The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1888-12-05


ulation, the total vote increases
from something over 600 to more
than 900, or about so per cent. This
increase in district and county has
been accompanied by an open and
shameless expenditure of money
amounting to many thousands of
dollars
In Fayette county, among tho
mines, 1900 votes were cast for the
Republican ticket by a transient,
migratory negro population, many
of them without residence or local
identity, whose ballots were accep-
ted without question or obstruction
by the Republican authorities in
charge of the election.
In Mercer county the Republican
vote has been increased from 500 in
's4 to 400 in 'ss. This increased
vote was cast in great part by non
resident negroes, many of whom can
not to-day be found. In local
election contest now IN progress in
that county 300 Illegal votes iT1ve'
already been discovered ,as cast for
the Republican ticket and will un-
doubtedly be rejected, on the final
count. In single precint 10 have
been challenged as cast by men who
cannot be identified, located or
found. The Investigations now in
progress before the grand jury of
the Circuit Court of Mercer have
resulted in many indictments for ille-
gal voting, and point clearly to the
existence of a conspiracy to- defeat
the popular will by the organization
and use at the polls of hundreds of
nonresident negroes.
LISTEN TO THIS FRAUD.
In Mcdowell county the. mines
have been opened but few months,
scarcely a man could have acquired
a residence in connection Herewith.
In Elk Horn district, whore these
mines are located but so legal voters
can be found to-day, yet the Re
publican ticket received in that dis
trict 25O votes, poll more than
twice as large as the entire majority
claimed in the State for the Repub-
lican candidate for Governor. In
that district 166 votes SO far have
been ascertained by name through
investigations in local contest to
have been cast by persons having no
legal residence in West Virginia.
These instances, which might
easily be multiplied, disclose the
nature of the methods to which
resort has been had to defeat an
honest election in our State. The.
question which they present is.
simply the question of submission
or resistance to bribery, corruption
and politica! infamy. 49,
AS faithfully representing the
party in behalf of whose candidates
upon the Presidential, State, Legis-
Iative and Congressional tickets an
honest majority of the legal vote
has been polled, this committee has
determined to exhaust every legal
resource to secure to the Democracy
the fruits of their victory and to
protect the people in the expression
of their will through the ballot.
THERE WILL BE A CONTEST.
The committee has this day by
resolution requested Hon. A. B.
Fleming, Governor-elect of the
State of West Virginia, the only
candidate upon the Democratic
State ticket whose election.isappar-
entity affected by Republican frauds,
to take immediate action for an
election contest should the recounts
now in progress substantiate the
Republican claim that his opponent
has meagre majority on the face
of the returns. Prompt and effec-
tive efforts will be made by the
committee to secure to the people
the results of Democratic success
wherever and ON whatever office
the Democratic party is honestly
entitled to triumph.
This is no personal matter with
Judge Fleming. The loss5aor po-
session of the office of Governor is
a matter of no serious moment to a
man of his character and standing.
But in view of his representative
position the party which made him
its candidate is wronged should he.
be robbed of his rights, Sand the peo-
pie whose Governor he has been
fairly chosen are dishonored if an
intruder is permitted to unsurp his