The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-02-06
GUNS FOR COUNTING VOTES.
MEANING OF TIE PURCHASE OF ARMS
IN THE LOUIsXANA CAMPAIGN.


The Ant,.Lottery Men Regard Mr. Morris's
Letter as a Ruse and tho Irregular"
Faction Say They Bon't Mean to He
Counted Out-Tho Weapons Purchased
Openly md Another Set CominR-Is the
Militia Being Packed by Gov. Methodist
New ORLEANS Feb. 5.--The anti.lottery
Democratic faction expresses tho opinion that
tho letter Of Mr.. Morris withdrawing his
proposition Is u ruse to secure tho with
drnwal OF tho opposition to tho lottery.
that tho supporters OF tho lottery expect to
secure n majority of tho Legislature to be
elected in April. whom they will Mt once call a
Constitutional Convention. frame n new Con-
stitution for tho State. chartcrng a lottery
company. and declare it adopted without sub
hitting it TO tho vote Of the people. For that
reason the anti-lottery party has decided to
keep up its organization as an independent
party. to carry the question Of tho lottery to
the polls. and try to elect full anti-lottery
State ticket.
Although it Is generally recognized that AIr
Morris is in earnest in his letter declaring
that he would refuse to accept tho extension
of the charter OF the lottery company. evon If
tho people voted 1t. i. is believed that IL the
lottery amendment was carried by tho popular
vote there arc others who are willing to step
in and accept tho franchise. believing that
money could be made from it.
The evidence OF tho arrival Of arms on the
steamer FL Paso. consigned to the Chairman
of tho Democratic Executive Committee. has
tended 10 increase the excitement. rho Delta.
the organ OF tho anti-lottery party. asks:
Does it mem murder?'
Tho Chairman Of the committee. to whom
the guns wcre consigned Col. Crnntlell.
frankly admitted that they had been brought
here in expectation of political trouble ut the
election. but claims that no attempt had been
made to conceal their shipment or to disguise
why the arms had been secured. 1--WE are
providing ourselves with them" no said.
simply to protect ourselves against any
scheme. armed or otherwise. to deny us n free
ballot and fair count in the coming election.
Since tho nominating Convention Mt Baton
Rouge W" have been met on all sides with
statements from the friends and supporters OF
Mr.. Foster tho Gnti-lottery candidate for
Governor. that it was war to the knife
and knife to tho hilt. and that the
machinery in the hands Of the existing State
Administ ration was to DO used in counting in
the Foster ticket and in counting out the Nc
Emery ticket These threats have cmanntel
from various authoritative sources. and have
become SO general rs TO require measures Of
scf-dcfencc on our part
We have been con [yonted with the fact that
the Governor has been for some time disband-
ing and Gisarmins the State militia in places
whore the officers or men were supposed to be
friendly to Judge McGnery and to our sidc
Of the house. They are reorGanizing the State
National Guard with tho appointment of
officers from the Foster side. We have sought
representation ut the polls in tho city If New
Orleans. and have been given to understand
fhpt Sucb a n tai ion yvonlI ba lepipt on
the day of tho election. and we have besought
Gov. Nichols to assure us fair count. He
has replied that our remedy lay in taking care
Of ourselves. preventing tho Commissioners
from cheating us. and not to come to him. Be-
lieving. therefore. that the State militia and
the election machinery und"r tho con-
troll of tho present state Administration are
to be EMPLOYED in frustrating. If necessary.
n free expression Of the public will. We deter
mined. on the principle that an ounce Of pre-
vcntion is worth pound OF cure. to take such
means as would protect US from mn Illegal and
unwarrantcd Interference with our rights un-
der the law.
1--WE are not endnavoring to conceal any,
thing whatever. The arms have been openly
shipped. and there will be another cons-n-
mont shortly. OF which our friends may take
notice il they desire. There is no intention on
tho uart of the regular Democrats to preciritate
trouble. There is no desire to provoke the
shedding OF blood. 1t has been our aim to
secure n perfectly poaccahlo election and
abide by the result. All we have asked for and
all We mean to secure is the privilege OF every
suffraGlst to vote as he chooses in the coming
election. and tho assurance that his vote will
be counted rs 1t is east. Wa have never in
tended to lulldoze or bluff. but we are firm in
our determination not to he hulldoZch or
hlurcd. We have merely accepted in earnest
the threat made at Baton Rouge by the Foster
State House ring that the Administration will
elect the Foster ticket even il q resort 10 an
unfair ballot and ~ dishonest count are neces-
sary--a contingency wo are determined shall
not arise and which will not arise unless we
are disappointed in the manhood Of the State"
The action Of tho Democratic Committee is
based on the refusal of tho police jUrics or
County Commissioners in some of the par
ishes. all of whom are "ants." TO grant to the
regular Democrats any representation at tho
polls on election day and the belief that this
will be done throughout tho State. This will
shut the regular Democrats entirely out of the
count altogether. which. the leaders of that
party claim. is to count In the anti-lottery can
ddates even If they are defeated.
TIE BRITISH FLAG INCIDENT