member of the Execu.
tive Committee, | went twice il
person to the chairman of the COM
mittee and asked him to call the
committee together, that we nigh
establish rules for conducting thC
election. This, he refused to do,
saying, there was no need that the
committee should come together,
that known Democrats would be
allowed to vote.
Then we met on the 30th of june
to hold the election. We subscribed
to the oath for holding and con
Quoting regular elections. With this
'ath recorded, we permitted minors
and parties who had not been resi-
dents of the county six months, tC
vote. and this was done with a full
knowledge of the facts.
AS that memorable day wore on
men, from every nook and corner
were hunted out, and little regarC
was had by those in the search, al
to the qualification of the voter
Que more vote was the mighty
thing needed.
When tie last vote was polled
and the ballot counted, and it be-
came evident that Kendrick was
ahead, even before the ballots were
consolidated, and the result declar'
ed, was put on notice by tn
chairman of the committee that h,
would contest the election.
On Monday following, when the
managers Of the different precint'
met to consolidate the returns, ant
The returns thus consolidated show
d a majority of one for Kendrick
theu began a scene in our Execu
live Committee. the like of which
{ hope, will never be repeated il
1eorPia.