The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-05-18
ROANOKE, Va, May II, 1892.

ROANOKE, Va, May II, 1892.
X. E. Woodward, Esq, chairman of the
Democratic executive committee for
the city Of Roanoke.
SIR: AS you are aware, l was can
didate for City Council from the First
ward at the primary bold on the 10th
instant AT about fifteen minutes be-
lore the close Of the polls on that day
ascertained that three gentlemen had
been appointed by you to be present
with the judges of the election at the
counting OF the vote, ana as two OF 10 csc
gentlemen. or at least one of them, had
been working very actively against me
at the polls on thatday Immediately
saw MIR. Smoot, one Of the judges, AMI
asked him what would be the duties OF
the three gentlemen who had permits
sion to DO present at the counting of the
vote, and he stated that they would have
Nothing whatever to do with the count
ing or calling Of the vote, but would
only be lockers on.
stated to him NY reason for asking
the Question ard asked that ] might
have friend present if any except the
judges were to call the vote and he ex-
pressed his willingness if l got the con-
sent OF yourself as chairman of the exec
utive committee. l Immediately went
to your place OF business and you had
gone TO supper. | again called a short
while afterwards, about Il quarter to
nine o'clock, and you stated to mo that
you could not give any ono else permits
sion to be present, but assured mo that
no one except tho judges would under
any circumstances he permitted to call
or handle the votes; so with the assur-
ance from you | vent home, and on tho
following day when was informed that
| had not gotten sufficient votes to
secure the nomination, / accepted tho
result with the feeling that would do
all in my power TO cause the election of
the nominees, not oncs thinking but
what the counting would be managed as
you said it would be.
To-day was informed by one CT the
judges during O conversation with him
that this was not the case, but on the
contrary, that one of the gentleman,
and one who had been very active in
his oppoSitiOns against me, had done
large portion of the handling and call
ing of tho vote.
Now do not pretend to say that the
counting was not correctly done, but
submit that it was not done as you pos
lively assured me it should be, and
under the rules that govern the count
ing of votes at elections, and l am not
satisfied with the manner in which it
was done. | therefore ask that you
present this communication to
your committee at your first
meeting, and request that you have the
vote for councilmen from tho First
ward recounted, and that you allow
some friend OF mine to be present al the
recounting OF the same.
1t is true that one day has elapsed
more than your committee allowed in
which for the filing of protests, etc but
when repeat to you that made no in
vestigation (relying on what you as
chairman told me should be done in the
counting Of the vote), and that ! have
only Just learned that this was not the
case. do not think your committee will
take any technical advantage of the
time, for tho sake of fairness to all.
am no kicker or boltcr, but have
been n lifelong Democrat, and only ask
for fair and impartial count. Yours,
very respectfully, JAS. :. GROVES.
ROANOKE, Va. May II, 1899.
E. r. Woodward, Esq, chairman of
the Democratic executive committee,
city OF Roanoke.
Sir: AS your committee at their meet
ing last evening denied me the right to
have any one present at the recounting
OF the vote for City Council in the First
ward, desire to say that | have no fur
ther interest in the matter, and so far
az am concerned you need not take
the trouble to have a recount. am
Yours very respectfully.
JAS. 5. GROVE