The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-01-18

The Democrats OF Tennessee are at
tempting to steal the executive Office.
This grave crime against the majoxaty
OF the electors of that state was CON-
celved and Planned directly after the
rcfuf&hs were counted last November.
r has been pushed. to what is likely 10
be a successful termination. On the
ans was elected governor by the Repub-
Ecans of Tennessee. His opponent was
the present incumbest. Gov. Turney.
who was renosniaated by the Demo-
Gratis. The secretary of state. himself
a Democrat. after waiting till ali the
result OF the election. 1t shows that
Mr.. Evans had a majority of over eco
votes.
In Tennessee the newly elected gov
ernr does not take his seat until the
legislature officially declares the result.
The present legislature, which Is large
~ Democratic. has refused to do this,
but inscad has converted itself into
returning board and Tsroposes 10 30 be-
hlnd the official returns. A bill has
passed both houses OF the legislature
providing for the appointment Of joint
courslitsee OF investigator. who wiR
Inquire into al charges OF fraud. from
whatever source egnansting. and report.
The bill also prosa<:eS-and here the
beauty OF the Job is seen---that. pending
the report OF the committee and ,egis,a~
tive action thereon. the present irscum-
bent. the defeated Democratic candi-
date, shall continue TO hold his Office.
There are Two methods whereby un-
der this outrageous bill the resssk OF the
election may bs nuihfied. One is 20
should II be unfavoras,ae 90 the Repub-
lscan candidate. and declare the cleo
ton Of his opponent. The other is
should the committee fail 10 find
grounds for reversing the popular YER
diot--to decay as,tion thereon until the
session Of the legislature expires By
limitation. Il would be in keeping with
the cowarisy rlan thus far developed
to adept the batter method.
In this attempt to steal "a state che
Democrats of Tennessee have fatty re-
ysTsesi and abandoned their traditional
position thar official returns should be
conclusive. In Alabama the identical
question at issue IN Tennessee came up
bur recently. when Kosh. whom the off,
clal returns showed defeated. claifysei
tasc Office ard charged that his oppo-
merits sa5orxy was frassdalentiy certi-
fisd. Hts request for n Legislative In
vestigsti,n was contegnptuouSiy fgnorssd
and mis- opponent. Mr.. Oates. was seat
Ell. the leason given heiug THAI the re-
turzss showed that he had been eject
exi. Il has been the avowesi Democrat
&c pglnexYse sssat the face % the returns
must b. are~rsed. In Alabama there
Il rso law rrovaaeng for contests OF
eaessfssa and ss1e legislature refused to
pass one at the request % kotb and
the rssnogity OF that body.
This conspiracy against the majority.
this attempt to override the verdict OF
the reopae. 10 defraud the Republicans
~ TennesSsee cat Of a aravesy won VIC
tory usay temporarily succeed. But in
the reaction agatasE such methods
whach ises tc,iy has been seGtag In
throughout the South. the cons psrasors
and their accxnplices who coasugn-
u4ate such frauds will be ground 20
powder. TIE demand for fair cleo
ssons, honest returns ard reacsasSe &c
ccpsass>e ~ TIRE declared rosas ~ s7sde-
srSssa ard profoundly earnest. 1t Is
hard in Soutsa Carolina In New York
ARD California. IL il steraly imperative
ana must b. needed hy an parties.