The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-11-20
BLACK REPLIES TO WATSON.
He is Willing to Abide by the Result
Of a New Election.

He Suggests That It be Held on March
4 Watson Accepts the Proposition
He Declines to Agree to Watson's
Suggestion That a Commission Purge
the Recent Election of Illegal Votes
and Abide by the Result as Then
Shown.
Augusta. Ga. Nov. 1s.-The Chron-
icle will publish tomorrow the reply Of
Congressman J. c.. c. Black TO Tom
Watson's proposition TO appoint COM
r~ssion TO purge the recent congressional
election in the Tenth district or Illegal
votes and abide by the eliminated count.
Congressman Black, after a conference
with his political friends and advisers
says: In that conference the decision
was reached promptly and unanimously
that AR. Watsons proposition was
wholly impracticable." After giving the
reasons for this conclusion he says: But
I am ia hearty accord with Mr.. Watson
i'm his motive for making the proposition
for the purpose Of putting an end to the
terrible state of affairs in the Tenth
district ] am in no way or degree re-
sponsible for this terrible state of affairs
for have preached no gospel of bitter
ness. l have appealed to no prejudice.
! have not sought TO array the country
against the town. I have not persuaded
one class that they are the victims Of
an other, and dashed them into frenzy
at the thought. 1t is my belief that if all
a
found to be elected by the legal voters.
In nearly every part of the district there
was excessive or otherwise illegal voting
and practices. Well informed persons as
sert that the vote in several of the cOun>
ties that went for Mr. Watson was pro-
portiOuately more excessive than in
Richmond. Moreover the excessive pop
ulist vote i'm Richmond itself contributed
to the general eXcessiveness of Rich
monds vote.
IN conclusion Congressman Black says
two methods remain by which TO settle
the matter. one is a decision by a republic
can house, the other new election. Does
Mr.. Watson prefer that forum for the trial
of the case to that of the people Of the
Tenth district. especially when it is prob
able that his fullest measure of success
If any, would be. after all, an order for a
new election. II he prefers that forum
of course he can have it; for 1 have, in
order to bring about that result, only TO
remain in the position where the law
places me. This, of course, l shall and
must do. unless Mr.. Watson accedes to
the proposition. which, in a spirit Of har-
mony and a desire to restore peace and
good feeling in the district, L hereby
make, and which is unanimously approved
by the conference referred to. 1 will take
my commission as d member of the Fifty
fourth congress, but 1 VIII resign it, the
resignation to take effect March 4, 1895,
whenever Mr.. Watson viii agree, within
the time allowed by law for notice of con-
test, to refer the matter back to the people
to determine by new election who shall
represent them in the Fifty-fourth con-
gress. I name that date, to wit, March 4,
1895, for three reasons:
81. My term would not commence till
then.
-. It is desirable TO postpone a new
election as long as possible, to let feeling
subside, and in view of a municipal cleo
tion in Augusta in December. and of
county elections all over the district in
January.
''3. It is probable that by that date a
new and more satisfactory law than the
present may be enacted"