Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-10-21
WHEELING DAILY REGISTER SATURDAY. OCTOBER 81 1893

appoint marshals. they must be governed
by the laws Of West Virginia, and nave no
right to violate the law any more than mas
a private citizen This committee wiz
prosecute any violations OF the elscuon
law committed by any one.
keep cool and secure proper evldenES
of any violation of law aud have arrested
anyone voting illegally. No power on eartn
can prevent the 5herhs, constaoIeS ana
election officers OF the State from doing
their duty This is Republic, and west
Virginia is a sovereign State.
"W. E. Chiffon, Chairman"
From the above it will be see1 TO what
straits the Republican machine in west
Virrinia is pushed in their vain attempt 70
capture the State The State committee
now nave in az headquarters reports from
every county. They show the Democratic
organization 70 be in better shape toan they
ever were al this stage OF the campaign,
and feel absolutely sure that West Nlr-
GINA will elect four Congressman, VIII
cast her electoral vote for Cleveland ana
Stevenson, and will elect the entire State
ticket.
Mr.>AIderson-These letters and am
davits. Mr.. Speaker, clearly show that
the United States Marshal and the Dis
trict Attorney of West Virginia LETT
their homes aud went to McDoweil
country, in the third district OF that
State, which is my district, and were
present on election day, and by thelr
presence and advice and through their
agents encouraged illegal negro voters
to vote the Republican ticket. Not only
that, sir
Mr.. Hainer, OF Nsbraska-Will the
gentleman allow q question?
Mr.. Alderson-My time is very limit
ed. and | would prefer to get through
as soon as practicable.
Mr.. Hainer, Of Nebraska-l ask
unanimous consent that the gentleman
be allowed to extend mis- remarks indeh-
nitely.
MIR. Alderson-I do not want to talk
indef Ditely. What is your question?
Mr. Hainer, OF Nebraska ask this,
If the genteman's statement Is correct,
WHY there has been no prosecution OF
these officers? Did you complain OF
them?
Mr.. Alderson-Mr. Speaker, the an
swer Is found In the existence OF the In
iouitous statutes under which these
officers pretended TO be acting, and
which we propose TO repeal by the pas
sage of the bill now under consideIa-
ton.
state the substance OF these papers
in order that the house may under
stand
Mr.. Hainer, OF Nebraska, The gen
tleman has not answered my question.
The law provides for the punishment OF
q fvr,iT 10 I'm nj
fraud prevents a legal voter from depos-
itng his ballot
Mr. Alderson-Yes: and it was never
enforced, believe. against Republican
officials. That has been the history and
experience OF the country.
Mr.. Hainer, Of Nebraska-lt the facts
are as the gentleman claims, ana as
shown here in this supposed affidavit,
he has q complete remedy In the courts.
l think the facts do not bear him out.
Mr.. Alderson-Mr. Speaker these
ailidavits are not supposed allidaylts,
but are real aftidayits, stating actual
facts which have never been controyer-
ted, so far as l know.
Mr.. Hainer-oi Nebraska. Why did
you not prosecute, then?
Mr.. AlderSon-I have answered that
question. They would hardly prosecute
themselves. II prosecutions were on
| foot. Mr.. Speaker, If prosecutions had
been commenced and ended, and pan
iShment inflicted, l take II that that
would be 70 reason why members OF
this House might not state the facts, In
order to show 10 this House aud the
country that these Wholesale charges OF
fraud and rascality and yillainy, as ap-
piled to whole section and whole
people, are without foundation at least
| so far as the Democracy of West Vlr-
GINA Is concerned. The county OF Nc
Dowell, IN the district which l repre-
sent, in 1890 cast ,O99 votes. 1t was
demonstrated by an actual list OF Illegal
voters In that county that there were
within 1t borders 1916 Illegal voters,
the most Of whom, the large majority
of whom, were negroes They had
come across the border from Virginia
and were not entitled TO vote under the
laws Of West Virginia.
Claim was made, broadcast and with
emphasis, by republicans IN my own
State, and through the Republican
press of the country, that West Virg MIA
would be carried by the Republicans.
Ald when the facts had been developed,
when il was seen after the election,
that the means were at hand which the
Republicans had expected 70 use TO de-
bauch the ballot and to carry West Vir-
glnia for the Republicans, 10 was then
understood by the world why it was that
they were so yehementiy claiming that
they wouldtake West Virginia out OF the
Democratic column and enroll IL among
the Republican States.
Mr.. Hainer, of Nsbraska-If the
gentleman will permit ne
Mr.. Alderson-I beg the genteman's
pardon, but my time Is very limited,
and there is az least one other gentle
man who is expected TO follow me this
evening.
Mr.. Hainer, OF Nebraska wish
simply TO remark that II the gentle
mans statement is true, then there was
great necessity for these laws. The
gentleman has given an illustration OF
the very great necessity for these laws.
Mr.. AldersOn-I have given the facts
| i'm a case 10 which Federal officials pros
/ tituted their offices, If these statements
/ be true, in the interest Of the RepublI-
can party. The State authorities were
entirely competent, il permitted TO do
So TO prevent Illegal voting.
Mr.. Hainer. of Nebraska-That IS
made a crime under these laws, and the
law should be enforced against RepIb-
/ licans as we'll as Democrats, OF course.
Mr.. Alderson-It should have been
done. but has not been done. take II
/ that If the gentleman had lived 10 the
| South and had been born and reared
there, as l was, be would have less pre-
| irdfca than he noyy has lie Wonld IN