Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-11-01
THEIR LAWYERS ISSUE An ADDRESS.
BIufY About the Legality of
the spotter and Affidavit PInn-Pn-
triotic Democrats Volunteer for
scrvice-Mnny Meetings.

The Boltocrats and Republicans are
fighting TO the finish in this State in their
efforts to reduce Mr.. Bryan's majority,
and they were engaged at their respec-
tive headquarters until late last night
with large corps OF clerks sending out
circulars and private instructions to their
men all over the state, giving them ex-
plicit details as TO how to proceed at the
polls.
Captain 4. p. Guigon and Mr.. Barton
II. Wise. counsel for the sound-Money
League had a hundred or more men at
their headquarters. in the Pace building,
until after midnight. giving them final
instructions as TO how to keep their tai
lies Of voters, ard how best to force from
the electors affidavits Of how they cast
their ballots. The men were all en-
Joined to keep their instructions secret.
but when a Dispatch reporter called at
the headquarters he was told by Mr..
John c. Small. who was assisting Messrs.
Guigon and wise. that the mon were not
only given verbal instructions. but were
also given A pamphlet. as well. telling
them how to act in all cases, and this
they were told 10 read over and study
to-day and tomorrow, IN order that they
would be perfectly familiar with the
plans proposed by tho Boltocrats and
Republicans 10 intimldate Democratic
voters.
TELL THEM HOW TO PROCEED.
Major Walker ven a full corps OF
clerks, was engae u Republican head
quarters until some time after the Sab
bath had commenced, mailing printed
matter. presumably 20 local chairmen
and precinct workers. Several sheets
we're folded together and placed in
each envelope, and the bulk must
have made a drG y-lOad or more. The
Major, always courteous to his friends
" the press. was too busy 10 do much
liking. but he tried to assume an air Of
'Onhdence while the Dispatch man was
Ia his Office
The lights also burned late IN the head
quarters OF Judge Lewis and his
managers, in the old City Han building.
Many schemes and plots were being
mapped out, and several buggies and BIZ
ycles were in waiting 10 carrying out
such hints and instructions q The Repu5-
ican leaders always try 10 get out prior
the Sunday before election
score OF more OF clerks were en-
aged at the rooms OF the Boilers. mall
ne documents, about the nature Of which
here was great secrecy maintained for
he headquarters Of a party which boasts
d The iact hat all its acts are above
GARD and open TO the public.
OPINION OF THEIR LAWYERS.
The Boilers had printed yesterday af-
crnoon many thousand circulars which
heir clerks were engaged through the
night mailing TO the anu-Democratic
workers In all sections OF the State. IL is
Understood that there were some fifty or
one hundred thousand copies Of the paper
printed, which will allow good number
or every precinct in the Commonwealth
This circular. which the Pdlmer-McKinley
advocates regard as a trump care. deals
with the question of keeping taIly-sheets
and taking afiidavts at the polls on cleo
ron-day. In addition 20 suggc stiCns as
20 how this work shall be done. there is
given the opinion Of a number Of lawyers
IN the legality 81 the proposed prOce. l.
ings. These attorneys. about all Of whom,
is understood. have been retained. and
are being paid by the Sound Money
League TO ferret out and prosecute al
legged violations Of the election laws. take
the ground. as General Logan. Colonel
Brady. and others have done, that to keep
tallies and take ahidavits. as IS proposed,
derstood that a portion of a decision OF
the Supreme Court Of Appeals is quoted 10
sustain this contention.
WOULD NOT GIVE 1T OUT.
4 Dispatch man who called at the
Boilers headquarters last night TO make
inquiry with reference to this circular
was met by a Waterman. who refused
him admittance to the room I'm which the
clerks were engaged in a manner that
would have indicated that all the sound
money in the world was stored in that
room, and that the reporter was a bold,
bad burglar.
Application was made 10 Mr.. Joseph
Bryan and General Logan. who were to-
gether at the headquarters for a copy
OF the circular, but the reporter was told
that he could not have one. Mr.. Bryan
said that the Times was furnished with
one. and he was willing to give one to
the Dispatch, but General Logan had de-
clined TO allow this lie apparently did
not want the Democrats TO see IT,
Ii could not be ascertained what law
yers had signed the opinion set forth in
the circular, but there can be no doubt
that they are all either connected with
or interested in the Boltocratic move
ment. The Republicans and Boilers were
unquestionably acting in concert in send
ing out their Instructions last night, and
il is believed that the Boilers have
agreed to instruct on Monday such Of
their followers as they can deliver 10
desert Palmer and Buckncr and vote
direct for Mckinley. There IS certainly
some sort Of understanding among them,
and the Republicans. though they haven't
said so in so many words, have given in
timations that the Boilers will vote with
them Tuesday Indeed, one OF the most
pronounced men men IN this section who
has been advocating the claims OF Palmer
and Buckner, declared yesterday that 70
had been agreed that the url-monav
men should vote directly for the R-sll'i.
can candidates, and he was hard at WorA
Tor Mckinley and Lewis.
ONLY ANOTHER BLUFF.
This lawyers circular Is believed by the
Democrats to be merely another Of the
many games of blun put up during this
unique and eventful campaign. The law
bearing on the subject Of a secret ballot
is as plain as 1t possibly could be, and
the opinion of Acknowledgement Scott
printed on the editorial page Of to-days
Dispatch plainly shows the election off,
GERS that proper steps must be taken
to insure the secrecy of the ballot. II
has been reported for several days that
affidavit forms will be dis ributed be-
tween now and Tuesday, so that the
voters who are Influenced TO give such
statements will only have TO sign their
names 10 them.
ALL WILL BE VOLUNTEERS.
The salient feature Of the Democratic
campaign in this city is the fact that
All of the workers at the polls on cleo
tion-day will be volunteers. At every
precinct in the city there Will be group
Of earnest men wearing the white ribbon.
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