The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-01-27

ner OF voting. and consequently
one ballot aud that is the one he
uses. 1t. therefore, makes no diff
ference whether all the bnllots at
any election precinct are uniformly
printed or whether the names of tho
different candidates thereon are
arranged in the came or in different
orders, for the only object and re-
suit of having uniformity of print.
ing or uniformity IN the arrange
ment of the candidates names would
be to enable outsiders to Interfere
with. instruct or dictate to the voter,
which would be- in direct conflict
with the policy of obtaining an in
dependent, intelligent and uniu-
Inundated expression of the popular
will"
In reply to the reference to the
falling of of the vote at the election
in the district the answer alleges
that the decrease wes not greater
here than in other districts In Vir.
GINA, and it may be accounted Tor
bY the fact that tins was
THE FIRST ELECTION
under the new election law; that the
partisans and friends OF MIR. Bor-
land established the color limo, par
tlcularly by forming what were
known AS Lilly White Clubs" be-
ing associations of white Republi-
cans, from which negroes, although
Republicans, were excluded; that
the Republican party in this
district had been for years discon-
tented aud disorganized, and in the
two preceding Congressional cleo
tlons the district had sont Demo-
Gratis to Congress; that night schools
Tor the purpose OF teaching the il
literate negroes how to vote were
conducted, and that these ouly in
culcated distrust and suspicion of
the sworn officers of election, which
prevented large numbers from going
to the polls because of their distrust
III their own ability to vote properly
and to prevent others from making
applications for assistance as per
mitted by law.
Continuing the paper says: 81
shall contend and prove that, this
being the first election under the
new law, and the voters being un-
accustomed to its operation, mis-
takes In the preparation of bnllots,
even among tho more intelligent,
were unavoidable, and the number
of such
DEFECTIVE BALLOTS
lis not unusually or unnaturally
large, but Will compare favorably
with the result in other districts IN
this State and in other States in the
first election held under or similar
laws"
The answer in detail. denies every
allegation OF fraud. illegnlty, ir
regularity or informality III the cleo.
ton or count, which Is made III the
l02 type written pages of the notice
OF contest. The denials are first TO
the general charge and afterwards
each county, and in some instances
districts are taken up and all state.
ments and allegations contained in
the notice of contest of any dis
honesty, fraud or improper conduct
therein, are denied,
MIR. Tyler further says: "The re.
turns from said election in this dis.
trict, which, AS above stated, we're
legal and valid, show that | received
not only plurality but majority
of all the votes cast ut said election
Tor Representative in the Fifty
| fourth Congress OF the United
States from the Second Congress
lonal District of Virginia. In &C.
cordance Herewith the certificate OF
election has been awarded me, and !
claim and shall maintain that | am,
anu you are not, entitled to repre-
sent the people of this district in the
House OF Representatives of tn,
Flfty-fourth Congress.