Evening star., 1896-10-23
REGISTRATION IN VIRGINIA
Alleged Irregularities in Precinct in Hen
rico County.
Of The Evening Star.


RICHMOND, Va, October 21, 1896.
Representatives of the Sound Money
League here have taken vigorous steps to
nip in the bud what they claim to be efforts
on the part of certain machine politicians,
through the registrars, to prevent large
number of people from registering. The old
bad name of Smithers precinct In Henrico
county, which was accused by the Rich
mond Times of having cheated the demo-
cratic opponents out Of hundreds OF votes
two or three years ago. has come out again.
and the precinct is again in disrepute This
time the registrar is accused of resorting to
all kinds of tricks, absenting himself at the
times appointed, and staying away SO as to
keep voters from registering and getting
transfers.
Legal proceedings have been instituted by
the Sound Money League, and they are
sparing no time work or expense to frus-
trate the schemes of the ring. The Star
correspondent learns from reliable authority
that a powerful effort is being made by GER
tain parties to keep down the republican
and sound money democratic vote as low as
possible. The war has already commenced,
and lively times are expected before the
fight is over. The battles are being fought
through the courts and never before have
such powerful efforts been made for fair
ballot Smithers' precinct in Henrico is
notoriously corrupt precinct. and the glar-
ing and fragrant frauds there. though open
1y exposed. appear to be only half smoth-
when the opportunity arises. A shrewd
game is being worked on the part OF the
registrar Of Smithers'. He has made half q
dozen appointments to be at his place, so as
to register voters, and as many as ninety
voters at a time have been present to regis
ter or get transfers without avail, each ap-
pointment being broken, though compensa-
tion for his services. according to the
amount the law allowed. was guaranteed
The object seems to be to wait until October
"a, the last day for registration, and from
that time until election day there will not
be sufficient time to get the transfers from
various parts Of the state, as is necessary
The registrar Of Smithers' precinct refuses
to say when he can be found to register
voters. and there are many voters who will
by these tactics be deprived of their right
to vote. Certain 1t is that If the present
state Of affairs continues, and the plans
which have evidently been mapped out for
execution are carried through, the Sound
Money League will make strong legal
fight to put some of the leaders in the peni-
tentary.
On the other hand, the free silver leaders
and henchmen are thoroughly organized
and are exerting every energy to win in
this district and throughout the state They
realize that they have double enemy to
fight, and that the sound money democrats
who used to be a part Of their forces
are consequently thoroughly familiar with
all their election methods and their sys-
TENS Of political warfare. They appear to
be more afraid of the sound money demo-
Gratis than of their old-time enemy, the re-
publicans. Each party is watching the
Others, though the sound money democrats
show that they have more to fear from the
free silverites than from the republicans,
who have formerly made far better show
toward efforts for an honest count than
have the democrats.
The refusal on the part Of the city council
to accept the resignation of c. v. Meredith
city attorney. is regarded here as signifi-
cant feature of the local campaign Mr.
Meredith resigned upon the ground that he
could not support Bryan and Sewall and
the Chicago platform, end he stated in his
resignation that he took this action for the
reason that he did not care to disturb the
close relations between the city attorney
and the council. He was afraid there
might be some lack Of confidence on the
part of the council II he remained in office
with his present political views. 1t was
thought there would be no hesitation on
the part of the council to accept the resig-
nation, and the action Of the body was
sprung upon the public. here in the shape
of surprise. 1t Is reasonably certain
that So strong an influence was brought to
bear on the council by many of the most
prominent citizens as to result in retaining
Mr.. Meredith, who Is a strong sound money
man and great admirer of Mr.. Cleveland.
This is said to be first blood by the gold
men since the political fight commenced.
An afternoon paper here Is authority for
the assertion that republicans and sound
money democrats are leagued together to
have q number Of Pinkerton detectives at
work in and around Richmond on election
day. The report is added that Pinkerton's
men will operate largely in Virginia and
West Virginia on November 3. This rumor
is believed to be without foundation. 1t
serves to show, however, how the free sill
yer democrats are worked up over the eff
forts of tho republicans and sound money
democrats to get a fair election this time.
The bispensary Cases.
One of the South Carolina dispensary
cases was argued in the Supreme Court
yesterday. It involves the right Of a prt-
vate citizen to import liquors into the state
for his own use and consumption. Another
case involving the constitutionality of the