People's party paper. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1891-1898, 1894-09-28
"The Men Who Centrop' in Richmond
County.

According to the United States
census report there are in Richmond
county about 1900 voters. About
5000 were registered for the last
election and $4,000 votes were
polled. There has been an apathy
in the county during this campaign
which can only be accounted Tor by
laying it to a general disgust against
the methods OF "the men who con-
troll" Good men realize that the
men whose names are written on the
rings slate will be elected q in spite
of the number of votes that may be
cast against them, and therefore 1t is
useless to register or vote. In spite
of the most earnest pleading OF the
local papers less than 5000 voters
are qualified to vote next month IN
Richmond county.
This in itself is a bad state OF at
fairs. Less than half the voters OF
that great county can discharge the
sacred function upon which depends
the veal or woe of the country. 1t
is safe to say that among those who
are thus disfranchised are NUMBERS
of the very best citizens. The "men
who control" have been busy; their
paid agents have been at work regis
tering every worthless character and
(if sworn afiidavits in our Office are
to be believed), many of them more
than once. 1t is a bad state OF at
fairs and one that BODIES no good to
the best interests of the people.
VIII they insist on fair election !?
Hon. Patrick Walsh has given pub
lie assurance that there will be a
division of election managers at each
polling precinct. This will assure
an honest count if the populist ex-
ecutive committee be allowed to
suggest the names of the popullst
managers. Will an honest effort be
made to suppress the fraudulent
votes and the professional vote re-
peaters? 1t can easily be done if
the sworn officers will enforce exist
ing laws.
A mass meeting of citizens "who
favored honesty and fairness in the
matter OF registration and elections
was called to meet last Wednesday
night.
The Chronicle with seeming de-
light reports that only 50 attended
that meeting including "men, boys,
one policeman, five negroes and
about Is democrats"
We cannot believe that this con-
,titutes the entire number of citi-
lens in that county who favor fair
elections. 1t would he shame and
reproach on the couhs if only
about Is democrats favored honest
methods.
However, at that meeting com
mittee was appointed to confer with
the county solicitor and ask his CO.
operation, in prosecuting violators of
election laws. To this committee
that officer stated his willingness to
prosecute all offenders of tho law,
regardless of what political party they
might claim allegiance. The Chron-
icle states that
1t is understood that the names of
five colored citizens We're presented
who have given the wrong location of
their residences to tine registrar, and
that ii was agreed that the alleged ir-
regularities should be investigated, and
if the facts and the law warranted a
prosecu ion, warrants would be sworn
out and the parties prosecuted accord
ingly.
If the assurances given are carried
out promptly and in good faith the
election will be reasonably fair. The
fair fame of the county as we'll as
the material good OF its capital city
depends upon it.
IT, mist he done