The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-02-20
CHAIRMAN MITCHELL, STAND UP TO
THE RACK.

The Democratic County Committee OF
Henrico county had a business meeting
at the courthouse on Saturday last
During its proceedings, Major A. Il. Court
ney offered resolution which recited the
fact that grave charges had been made
| against the integrity Of the recent cleo
ton held at Smither's precinct in that
county and expressing emphatic disap-
prevail Of such proceedings by that COM
mittee He mentioned the Times as an
authority for the charges. According to
the Dlspatchs account Of the proceedings
the chairman of the Democratic party for
the county J. c. Mitchell. Esq. asked
Major Courtney if he was sure the Times
was a Democratic paper, and, on Major
Courtney very properly saying that he
was as sure it was a Democratic paper
as he was that Mitchell himself was a
Democrat. the following took place ac-
cordins to the Dispatch:
while Major Courtney was speaking of
the publication IL the Times, purport-
ing TO be a copy of the poll-boOks for
Snlithers precinct, Chairman Mitchell
who seemed 10 think the matter had
been greatly magnifed. denied that It
wss perfect copy Of the sid books
We must pause here TO remark that a
"maenincation" of 200 possible Democratic
votes into 49S actual cnes. is very
great "magnificatiol," anG therefore that
Chairman Mitchell was entirely just-
fed in saying that Smither's precinct
had been greatly magniGed." Mincing
of words is an utter failure. This was
opposition by Chairman Mitchell 10 Major
Courtney's resolution, and defence Of the
election at Smithers precinct. Stick the
first pin there.
Chairman Mitchell lives near and votes
at Smither's precinct. He voted there in
the late election. 1t would be idle. there
fore, to say that he does not know there
are 7l2 names on the white registration
look, while there are no more than
200 white voters there. The second pin
might be stuck here. Whoever knows
anything ut all of Virginia politics, knows
that the chairman of the Democratic
party is all potential in naming the Judges
and clerks of election that the electoral
board appoints. Chairman 1iitchens
power with the Henrico beard is shown
in the fact that of the three Judges
and two clerks at Smither's, one judge
is Mr.. Mitchell'S brother-in-law, one
clerk Is his son-in-law, and the other
clerk is his wife's nephew.
The law requires the judges Of election
after an election is over. to seal up the
poll books. and deliver them 10 the clerk
OF The County Court. The poll book in
the County Court clerks office for Smith
ers precinct in the late election. is GER
tined 10 by the judges Of election at
that precinct. as being the poll book OF
that precinct. and it bears on its face
evidence that 1t came 20 the clerks
Office under seal. Mr.. Samuel p. Waddiu
clerk Of the County Court made conv
OF that poll book for the Times. and
oer'ihed as clerk OF the court thar Z,
was correct copy. and that was the |
poll book which the Times published
Under all these facts and circumstances
II is perfectly evident that Mr.. Nritcheu
must make good his charge that the |
copy or the poll book which we nuhl,shed
Is an imperfect one, or he must he nre-
pared to be considered as seriously COM
promised by the charge.