Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1890-12-04
lCoMMuN1cArEp.

Messrs. Editors ;--In your issue Of Nov.
10th appears communication signed by
George Thomas. In which he cbarac-
terizes the election held Ia the Eighth Dis
trict IS 2 farcical exhibition. and declares
1t Is serious question whether Or not the
vote cast in said district should becounted,
so open and fragrant was the violation o.
the election law. Further, be desires %
call attention 70 the matter 10 as public
way as possible that the blame may rest
where II properly belongs, and that auch
pervcrsion ofihe law may not occur 10 our
midst again.
We feel. Messrs. Editors, thai itisa duty
we owe, not only to ourselves, but 70 the
true and honest democrats that recon-
mended us for the positions Of Judges Of
Election and the honorable Board Of Su-
pervisoEs that appointed Us TO deny the
base assertion, because were we 70 remain
silent II would be tacit admission that we
we're guilty Of the charges and not worthy
Of the confidence reposed in US as men Of
honor and integrity.
Instead Of cringing beneath the scowl Of
the naughty and imperious Capt Geo.
Thomas, Of Mattapany, etc, and by 30
many other titles respectable, We charge
that In the first paragraph Of his commu-
nication, he has made statements, or rather
preferred charges OF a wholesale character,
without indirection, against Judges Of
Election Of this district who primarily are
responsible for the proper conduct Of cleo
tons, which charges, II true, should blaa
them in the estimation Of all honest and
law abiding citizens without distinction Of
party every where. With but one solitary
exception that we know Of in this county
has more serious charges been lodged
against one election board, and In no I'M
stance as unequIyocally and boldly as This
Geo. Thomas accuses us.
In the name Of Justice and right we ask
the good people Of s. Mary's county 70
suspend judgment until inquiry shall have
been made Of every fair-minded voter 10
this district whether the election held al
Centreville on Nov 4sh was conducted 10
such manner as to secure fair expression
OF the popular win; OF was there snch open
and fragrant violation Of the election Law
as 10 render It q farce.
We assert most emphalically, Measrs.
Editors, that while there might not have
been better democrats in the election board
than our self constituted Censor. they were
equally solicltous for the success Of their
candidate as himself, but As sworn officials
bound by the sancsity Of an oath they were
compelled to do their duty 70 the best Of
their ability, and II by intuition they have
discovered what is al the bottom Of the
gentleman's grief we would suggest that
he put little more hard work In (the) "a.
ture campaigns by joining with the toiling
workers that endure the heat Of the day
and the chilling atmosphere Of night for
the success Of their party ticket, or at least
an increased democratic vote Ia bis own
district, than by remaining At home snug
ly ensconced in bed; all this In advance
Of an election which we think would be
more legitimate.
Bv the time he concludes bis general
charge he begins to pour his wrath IN.
sparingly upon the heads Of the balloi
clerks, who, acting Of course as he has 4
from q construction Of the law by chs
judges, were allowed 10 so apply the Law
as practically to expose nearly the eniir'
vote, not only 70 these two partlsans, "a b
calls them, but worst Of all intimates tina
they were the medium Of communication
between the briber and the bribed, II such
there was, for certainly none Others coulC
have had particular interest In knowing
how people vctcd--thus indirectly Sian
dering two as honest men, we believe, a
acted in that capacity anywhere in TIL
State.
We will discuss Mr.. Thomas no longer
but will conclude by inviting him 70 dis
ouss us as much as he pIeases, and ifw
are culpable as he by his snap judgmen
tries 70 makes US, then LET howl ofindig
nation so up against Us similar 10 tina
which went up from the Court Hons
some where about the year 1879, and 9
which he was the central point Of attack
Respectfully.
BENJAMIN ]. EHRRMANTINR,
+ q m