The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1892-08-02
THE BALL0T BURNERS.
William Warmers Usurpation
of Office.
Judge Sheffield Gives tho Facts
Connected with the Outrage
Perpetrated in 1868 -
Why the Ballots
We're Burned.

The democratic ballots which showed
the defeat Of r. L. Van Horn for con-
gress and of VIM. Warner for circuit
attorney in 1868 were burned at the
same burning by "Couul" Rodmsn,
secretary of state, who thereupon is
sued certificates giving tine office of
Congressman to Van Horn and of cir.
cult attorney to Warner. Vsn Horn
is now editor of the Kansas City Jour-
nal, and recently undertook to deny
that Rodman burned the democratic
ballots which constituted a majority
against the republican ticket. but
Judge Wa. E. Shelf Id of Spring
field, who was 'burned out" If the
circuit attorneyship BY Rodm N, gives
the following historical account OF
what he properly designates zone of
the greatest outrages upon free gov
eminent The world has ever wit
messed"
The writer of the above named edi-
torial says: IF there is anybody that
knows about these matters referred to
we do" Exactly so; no one &c.
guainted with the history of The dis
tranchiserent of democrats and the
high-handed operations of the
Fletcher-Rldman regime will ques ion
it 'or moment. E. L. Van Horn, the
. editor then as now of the Kansas City
Journal, was one of The chief bene-
fciaries of those infamous proceedings,
and If there was any sense of decency
about HIM a blush of shame would
mantle his cheek when he recalls his
part in those outrageous Proceedings.
Bill Warner was simply an Incl entai
beneficiary. Van Horn IN 1868 was
the radical candidate for congress
the late General James H. Shields
was the democratic candidate. To
elect Van Horn it was necessary to
keep up the systematic disfrauchise-
ment of democrats which had been
carried on previous TO the radical rule
of Missouri. An honest republican,
who had been before and now is a
democrat, Captain Tom Phelan, had
been appointed registering officer in
Jackson county. Van Horn ard his
cO-workers at once commenced Oper.
alton on Captain Phelan to induce
him to continue the disfrauchisement
of democrats.
ATTEMPT TO BRIDE.
They offered the supervisor of reg
istration $1,000 if he would disfran-
chise enough democrats to keep Jack
son county sill reliably republican
Captain PhelaD, like an honest man,
spurned the offer and performed his
duty faithfully by making an honest
registration, which gave the demo-
crats about 1000 majority in the
county. An honest registration was
also made in Platte county, which was
then in the Sixth congressional dis
trict with Jackson. The result after
the election was a majority of several
thousand for General Shields. The
disfranchisement scheme by the regis
teriDg officer having failed. it becime
necessary, in order to send Van Horn
20 congress, to take other measures.
So when the returns from Platte and
jackson counties we're received at the
office of secretary Of state, Mr.. Rod
man, as the most effective means of
wiping out General Shields majority
and putting the returns out Of the
reach of legal process. burned them.
and upon the strength of the meagre
majority from the rest of the district
issued certificate of election to Van
Horn, and he. by virtue of such pro-
ceediDgs, represented the Sixth dis
trict in the FOrty-6rst congress, in.
stead OF General Shields, who had
been legally elected by several thous.
and majority; so who will question
but that the editor of the Journal
"knOws about these matters ?" i
But Colonel Van Horn is very
much mistaken when he says "the
returns ofJackson county were not
burned" He says of Francis Rod
man that a more honest, honorable
man, q more conscientious official
never held the Office of Secretary of
State of Missouri" That beiog so,
why does Colonel Van Horn deny the 6
statement of Rodman, made under
oath, when he testified in the case of
State of Missouri ex rel. VIM. Wood c
vs.. Z. T. Townsley on quo warranto II
proceedings to GUST Townsley from
office held under this same Fletcher.
Rodman operation, that the returns "
we're burned and never canvassed. IIls
nave a copy of his testimony now, Il
md it was given, after Rodman had n
eft the State, by dispositions taken at
chicago, III. Colonel Van Horn is
qually at fault when he says that the n,
eturns by which he, Townsley and a,
Xarner were declared elected iii II