New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-01-22
.1.ry CORRESPONDENT OF THE rElnUXEl

INVESTIGATION.
,vsou STAFF CORRESPONDENT OF THE TEinUSEl
,,tsomery Ala. Jan. 20The majorities OF
A.. Rack Belt counties are decisive In Ala
hama by whatsoever means obtained. Captain
ri, IN 1899 had outside OF the fifteen black
Counties majority Of 1853 in the white counties
That majority overcome on the face Of the
roturns BY a Democratic majority OF 2S.l9O in
the Black Belt. and Governor Jones was naugu-
rated The same result repeated last An
gust. when Colonel Oates carried the black
counties by majorties too large TO be offset by
Captain Kobs vote in the white counties. Five
Of the nine Congressional districts shoe
strings with black knots at the lower end. These
districts are gerrymandered to reach down
into the Black Belt. The Fifth has six white
and three black countless the Ninth has group
OF white and two black counties; and three other
districts are arranged in the same way. The
Republican or Populist majorities in the white
counties are overwhelmed by the Democratic
matorities in the black counties. II is the black
knot that ties the stIing into free-trade
.engle II is the Black Belt that sends to Wash
.ngton an anti-Pro;ectionist delegation to repre-
sent State that is naturally Protectonist.
These are not partisan statements. but undls-
puted facts. which the political almanac reveals
/ lay stress upon them ih order to expose the alb
surdty OF the Democratic outcries against negro
domination. So far as Alabama Democracy Is
concerned the Black Belt is its stronghold and
defence. Without these fifteen black counties
Il would have lost the Governorship last August
and two years before and a majority of the pres
ent delegation in Congress would be either Re
publican or Popust. The continuance Of Demo-
cratic supremacy in this State Is Enthusiastically
due TO the large majo. titles obtained In fifteen
counties where negroes uGtnumber whites three
or four 10 one II those majorites are honest
and lega, as Governor Oates and his friends as
sert II is negro domination. and the Democracy
IS profting by II politically. That Is to say. the
Democrats are doing what the carpet baggers
we're charged with doing nearly thirty years ago
they are governing the State by ralyinS the
negroes at the polls and overcoming a hosule
white vote Strike out the returns from the
Black Belt and Captain Kob would be Governor
Kolb In his second term. and Congressman
Howard would have two Republican and two
Popu.!st colleagues in the next House. III the
election returns are not fraudulent the negroes
in the Black Belt are shown TO have rallied 10
the defence OF the discounted and harsssed De-
mocracy with answering loyalty and astonisn-
Ing magnanimity Upon the hypothesis OF
honesty conducted elections. negro domination
has been the salvation Of the Alabama Democ-
racy.
Blu, unfortunately for the Democratic Ring
in Montgomery the majorties IN the negro
counties tainted and fouled with suspicion.
There is a voluminous body Of evidence tending
TO prove that these majorities are very largely
fictitious. that the votes Of negroes nave been
counted as they were not cast that thousands or
names have been frauduently registered and
voted that Captain Koib has been twice de-
frauded out Of office that majority OF the pres
tor Morgan's title is clouded and that at least
four OF the Democra; Congressman elected In
November ought to be inseated. do not say
that all these things are established indisputably,
for no newspaper correspondent listening for
few DAYS to charges and countercharges is )usti-
fed IN assuming that anything Is seIf-eV'oent re-
specting the recent elections. but MAINTAIN that
1, ia inpossible for any candid man TO examine
tho election returns from the Black Belt without
being convinced that Captain Kolb ought 20
have had an opportunity for contesting the Gov
ernorship in the Legislature. that thorough
Congressional investig .tion Of election methods
Is indispensable and that radica! election reforms
ought 10 be introduced without delay.
A single Illustration will suffice. and II Will be
taken from the returns OF the With Congressional
District A. T. GOODWIN. Popust. carried the
six white counties Of Columbus Clay. Coosa,
Elmore. Randolph and Tallapoosa by an aggre-
gate majority Of 3Gl2 James f. Cobb, Democrat,
carried Lowndes County by 2S3s votes; Macon
County by Ss5 votes. and Autauga County by SsS
votes. The Democratic ma1orites In these three
Black Belt counties Offset Goodwyns large vote
IN the six white counties and elected MIN on the
face Of the returns by 4 small majority Inc
returns from OF these counties are APP
pended with the census figures for each town
ship
LOwNDES COUNTY.