Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-11-20
cEoRclAs TENTH DISTRICT.
Congressman Elect Black to Tom "s'so"
Touching Alleged FraudA

Touching Alleged Frauda
AUGUSTA, GA. November lv.-Ine
Chronicle will publish tomorrow the reply
Of Congressman J. c. Black to Mr.. Tom
watson's proposition to appoint COM
mission TO purge the recent congressman
election in the Tenth District OF Illegal
votes and abide by the eliminated count.
Congressman Black. after conference
with his political friends and advisers
saws: in that conference. the decision
was reached promptly and unanimously
that Mr. Watson's proposition was whoiiy
impracticable."
After giyin, the reason for this, ne says:
But ! am in hearty accord WIN at.
Watson In his motive for making the
propositlon for the purpose OF put'inB
an end TO the terrible state or affairs In
the Tenth District I am in no way or
degree responsible for this terrible state
Of affairs for / have preached no gospel
of bitterness. 1 have appealed to no pre-
judice. / have not sought to array the
country against the town. ! have not
persuaded one class that they are the
victims of another, and lashed them into
frenzy at the thought.
ut is my belief that II all Illegal votes
were eliminated, would be found 10 be
elected by the legal voters. In nearly all
parts of the district there were excessive
or otherwise illegal voting and practices
Well informed persons assert that the
vote in several OF the counties that
went for Mr. Watson was proportionateiy
more excessive than in Richmond. More-
over. the excessive Populist vote In Rich
mond itself contributed to the general
excessiveness of Richmond's vote"
In conclusion Congressman Black says:
1.-TWO methods remain by which to settle
the matter One is decision by Re
publican House. the other new election.
Does Mr. Watson prefer that forum Tor
the trial of the case TO that Of the people
OF the Tenth District, especially when 1t
is probable that his fullest measure of sue
cess. If any, would be. after all, an order
for n new election.
"If he prefers that forum. of course. he
can have II, for have. in order TO bring
about that result. odly to remain In the
position where the law places me. This,
of course. shall and must do, unless Mr..
Watson accedes 10 the proposition which,
In the spirit OF harmony and desire to
restore peace and gocS feeling In the
district, I hereby make. ana which Is
unanimously approved by the conference
referred TO. l will take my commission
as member of the Fifty-fourth Congress,
but / will resign II. the resignation TO
take effect March 4, 1896. whenever Mr..
Watson will agree. within the time
allowed by law for notice Of contest, to
refer the matter back 10 the people to
determine by a new election who shall
represent them In the Fifty-fourth Con-
gress. / name that date-to-wit, March
| 4. 1895, for three reasons:
First My term would not commence
| till then.
Second. II Is desirable TO postpone a
| new election as long as possible to let
| feeling subside, and in view of a NUM-
cpal election in Augusta IN Decembes
and OF county elections all over the dis
trict in January.
Third. 1t Is probable that by that date
| a new and more satisfactory eection-law
than the present may be enacted"