The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1894-11-14
FRAUDS TN ELECTIONS.

them by punlSAln9 frauds ;nd pro-
noting the passage Of the Australian
ballot law and bipartisan represen.
tation Of boards Of managcrs-The
Columbia State.
The Dispatch is not an organ in
any sense of the word, It is news
paper published in the interest of
Lexington county and the State Of
S.u,h Carolina, for the amCse-
mcnt and instruction Of its sub
scrihers and as a means for
earning an honest livelihood
for its editor and his family. In
politics it is Democratic TO the
co.e and a sympathizer and u sup
porter Of the Reform wing of that
party. because it believes that the
true principles and policies Of that
wing, and more conducive 10 the
general welfare Of the people as
whole; hence we take it that the Dis
patch, as we'll as the balance Of the
Reform papers, is included i'll the
above invitation.
Certainly. The Dispatch has been,
is now and ever will be unalterably
opposed to ''fraud5 at the polls, and
is III favor of ':honest elections" On
this platform the Dispatch has been
standing and it extends hearty
welcome to the State as q CO.
laDorcr in this di.rction: but 1t
is bv no means convinced that
more frauds were practiccdin the re-
cent election than usual. 1t will not
accept mere assertions as indlsputa-
bic facts, neither will it charge Graud
On solely speculative evidence OBJ,
tanned through prejuiiced and parti-
zan sources bitter against the dOml-
nant faction.
It's observation leads it to the
opinion that there was not as much
fraud practiced in the recent cleo
ton than has been practiced in every
election since and including that of
1876. The Democratic party as now
constituted, only followed the prece-
dents, established, recognized and
perpetratcd by the faction Of which
the editor of the State was and is
ROW member when in control OF
the machinery of the party.
1t seems to us that this cry OF
fraud by the Columbia State, the
Charleston News and Courier and
some Of the other quasi Conserva-
tive papers, comes with bad grace at
this time when they were as blind
as bats and as dumb as oysters in
the years that have passed when the
alledged irregularities said to have
been committed in the late election
were first conceived and put into
operation, and it only shows, if it
shows anything, that after all it does
matter whose OK is gored.
Again, if these paper had con-
demued the action of Coy. Richard
son in refusing to appoint regular
Democrats rs members Of the Board
of Election Commissioners instead Of
all self styled "Straightouts" their
plea for ''bi-partizen representation"
would come with more force and
have at least the appearance Of sin.
cerity and earnestness if nothing
more which would commend their
demand to the favorable considera
ton Of the powers that he.
The position Of the Dispatch
briefly stated, is, that it is opposed
to frauds in elections by whomsoeyer
committed: that it will cooperate
il aDy honest and sincere effort to
secure honest elections: that 1t is III
clincd toward The Australian ballot
law, but has not at this time given
the system that study which would
warrant its committal in favor Of the
system: it favors non factional rep
rcscntation on boards Of managers.
It believes that The Reformers can
give free vote and fair count and
then defeat their opponents by an
overwhelming majority.