Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-01-29
FIGURES DON'T LIE.
ACLgAR MAJORlIY OF IwBNTY-THRBSP P0R
JACKSON.
The Smith-Jackson Contest Case Simple Question
Of Mathematics Republicans EI-
pose Their Own Du-
plicty.


JOrltJ anu mlEOIitJ itpoitc va thO iioeSe
Elections Committee 10 the Saith Jackson
contest, from the Fourth West Virginia
district, do not differ in msny Of the ma
terial features. TIE minority report,
written by Judge Crisp and signed by all
the Democrats, is model OF fairness and
Justice. All techDicalities are waived.
The majority report, which id a
LONG AND LABoRED EFFORT
to make out q plurality for Smith, is in
marked contrast 10 the other.
The Republicans stood out with the as
sertion that jackson originslly conceded
the election OF Smith Oh the face Of the re-
turns, and abuse Governor Wilson for is
suing the certificate TO Jackson.
They insist that Smith had 0 clear plu-
rality of twelve votes when the returns
were figured up, aud that this was over.
come by pettifoggsry, subserfoge, etc. OF
course thoy make the tive" feature prom
inent, and pronounce the reasoning Of Gov
arnor Wilson in that matter IA fsTcicsl.
Tney maintain tha. county court has su-
thority to receive and correct returns, and
that the second return from Richie and
Calhoun counties should have been re
ceived by Governor Wilson. Ia treating
Judge Jackson's objection to the counting
OF votes from certain named polling places
on the ground of irregularities, ihsy assert
that in no case was
ANY INJUSTICE DONE,
and while admitting that in some respects
the provisions Of toe law were not literally
complied With, they declare that 10 voter
was prevented from casting HE ballot as
he chose, and that hence there wss no valid
reason for r.. jec ing the vjte'.
They dismiss the objection TO the count
ing o. the returas from Walton precinct,
R1sne county, with the assertion that no
wrong doing was shown. They admit
that tte ballot box was for time in the
posses iioa of J O. Gatvin and Chris Sum-
mere, both Republicans, bat deny that
any testimony was offered tending to show
that they tampsrsd with the votes.
Il is in disposirg of the coutroyertei
votes, those alleged to have been illegally
cast, that tbs Republican members OF the
committee expose the cloven foot and their
own duplicity. They quote the Law OF
West Virginia prescribing qualifications
for voters and law down their own theory
IN exteEs1 as TO how the qualifications OF
those contested shoald De determined.
They argue thai 20 declaration or as
sertion of the voter after his ballot has
been deposited should be received or con-
sideied. These Pegs of the report are
INTENTIONALLY MISLEADING,
az they imply that the committse entered
upon a close and rigid investigation as to
the contr0verted votes, when a. matter
of fact, AZ ths REGIsTRR hls ehoUn, they
refused to engage in s0y euch inquiry,
after having agreed to II. That was what
the d .mocfats wanted. Tnsy said o the
Republicans in substance If This Com
III es will take up these coOteOveited
votes and give us tie opportunity We will
proga that Jackson has cl' a. majority of
the legal ballots c.st. We will rest our
case upon that issue, and will make the
proof so plain thai no fair minded man can
question the result"
This proposal was 20 fair and 1st or it's
face that the Republicans did not see how
they could decline it They ssseuted, bat
that nigh. the paitisans Of Smith, who
realizsd that his case would be inevitably
los. upon the submission OF evidence as t
the illegal bsllots, hurried
TO SPEAKER REED
and Senator Qasy. Toe party pressure was
put upon the Republicans of the Commit
tee sod next day they rescinded their &C.
tion of the day previous and refused to
Inquire into the legality Of the questioned
ballots.
Yet in the very face Of their action they
have the efl'tontry to pressnts report which
indicates tha, they did make this inquiry
They even lay down the rules by which
they pretend TO have conducted the Inquiry
which they refusei.
Taking up this branch Of the ctse ard
ado pLing the figures o. Smith aud his cOuu
sci, the Republicans say, applying the
foregoing rules we now propose to consider
the separate votes without attempting to
discuss each vote at any length" BY this
and other Language equally as strong to the
same purport, they
MAKE 1T APPEAR
shat they did inquire into the questioned
votes. Could auy stronger evidence OF
reckless par tis,nship and disregard Of
political fairness "a well as of truth and
decepcy be cffereo?
They thea present lists Of names and
mike it appear that Jackson conceded ths,
twenty illegal votes we're cast and counted
for bin. They pres NJ s,other list Of
tyenty-seyen rames Of voters and ssTt
that these men cast illegal ballots for
Jackson, making in slI forty -seysD. Tney
then devote several piges to consideration
Of these voas individually, still keeping
up the impression that the COMMITTEES hsd
Ishoiei diligently aud fairly with this
branch OF the case and still maintaining
the
HYPOCRrrICAL PRErESsE
Of fairness say that the vote OF Henry
Gearing should be counted; that though
clearly Illegal, il is not shown for whom 1t
Was cast, aud in spirit Of great generosity
hey will allow it to Jackson.
Then they make net deduction Of for
ty.tix votes and combining that with
Smiths alleged plurality Of twelve they
.ount plurality of fidy-eight for bin.
They then set forth list OF six names OF
,oters whom Smith cOace1es cast their
,sllots for him Illegally. Tcey supple
nent that with eighteen nsnes whom the
committee alleges 10 have discovered voted |
illegally for Smith, making q total OF
eighteen.
There are others, ssy this
yIRTUoUs REPUBLICAN MAJORITY,
sho were clearly no: entitled to vote; but /
a 10 some of them, az WAS the case with |
,otes charged TO have baen cast for con-
stee and not considered by the commit
Ae. and il does not appear that tnty /
Toled: ss 10 others il neither appears for
whom they voted, nor with what party
hey affiliated, unless it be by wha. they
tsted after the election, md IF er the
esslity Of their votes had been called IN
question. They then deduct from Smiths
ote the ballot Of NJ. E Polsue, making
otsl of nineteen, which taken from hfty-
ieht, leaves Smith an alleged net plu-
allty Of ,hirty-nipe, and upon there hg'
Ires the Republicans report resolu'ion
o unseat jackson and seat Smith.
The minority report is brief, concise,
lear and conclusive 10 many Of the
zeal feat tures i, sgre,s with the m-j 1ri'y.
sets out the laws in West Virginia in at
ordsnce with tbs m-jjriiy, 81 d considers
hat the second or corrected returns ifom
,itchie and Calhoan counties were correct,
houph main tanning that Gov. Wilson wac
STRICTLY AND LEGALLY
orrect in his action. The minority, not