The Forrest City times., 1894-07-27
Democratic Executive comnltree,

met on July .3, 1894, in Forrest City, at the Court 4oHse.
 Chairman Williams stated that oD Saturday Mr Fl. F Rolesou aled mo- tice ot contess against j. I. Hicks, for the office of prosecuting attorney, sor the First Juaciai Circuit Of A kansas. setting forth plain aud specific charges which in his judgement were proper subjects for nyestigatiou, and If true. damaging to tue Democratic party. The secretary was ordered Q read the petition which was done, as follows: To the Executive Committee of St
 Francis county:
 Your pet sioner would respectfully represent that at tie Democratic pri- mary election held in this county. on the 14Sh day Of July. ls94, he was q candidate for the nomination for prose cufing attorney. That his opponent was JDo. T HicAs, of White county That at said election at the polling place of w eatley township the judges of election tailed and refused to require any qualification or pledge rom those casting yoles, which WAS in direct conflict xith the instructions of your body. That the friends of yonr pcti- tioier at said precinct requested that 1he judges comply with tbe law, which they still failed to do, and 1t was cur rent and general talk about the rolls that anybody was allowed to vote who so desired That at said polling place large number of negroes voted who have never been democrats, but on the contrary have always affiliated with the Republican party; that a large number of white persons cast ballots who have for years been affiliated with thePeoples party and other political organizations opiAlsed to der1ocracy. That nearly all voted without question, and the few whn were questioned stated that they proposed to support only those for whom they voted in case they were the nominees, but did not propose to sup port the nominees in case those to whom they were opposed were nomi- mated. Still they were allowed to vote, and both after and before voting de- cIared openly that they would not sup port the ticket. That at said polling place the judges did not require that voters had paid their poll tax, or were electors of the county, oy reason of h sons cast ballots who had not paid poll tax fer 1893.
 That by reason of these things there were sufficient illegal and unauthor- izei votes at that precinct alone to change the result Of tue election as to petitioner as declared by your body on ;i ferner day.
 Ioetitioner prays and contends that .fk1 k.f nd ,ileiy disregarded in casting up the re turns, because he says that n said pre- ciuc. .here are very large number of voters, in fact large majority, who have heretofore affiliated with orgaui- zs,iois opposed to democracy, and in the absence of the enforcement or the ra,a lad down by your body that voters s,louid have heretofore affiliated with the party and pledge themselves to sup pniO the ticket, 1t IS practically impos- siols .o determine who should have voted.
 That at said precinct there were l29 votes cast. whereas tile returns by the sheriff of St. Francis county ot tue en- tlre number of electors who have paid d poll tax for lS53 in said township aud are entitled to vote is but l30, i0clud- ing al. political parties and persuaSIons.
 That at Goodwin township in said county one of the judges endeavored to comply with the law, but the voters demanded to vote without qualification or pledge. and after almost preclpita- tina d difficulty at the polls. and after the remaining two judges declined to further support him in his contentious h- made no further protest, and hence no pledge qualification whatever was required of voters. That at said box number, to-wit: thirteen, voted who had not paid poll tax for 1894, and a large number who have heretofore aiiil- lated with other organizations than the Democratic party. How many would have pledged themselves 1t is impossible to say. because the time set apart by your body for determininQ that tact. viz: when they were casting their ballots. has passed.
 At said polling place number open ly declared that tseY GiG not propose ol expect to support the nominees un- less they were their choice; hence your petitioner clalms that said Dox should Do thrown out and not considered n finding the result.
 Believing Il at justice to myself. and my friends, the interest of the dem0- cratic party and the protection of those v.ho offer for nomination to oibce upon the democratic ticket, justiles this ac- ll,n at your hands I respectfully file this, ny petition.
 Very Respt.,
 II. +. RoLEsoN.