Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-01-10
- nnrRAaRous PRoCREpINa.

/ rlgntsi JuSblCos 70" ou1 VIZ
will OF the voters, has always charac-
terlzed the action OF Republican return
ing boards.
The example of the Electoral Com
mission has been zealously followed ever
since by lesser bodies when
ever the Republicans have had major
ity. In their eyes anything is proper
that will enable them to attain partisan
ends. The majority of the present
Board Of Commissioners, claiming to
act as a board Of canvassers, last night,
in the recount proceedings relating to
the members Of the House Of Delegates,
followed the presidents of its party's
action in such cases.
The Republican members Of such
board, six in number, four Of whom
never saw a single return Of the cleo
ton, or counted ballot, except some
eighteen, which had not been properly
transmitted to the clerk of the board,
arbitrarily and untruthfully declared
the result Of the last election for dele
gates to the Legislature, and ordered
certificates to be issued to the candi-
dates for that Office, which are false in
solar as the Democrats and Republicans
are concerned.
This board never considered or count
ed twenty-three ballots or tickets now
in their possession and under their con-
troll, which were duly returned among
the ballots sealed up and properly re-
turned by the precinct election Of
icers aud which were duly
cast at the election last November.
These ballots were laid aside by the
former board, owing to questions hav-
ing arisen in relation to them which
were involved in mandamus proceedings
now pending and undetermined, and
not counted as yet, it being the intsn-
tion TO count them when the mo Idamus
proceedings were concluded OF these
twenty 'three ballots ffteeE were cast for
NJ. J. O'KANE, seven Tor 5. G. SMITH
and one was not voted for any legisa-
tive ticket. Nj. O'KANE received eight
more votes by these ballots than Mr..
SMITH Utterly ignoring these valid
votes, duly cast at the election and in
che Boards possession, the Republicans
on this Board DISTINGUISHED the
men who cast such ballots and
ordered certificates to issue falsely de-
claring that NJ. J. O'KANE has only re-
ceived 5,172 and 5. G. SMITH 5,175,
showing Mr.. SMITH had three more
votes than Mr.. O'KANE, when in truth
and fact Mr.. O'KANE received 5,1S7 and
Mr.. SMITH only 5,1S2 votes, even if
eighteen votes which they improperly
counted are considered as the Board
assigned them. In any We've of the case
Mr.. O'KANE had plurality.
OF five votes over Mr.. SMITH and was
clearly entitled to a certificate to that
effect.
The Democratic members absolutely
refused to sign the false certificates and
were refused the poor boon of a correct
record of the fact that ballots in the
possession Of the Board had not been
counted. Certificates were signed by
the Republicans alone, declaring that
the signers had carefully and impair
TALLY examined the returns" when at
least four Of the six Republican signers
never examined single return Of the
election.
The Constitution Of our State makes
the House Of Delegates the Judge Of
tie election and qualification of its
members. We feel confident that that
august body will summarily rebnke this
hlgh-handed outrage and attempted
gross abuse Of its privileges.
The House will not tamely submit to
this action Of reckless band of parti-
san politicians, and will not consider
such certificates for a single moment.
PoLIrIcs, roasted, baked, fried, fric-
asseed, boiled, broiled and raw, with or
without, will be found in our Charles
ton dispatches.
WHICHEVER side wins West Virginia
is certain to be ably represented in the
United States Senate, which is very
cOnsolipR.