Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1890-12-04
MIR. eARpEvrnR,s REpLY



ID. Carpenter, Esq, an election officer
of the Twelfth district, in reply to u
letter from Election Judge r. b. Cotton
of the same district was handed to
the GAZETTE for publication. The com
munication speaks for itself. MIR. Colton's
letter is appended;
Editor Gazette and journal: Ina morning
paper of tO-duy's date there appears a let
ter from Franklin b. Cotton, Republican
inspector Of the Twelfth Election district
Of the Fifth ward, NJ the recent election.
Ever since the polls closed on the even
ing of November lth, it has been my pir-
pose publicly expose some of theactions
that took place that day, and now that the
inspector himself has seen fit and proper
70 publish an account Of some of the days
proceedings, kindly allow me space in
your paper to set matters straight and show
to what extent the inspector on that day
iran things to suit himself
Like Mr.. Cotton, ! too have had the
unpleasant duty of holding elections
before, and was pleased also to learn who
were to be my associates, but was not so
pleased after the polls had been open ten
minutes, for ] soon saw that my rights
were not to he respected, nor was to be
allowed th do more than merely protest at
any irregularities that might occur during
the day
At my request was granted the privi-
lege of examining the tax receipts until
Elwnod Glarkson, colored, came to vote.
The minute saw his receipt was satisfied
it was forgery and told the other officers
so. | then put the receipt in my pocket,
telling Clarkson it would be returned to
him if it turned out to he genuine. Mr..
Cotton wanted to know how could tell it
was a forgery. did not say, THAT is my
business and none of yours, but replied,
81 will keep the receipt, and at the proper
time and place, prove to you that it is not
genuine, which has been done at the pre-
liminary hearing of Elwood Glarkson at
the municipal court.
Then the stamp was taken away from
me and was informed that would not
have the chance to take any more receipts,
which threat was faithfully carried out.
All day long | asked to look at receipts
and occasionally the Republican Judge
would hold them up, half covered iip by
his hands, and the length of the table be-
tween me and the receipt, so that il was
very difficult to read the name upon it,
much less scrutinize any irregularity. So
much for the courtesy my genial (?) as
sociate speaks of.
AS Clarkson's ballot was accepted. and
all similar ones, though pronounced for
gerieS, they lost no votes and would have
lost none by allowing me to examine the
receipts; the fact that was not permitted
to handle them, being to my mind II yerit-
able admission that they knew they were
forged as well as |, for had they been gem
uine what had they to fear? Clarlsson,
together with some eighty more voted that
day on receipts, not being assessed the past
two years, and therefore had no right to
receipts that would entitle them to vote on
that day.
The inspector took votes from colored
men, who, when questioned, could not
give their residence although stating that
they had lived in the same house for years.
Peter IL. Bell was voted, though the
Jealous Republican was told the man
lived at Front and Adams streets, and de-
spite my challenge and protest, the ballot
was deposited in the box and no questions
were asked Bell by the inspector as to his
residence even, though he voted on
Longfellow poll tax receipt of Kent county,
and has been living in this city for over
three years.
Toall these facts ms laid bare at the time,
the inspector was as blind as bat, without
any self-respect, without shame. The ballot
was deposited and the man departed,
laughing at his own infamy, and encour-
aged by the jeers and raillery of his colored
supporters, who throughout the day made
insulting remarks that would make the
blood boil in a man of stone. A pink tax
receipt is not equivalent to a red flag in the
face Of maddened bull, if genuine, but
when il is a forgery and Haunted under
your nose with insulting epithets and
curses, it is almost too much for human
endurance.
Such actions encouraged and smiled
upon by the offensive partisan" for that
tzealous Republican, inspector must be
termed such are infamous to a degree and
riot and bloodshed could only appeasc the
injured rights which |, an American citi-
zen, was subjected to, hut which fOrtu-
nately was averted by better Judgment.
For trying to do my duty, was threat
ened to be dragged from the window by
the lawless mob which congregated outside
and made ii at times repulsiye for any man
OF finer sensibilities TO even think of at
tempting to elbow through, in order to
exercise his right of suffrage.
Now one word as to the naturalization
papers which were presented and objected
to. When the first Italian came to vote
and before he had an opportunity to show
his credentials and qualify, he was imme-
diately challenged by Mr.. Mitchell, com
he certainly was Gap to the horde of
negro adherents, who obeyed the wave Of
his hand as if he were a god. He chal-
lenged the man on the ground that his
papers were not final papers, even before
they had been taken from his (the
ltalians) pocket,
The papers were produced at once apd
read over BY me and their legality pointed
out to the inspector; also, the fact that
they were under the seal of the court and
signed by $. r. Smith, clerk, or his deputy.
Any child of ten years who could read,
could not question their legality, for at the
latter part Of the papers, just before the
signature, they read as follows: He, the
said A. b., was accordingly admitted then
and there BY the said court to become
citizen, &c. This part especially, was
pointed out by me to the inspector, but he
still refused to accept the mans vote,
though Is legally qualified as the inspector
himself, il mot more so, for in two or three
instances the men were property-owners to
considerable extent, and had been for
years The papers also had been produced
at previous elections and had never been
questioned. But it was plainly evident that
pile up an immense Republican majority.
protested AT such high-handed business
ON the part Of the inspector, but kept the
papers and when opportunity offered, sent
them to Judge Wales, thinking Of course
III the face Of his decision, the inspector
would not dare reftsc the votes. When
the papers came hack he was told that
Judge Wales said he would be liable to in
dichnent if lie did not accept the votes.
But in spite Of this fact, and in defiance of
the Judge, he brazenly had the audacity to
refuse every Italians vote. In that dis
trict there are many who did not attempt
to cast their ballot, knowing they would
be refused. Those who had attempted to
vote in the morning came back and offered
to vote after they were told what Judge |
Wales had said but still were not allowed |
to enjoy their sacred right of suffrage,
which is extended to every American citi- |
zen qualified as they We're, but were
pushed aside IN order to make room for
negro repeaters with receipts which they
dared not show openly and above board.
More than this, the negroes were kept |
silent ns 10 their rnnl nanlns the rn1nn on |