Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-07-19
CRIMES CAP
HON. J. D. ANDERSON TO BE ROBBED OF HIS
SEAT.
The CrOwning Iniamy Of the Republican Parisans
on the Elections Committee-GOH's Share
In lt-A Short History Of
the Case.
Sn.cial rsisaran 70 ne Reqister.

Special telegram 10 TIE Register.
WASHINGTON, July lS.-Under the
strongest pressure yet exerted the Re-
publicanS OF the Election Committee to-
day voted solidly to unseat Anderson,
This has been the most embarrassing
case for this reckless partisan commit
tee to handle. The Democrats regard
| ing AlderSon'S as their strongest case,
selected it for their first, preferring to
put their best foot foremost. When the
case came up in regular order McGin-
mis- had no brief AS amatter OF fact he
/ had no case whatever. Before the COM
mittee there was nothing upon which
the case could proceed, and an honest
/ Committee would have thrown McGin-
Mss out OF Court and awarded Anderson
| the seat, but the Republicans were then,
as now, under the domination Of Reed,
and they generously awarded McGinniS
time To prepare a brief. This threw
| the case, which the Democrats had cho-
sen as their first, near the foot OF the
calendar, and finally, when it was heard,
| McGinniS recorded his second failure.
/ lie did not score single legal point.
He depended entirely upon GOff'S vio-
lent partisan harangue TO influence the
Republicans. Goff discarded all dis
guise and boldly begged the committee
/ To unSeat Anderson by way OF rctalia-
tion Sfor his hayin gbeen defeated
\ for Governor. The REGISTER re-
ported COTS speech, which even
| shocked and diSguSted Republicans who
possessed any regard for honesty and
/ fairness, but Goff did not content him
self merely with this speech. He has
continued to hound the committee and
10 insist upon the unSeating OF Alder
son. He contended that the contest
from the Third District involved many
of the allegations OF fraud upon which
the Gubernatorial contest was decided,
a vote Of the Republican House to re-
tain Anderson would be in substance.
SUSTAIN THE DEMOCRATS
i'm their decision, that Fleming was
elected Governor. Up to the entrance
lof Goff into the contest there was really
no doubt as To the decision. Republi-
cans Of the Elections Committee said
that McGinuis had triied with the Com
mittee, i'm presenting himself without
even brief TO sustain his case. Despite
COTS pleading and threats it was diff
: cult for the Republicans to decide
against Anderson. The latter fought
- for his rights and those OF his cOnStitu-
Z entS in a manly, open manner. He was
r. fully prepared on every point, and SuS-
tanned every allegation he made. Re
publican Congressman, not members
OF the Elections Committee, have
freely expressed the opinion that
, AlderSOn'S ease was impregnable. The
. vote of to-day simply registered the
% edict Of Reed, who virtually owns the
/ Republicans. There is. perhaps, not d
member VI the committee who, in vOt-
| ing, did not do violence TO his convic-
tionS This is the most outrageous OF
all the vile partisan decisions of this
committee. There are indications that
the Republicans will be slow to press
the case TO vote, and realizing the weak
ness OF their position, they may let 1t &c
over until next session. However, they
d have taken the prelimary steps TO steal
this and other seats, and should party
exigencies call for prompt action, the
] Republicans are reckless and diShonest
enough 10 push ahead.
History of the Case.
The contest in the Third Congress
sional district. was perhaps the mos
q remarkable OF the three which originat
ed in West Virginia. The unblushing
audacity with which wholesale fraud:
were perpetrated by Republican man
ayers in at least four counties OF the
district. and the shameless parti'
sanship displayed by the Kanawha
County Court In its recount distinguish
/ il peculiarly from the First and Fourth
district contests. In the latter two
there was a question OF only a few
votes. on one side or the other. In the
Third district, it was question OF hun
dreds of votes, and in deciding to un-
seat Congressman Anderson yester-
. dav the partSauS Of the House
committee ovrruled an almost over
whelming majority OF the honest voters.
' On the face OF the returns as hrSt mad'
up. McGinniS had an apparent majorit!
of 2S i'm the district. Mr.. Anderson de
manded a recount in Kanawha. The
solid Republican county court con
Quoted il. Among the first it reached
precinct giving a Republican majorlt!
: of :. i'm which one OF the commission
5 ers had not been sworn. II
plain violation of the law it decided L
e count the votes OF that precinct. Fur
ther in the recount, precinct giving
p Democratic majority OF 20 was reached
r. i'm which commissioner had not been
r sworn. when the county court suddenl!
turned on itself and threw out both pre-
cinctS. Still further in the recount,
precinct giving Republican majorlt.
of 144 was reached and it appeared
I that not only one Of the com
missioncrS had not beer
< sworn. but that another Of them wa
D drunk. and the ballots had been receiv
4 ed. handled and counted in violation o
law; vet the County Court again turned
, on itself. violated its own precedent anC
1 decided to retain this precinct. The re-
r count Of Charleston precinct showed
gain OF 30 for Anderson, ye
the County Court deliberately
refused to allow this gain
e though conducting the recount itstelf
II simple justice had been accorded Mr.
!, Anderson in Kanawha county alone h'
4 would have a majority in the district ol
; over $50. In Mercer and Mcdowell
+ counties, however, he presented the
S cleareSt proofs OF his election
While in the Gubernatorial contest
proof Of only 175 illegal Republi
can votes was taken. Mr.. Anderson
proved over $50 illegal votes cast fol
Y McGinniS. In Summers county in the
l neighbOrhOod OF 30 were proven, anC
nearly the same ratio held good all ovel
% the district, A fair estimate would
, place Mr.. AlderSon's legal majority il
the district at nearly 500.