The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1895-01-15
WooDARD AND MCNEIL WILL
NOT TAXI THE CONTESTED
OFFICES.


given to the press. They explain
themselves:
WILSON, N, c., Dec. 90, 1894.
Hon Elias Carr, Governor, Raleigh,
~ @.
Dear Sir: 1 have the honor to &C
knowledge the receipt of your letter Of
18th inst, informing me of the action
OF the State Canvassing Board in de-
claring me entitled to the certificate of
election to the Office of solicitor of the
Third Judicial district for the ensuing
term, and advising me that you are
ready to issue to me your commission.
l cannot under the circumstances &c
cept it, and as this case has attracted
considerable attention, and has caused
me no little embarrassment, I deem it
due to you, as well as myself, that I
should state some of the reasons which
have induced this course on my part.
What purported to be the official
vote of each county composing the
Third Judicial District was reported
to me, at my home in Wilson, shortly
after the election. Upon the face Of
returns sc reported I had a clear ma
jority of 259 votes, over my opponent.
Being officially engaged at court when
the State Canvassing Board convened
to count the votes, and having been in
formed that my opponent would be
present with counsel ready to contest
my election, although I regarded the
duties of the Board as purely minis
terialI requested my friend, Hon. F.
s. Spruill, of Franklin, to represent
me before the Board. This much I
thought, vas due the Board as well as
the people of my district who have
given me their support.
Looking at the questions presented
from the standpoint of a lawyer,
solely, I fully concurred in the con
clusion reached as to the powers of
that Board. When, however, the
proper tribunal had declared nae. en-
titled to the certificate, the point had
for the first time been reached where
my course must be determined upon
my own responsibility.
I had been informed of some of the
charges made by Mr.. Bernard, and
after the first meeting of the board
took steps at once to ascertain the real
facts in the Ease.
In Manning's townships, Nash coun-
tY, where 342 votes were returned for
Claude N. Bernard, one of the poll
holders who made out returns, who is
a Democrat and my personal friend,
informs me that he believes the votes
were actually cast for Claude NJ.
Bernard, and that the mistake in the
returns. Counting this vote for Mr..
Bernard he would have a majority of
s3 over me and would be entitled to
the certificate Of election.
AS to the other allegations preferred
by my opponent, it is hardly neces-
sary to refer further than to say that
the charge of fraud 30 usual in the ex-
element of elections is more easily
made than proven, and I will do him
the justice to say that I have never
heard that my opponent or any friend
authorized to speak for him has ever
charged me with being either party or
privy to any fraud in this or any other
matter.
For four years I have tried to per
form the duties of Solicitor of this dis
trict under a commission about which
there was no question. I could not,
without doing violence to my own
conscience, consent to hold the Office
longer by a mere technicality or under
a commission which in any way ham
pered me by a suggestion Of technical
i~nvalidity.
AS a Democrat I am reluctant to see
a Republican for the first time Solici-
tor of this district, but I prefer to sur
render the emoluments of the office to
him rather than sacrifice my own o
victions of right and forfeit the good
opinion of the people of my district
who have honored me with their conf
dence.
With high regard I am, dear sir,
very respectfully yours,
JOHN e. WOODWARD.
L%UMBERToN, N. c., 10, 1894.
Hon. Elias Carr, Governor Of North
Carolina, Raleigh, NJ @.