The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-11-22
IT'S ALL COMING OUT.
The stupendous Ballot BOX swindIes in
Alabama

The StupeuQOus EbnllOt BOX GW1nCles In
Alabama
New YORK, Nov. 22.-M W Howard.
the Populist congressman from Alabama,
who Is also the author Of If Christ
Came to Congress-" spoke here TO large
audience last night Those who went,
says the World. expecting to see and
hear a wild-eyed orator. with heavinq
breast aud foam-hecked nostrils, were
most agreeably disappointed in the mild,
frank even sweet. appearance Of NJ. MT.
Howard, the POpulisl congressman from
Alabama, just elected by 1000 majority,
and soon to take his seat as the youngest
member of the house.
He told. in the most sarcastic way,
how the Democratic party had alieua-
ted the affections of the plain white
people Of the south. They promised
US cotton at ten cents and wheat
at 81. A year and a half after
they got IN cotton was five cents and
wheat fifty cents. But how they did
plead with US just before the last cleo
ti0nl How they talked about the sunny
south and the old ragged confederate
soldier coming home aTmless from the
war, and the old, old Democratic partyl
But man doesn't vote for sentiment
when his children are barefooted and
his pockets empty. And the result is
that the solid south is broken, thank
God, and the south sends only ninety
Democratic congressman, and at least
tests. The Populists will have at least
twenty congressman, and I don't doubt
that il will be nearer forty
3Ir. Howard suspended his speech
while they took up a collection. Then
he went on to tell in a very amusing
way about the Populists of Alabama.
"W a carried the last two elections, but
the Democrats have counted US out"
'sWhy don't you kill 'em?" inquired
hoarse voice IN the rear of the room
Because they're not prepared to die"
replied the quick witted speaker. Then
he went on: There are sixty-six cOun-
ties IN Alabama. and sixteen Of them are
known the Black Belt because there
are $4,000 voters in 1t and nearly $4,000
Of them are negroes. We carried nearly
counties there are honest elections. AS
we had learned their tricks in the previ-
Gus election, we planned to keep them
from cheating in the black counties We
urged the negroes in those counties not
to register. As a result, only 5000 votes
had them, because we thought
they would not dare roll up the
count if the registration books gave
them the lie But it's mighty hard to
beat an Alabama Democrat. In the six
teen black counties the Democrats had
absolute charge of the election ma
chinery, and they rolled up $500 negro
majority for their candidates in the Black
Belt
In Wilcox county the registration
was less than 500, yet Wilcox gave the
Democratic candidate for governor 5000
majority. In one precinct, where we
have the affidavits of i've white men
that the polling place was not even
open, they gave 81 votes for the Demo
crat and one for US. How generous
they were to US! In Dallas county we
managed to get the registration list
after election and found that Z, 300 voters
were registered. yet Dallas gave the
Democrats 5000 majority. You may won
der why we don't contest. The answer
is simple. There is no contest law in
Alabama