Birmingham age-herald., 1894-07-12
COLON FL OATES
Replies to the Recent Open Letter of Captain Kolb-Declines to
 Accuse County Officials.

Colonel Oates sends to the AGE-HERALD the following open letter to Capt. R. F. Kolb, with request to publish:
 July 10, 1894. Capt. R. F. Kolb-
 SIR: read in the HERALD nearly one week ago an open letter from you to me, in which you state that ''there is prevalent apprehension and dread in this state, which is shared by it's best citizens, that the election to be held the first Mon day in August will not be conducted with fairness and impartiality.' la reply must say that have not heard any person express any such grave apprehension. have heard through others that you, your lieutenants and active canvassers have been expressing such fears, but l have re- garded these expressions as a part of scheme designed to excite the indignation of honest and innocent people who mlght be made to believe the accusation, but have seen no reason to suspect any con- templated unfairness or fraud in tne man. agenlent of the August election. You next say: ''As the representatives of the two parties it would certainly be- hoove both of us to do all in our power to assure clear and undisputed title to the officers (ofices l suppose was meant) as well as to allay all dangers from this alleged menace.''
 lam the candidate and hence the repre- | sentative of one party, but my understand ing is that you are the candidate of all the others-about three in num ber-so you and may be said to represent all the par | ties instead of two.
 You then say that "neither of us have any authority over the officers, nor any right to assume that either of us can con- trol their action.' In this l concur, and will say in addition that for either of us to undertake to do so world be a piece of im- pertinence aud justly regarded by such of- fcers as an insult. Then you say that ant, r,f alro oDf on6f incl OQf upon it's compliance by our respective | friends, and it will be etfica- cious in accomplishing the results sought" II therefore request that you | give me an open letter to the county off, cers and all others who shall perform any | duty in the management of the election, | requesting them, in behalf of our respect i've tickets, to faithfully do all in their | power to assure perfect fairness and lmpar- tialily toward each party in every act of theirs which shall affect the management of the election or the declaration of the re- | sult.''
 | have been informed that you have re- | peatedly boastsd of the certainty of your | election because the county o fiji cers in thir- | ty-eight of the sixtysix counties of the state were politically in accord with you, | which made you certain of the count In | them. am, therefore, surprised at the | extent of your alarm. You quote me cor | rectly as saying before my omination that l desired fair elections, and l repeat that declaration now; but cannot give you the | letter you request, for that would clearly | imply distrust and want of confidence in | the honesty of the county officials, inspect 1 ors and returning officers appointed by
 them. l cannot join you in such letter
 because the presumption of law is that off
 cials will discharge their respective duties | faith fully and honestly, and we have no
 right to prejudge and suspect hem of lack 1 ing integrity. am, sir, very respectfully, WhI. c. OATHs.