Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1890-11-28
LETTERS From LIE PEOPLE.

Ever since the polls closed on the even
ing Of November 4tb, it has been my
purpose to publicly expose some Of the
actions that took place that day, and
now thst the inspector has seen At and
proper to publish an account OF some of
tie day's proceedings, kindly ALLOW ne
spacein your paper to set matters straight
and show to what extent the inspector
Oh that day ran thngs" TO snit himself.
Like Mr.. Cotton, too have had the
unpleasant duty Of holding elections
before. aud was pleased also to learn who
were 10 be nv associates, but Was not 80
pleased after the polls had been opened
ten minutes. for | soon saw that my
rights were not to be respected. nor was
TO DO allowed TO do more than merely
protest at any irregularities that might
oecar during the day
AZ my request. was granted the
privilege OF examining the tax receipts
until Elwood Clarkson. colorei. came to
vote. The miaute | saw his was satisii I'd
1t was forgery and told the other
officers, then put the receipt Ia my pocket,
| telling Clarkson IL would be returned 60
him II IL turned out to be genuine. Mr..
Cotton wanted - know how / could tell
il was forgery. | did not say, THAT is
nay business and none Of yours. but re-
piled, II will keep the receipt and 1T the
proper time and place prove TO yen that
IL is not genuine, which has been done
% The preliminary hearing OF Elwood
Clarkscn 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 70.
| eelpte, which threat was faithfully
carried out. All DAY long asked to look
- receipts, aud occasionally a Repubi.
can Judge would hold them up, halt
covered by bis hands, and the length OF
the table between me and the receipt. so
that IL was very difficult to read the
name on 1t, mucE less scrutinize any
irregularity. SO much for the courtesy
my genial % associate speaks Of
AS Clarkson's ballot was taken and all
similar ones, though pronounced forger-
les they lost no votes aud would have
lost none by allowing me to examine the
receipts the fact that was not permit.
ted to handle them, being to my mind a
workable admission that they knew they
we're forged as well as /, for had they
been genuine, what had they 10 feari
| Clarkson, together with some eighty
more, voted that day on receipts that
would not entitle them to vote, not hav
ing been assessed for the past two years
The inspector took votes from colored
men. who, when questioned, could not
give their residence although stating that
they had lived In abe same house for
years.
Peter H Bell was voted. though the
Jealous Republican was told the man
lived 81 Front and Adams streets, and
despite my challenge and protest, the
ballot was deposited in the box and nc
questions were asked Bell by the iaspeca
tor, as to his residence even, though be
voted on Longfellow poll tax receipt Of
Kent county, and has been living In this
city for over three years.
To all those facts as laid bare at this
time, the Inspector was as blind as a bat
without any self respect, without ahame
The ballot was deposited and the man
departed laughing 1T his own infamy ant
encouraged by the ieers aud railery OF
his colored supporters, who throughout
the day made insulting remarks tha
would make the blood boil In a man q
stone pink tax receipt is not eoutva-
lent TO red flag In the face OF q mad
dened bull II genuine, but when IL Is
forgery and Haunted uader your nos,
with insulting epithets and curses, II 4
al most too much for human endurance.
Such actions encouraged aud smile,
upon by the offensive partisan. fol
that "zsalous Republican" inspector
must be termed such, are infamous 10
degree, aud riot and blaodshed could onl,
appease the injured rights which I. Al
American eiti2nn, was subjected 20, bu
which fortunately was averted by better
judgment.
For trying 60 do my duty, wa,
threatened TO be dragged from the win.
dow by the lswless mob which congre.
gated outside and made it at times re
puleiye for any man OF huer sensibilitiei
to even think Of attempting TO elbow
through, in order to exercise his right OF
suffrage.
Now one word as TO the naturalization
papers which we're presented and OBJ
jected TO; When the first Italian cam,
to vote and before he had an oppurtunit,
TO show his credentials aud qualify. b,
was Immediately challenged by Mr
Mitchell. commonly known as Gap. "anS
/ on that day he certainly was Gap" {,
the horde of negro adherants. whi
obeyed the wave OF his hand as il he ha,
been god. BE challenged the man OF
the ground that his papers were not fina
! papers, even before they had been takel
from his 1.-THE Italian's) pocket.
The papers we're produced at once an,
read over by me and their legalt,
: pointed out 60 the inspectors aleo tn
, fact they were under the seal OF th
Court and signed By 5 r Smith, clerk
! or his deputy. Any child Of ten year
who conld read, could not question thei
1 legality. for at the latter part OF til
| papers Just before the signature. the
! read az follows: He, The said A. b. wa
: accordingly admitted then and there b
!, the said Court to become a citizen, etc
This part especially, was pointed ont b
= me 30 the Inspector, bus he still refuse
I TO accept the mans vote though q
legally qualified as the inspector himself
!, II not more SO; for In two or three In
I stances, the men were property owner
TO a considerable extent, and had bee
a for years; the papers also had been pro
dueed at previous elections and had uevs
been questioned. but IL was plainly ev
a dent that desperate means were 20 /
n employed 70 pile up an immense Repubi
n can majority. protested at such hie
- handed business on the part Of the II
I tpector. but kept the papers and whe
: opportunity offered, eens them TO judo
4 Wales. thinking, OF course, in the IA,
"A OF his decision, the inspector would n,
~ dare refuse the votes. When the papsl
"a came back, he was told Judge Wales sai
n he would be liable 70 indictmei
~ il he did not accept the vote
y Bnt in spite Of this IA,
10 and in defiance Of the judge, he bFszen