The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-04-12
THE CONTESTED ELECTION
ucARfyG DEaANDs ron 4 RECOUNT.
Co,oneI NJ. l.. spotswood and Mr.. H. NJ
smith, Jr.. Before tho City Csntrh
Communicable Action Yet Taken.


At $50 o'clock last evening DR.. Jud DE-
Wood. chairman Of the city central Demo-
CRITIC committee, called that committee 10 or
der in the city circuit courtroom. and heariy
avery member answered 10 the roll call. Inc
chairman announced the purpose OF the meet
ING by handing 10 the secretary Colonel Spots
woods letter asking a recount of the paiio''
in the late piimary-the letter already pup
lished in these columns.
On motion of Mr. J. f. Flournoy numoer
of citizens waiting on the sidewalk were H.
vited to be present while the opposing can
didates. Colonel Spotswood and Mr. SMITH
ed dressed the committee. The avalianie
space was soon filled, and the comm. .,o
occupied the position usually helu ny 'no
iurv of the court. A discussion on the ques-
ION as TO the time TO be allowed the speakers
terminated IN the adoption OF q motion tnn'
the candidates be heard without any llnii'a-
ton.
COLONEL sPoTswooD.
Colonel Spbtswood said he was glad ms APP
pljcation had been received Sd fayoraoly' no
had tried To follow the plan OF the conihitle9
as near az he could, and was ready t. ainehu
his charges If not satisfactory. lie sa'' ono
man in the First precinct OF Marshall Waru hhu
told him that he secured ten fraudulent votes
against him. He said his charges he knew were
broad but that If the committee would
name the kind of fraud they wanted MN 10
prove that he would undertake to specify the
character Of the fraud. and stood prepared 70
prove whatever lie charged. lie said he
had spent tho day IN looking up
the voters in the Third Jefferson precinct
He saw GG voters. OF these 30 voted tor ms
opponent and he found that % had voted TOT
Captain Epps. when the returns showed only
nine votes had been counted for him. lie
could show that Ut the tirst Marshall pre-
clnct ten votes had been given against INN on
fraudulent transfers. lie could shO" thaI
enough fraud had been committed 20 throw
out entirely the Third Jefferson, the Oid
Market precinct and q number or others;
that the Irregularities were otherwise nu,
merous. some growing out of ignorance and
some through mistakes. His speech lasted
about ten minutes.
Mr.. Smith Immediately followed Colonel
Spotswood and said.
Mr.. SMITH.
come before you in ignorance Of the
charges made by my late opponent. ] have
made no charge of frauds. know Of no frauds
and have tried to ferret out none. Had !
been defeated that would have been my
course. as was a candidate under the plan OF
the Democratic committee was surprised.
mortified and grieyed when | saw the first
announcement of my opponent. DO not be-
leye any frauds were committed. | was sur
prised that my majority was not larger.
charge that the fight was a fair one and
| would not hold the Office unless ] was
honestly elected to IT, and do not believe 1t
was necessary for my friends 10 resort TO
fraud 10 secure my election. ] do not think
the methods adopted by my opponent are
within the plan OF the primary, and DO not
think q house-tO-hOuse canvass T. within inc
spirit of the plan, and / am sure that the
evidence introduced as 10 these votes
would not be received by any court
of law under the sun. | am surprised that
the gentleman made these whOle-a ale charges
of fraud rs early rs Saturday. and starts ont
to-day 70 get up evidence TO SUI stantiate
them surprised that he should make the
charges hrsI and then try to prove them
afterwards. know nothing Of the dead men.
but am Glad that there is so much life III the
old Democratic party as 10 arouse the dead.
and | would that those ghosts could now
pass in review and say who they voted tor
THE FOREIGNERS.
OF the foreigners 1 know nothing. but |
suuuose they were Italians. Germans ana
what-not. and did not know one candidate
from another and this being the case. II was
strange that they should have all voted for H..
". Smith, Jr., ana that DIS majority was 81
small.
MIR Smith referred 10 section y OF the pr-
mary plan recurring that all charges shall
suecify the precinct aud the irregularities or
frauds alleged. and took the ground that
Colonel SpOtswoOds charges did not hi the
requirements e..
Colonel Spotswood said in his reply that If
his opponent was in his place and'he occupied
the shoes of his opponent he Colonel Spots-
4 r..srII q committee
and demanded the rec0untinstead OF opposing
II He answered in detail Mr. Smiths critl-
CLANS and reiterated that he was prepared
70 prove his charges IN detail. lie
was asked several questions by mem
bers OF the committee and sad IN
reply that IL had come TO his knowledge
tnat No one of the precincts boy was held
mn SO as that he could look over the window.
and that he saw one of the officers OF the cleo
| tion take a handful OF tickets that had been
voted and destroy them and substitute them
with "A handful OF other tickets there belhg
only two men In the room no the time inc
others having gone out for reireshment
In another precinct number OF foreigners
had been brought TO the polls by men VINO
were betting against him. and even one
az the officers OF the election was Dettug
against him.
MA5oa sTRINGFEILoW.
Colonel Spotswood at the close OF M reply
| asked that Major JDares =. 0u4hsl0AOM NC
heard ON his side Of the question. MAJOR
Stringfelow said Am not here as "A partl-
seu but "a citizen and Democrat 20 second
! Colonel Spotswood's motion FOR recount,
| believiug il was 10 the best interests Of GOOD
Government and the good OF the Democratic
marty. He and my vile trace Their lineage
10 the same person distinguished Governor
Of Colonial times-and for that reason only /
voted for him.
1T is enough to know that the charges are
made by a reputable gentleman and that he
| nl1eces that he il able 20 prove them. lhere
is a slur on your methods and You cannot
onord 10 Withhold the investigation. Arecan-
yass Is mcaut 10 prevent fraud. recount
,neors only a mathematical count ID see II a
| simple mistake IS made.
a recanvass means that tho committee
| slell investigate the ballot and give their
! judicial decision IN the matter Don't tell
! Inc people of Richmond that your plan is so
! defective that when a reputable citizen
comes before you and alleges fraud naming
| the precincts. that YOU shall. like the adder
! stop your ears and say you cannot heed the
! charges. You mean 10 obtain fair express On
OF the voice of the people and the mere TACT that
! fine charge Is made is reason enough why
/ the Investigation should be granted. The