The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-11-20
WATSON 40 HAyh ANOrHER SNOW.
tonerossman Black Says ne Is willing to
Haxn Another = -e,t lon in -. DIst {.


AUGUSTA, GA, Nov. i9.-The Chronicle
will publish tomorrow the reply Of Con
gressman j. G. Black TO Mr.. Tom Wat
sons proposition TO appoint cOmmls-
sion 70 purge the recent congressional
election in the Tenth district Of Illegal
votes and abide by the eliminated count.
Congressman Black, after conference
with his political friends and advisers
saws:
In that conference the decision was
reached promptly and unanimously that
Mr.. Watson. S proposition was wholly I'M
practicable"
After giving his reasons for this, he
says:
but / am in hearty accord with Mr..
Watson in his motive for making the
proposition for the purpose OF putting
an end to the terrible state Of affairs In
the Tenth district / am in no way OF
degree responsible for this terrible state
OF affairs. for | have preached no gospel
Of bitterness; / have appealed 10 no
prejudice; / have not sought to array the
country against the town l have not
persuaded one class that they are the
victims of another and lashed them into
frenzy at the thought 1t IS my belief
that If all Illegal votes were eliminated j
would be found TO be elected by the legal
voters. In nearly all parts Of the district
there We're excessive or otherwise Illegal
voting and practices. Well informed per
sons assert that the vote in several OF the
counties that went for Mr.. Watson was
prOpOrtiOnately more excessive than in
Richmond Moreover. the excessive Pop
ulist vote iu Richmond itself contributed
to the general eXcessiyeness OF Rich
mOnd's vote
In conclusion, Congressman Black says
two methods remain by which 10 settle
the matter. one is a decision by RcpuD-
lican House, the other a new election.
Does Mr. Watson prefer that forum for
the trial of the case 20 that Of the pcO-
pie of the TeLth district, especially when
IL IS probable that his fullest measure
Of success If anv would be, after all, an
order for a new election?
II he prefers that forum, Of course,
he can have It, for / have, in order to
bring about that result only 10 ramain
~ the position where the law places me.
This, OF course, / shall. and must do, un-
less Mr.. watson accedcs TO he proposi-
tiOn which, in the spirit Of harmony and
desire 10 restore peace and good feeling
IN the district, i hereby make and which
is unanimously approved by the confer
encc referred 10. | viii take my COM
mission as a member Of the Fifty-fourth
Congress, but VIII resign IT, the Tesigna-
tion 10 take effect March g. 1895. when
ever Mr.. Watson will agrs. within the
time allowed by law, for notice of con-
test, 10 refer the matter back to the
people to determine by a new election
who shall represent them I'm the Fifty
fourth Congress name that late, to
wit: March 4, 1888, for three reasons:
First-My terri would not commence till
then
SecOnd-It is desirable TO postpone a
new election as long as possible TO let
feeling subside and in view Of municipal
election in Augusta i'm December. ard Of
cou.y elections all over the district in
January
Tbird-It is probable that by that date
new and more satisfactory election law
than the present may be enacted.