Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-11-11

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LET THE TIMES ANSWER.
The Times in its editorial Of yester-
day. reviewing the election in Virginia,
claims that the Democratic losses in the
white counties We're Offset by manipu-
lating the ballot-ooxes in the black dis
fricts. This is a serious charge, and the
Times should not make such charge
unless it can name the individuals who
were guilty Of it. The whole trend Of
the article. however, is that wherever
the Republicans lost in comparison with
the vote of 1892 there must Of necessity
have been Democratic fraud, and that
where the Republicans gained there must
have been honesty on the part Of those
conducting the election. In other words,
II seeks 10 brand everybody connected
with the election in the black counties
Of the state as dishonest We would
like to ask the Times few questions.
Among the counties named by it as NUM-
bered with those where the mani
pulation Of the ballot is charged. We no.
tice the following: Caroline, Chesterfield
Essex, Halifax, King William. Richmond
Nansemond. and MeclllenbUrg.
Dr. W. D. Quisenberry is the Demo-
cratic county chairman of Caroline. Does
the Times mean TO say that he
was guilty OF fraud. or that he arranged
for the manipulation of the ballots?
Z. V. Cogbin. Esq, is the Democrats
county chairman of Chesterfield. Does
the Times mean to say that he was q
party to a fraudulent election?
Booker Garnett. Esq, Is the Demo-
cratic county chairman Of Essex. Does
the Times mean 10 charge Mr.. Garnet
with the manipulation of the ballot or
with having given any instructions 10
that end?
Benjamin Watkins Leigh. Esq, is the
Democratic county chairman of Halifax.
Does the Times mean to charge this
gentleman with intent 10 defraud the
voters of their rights?
Roger Gregory, Jr., Esq, is the De-
mocratic county chairman Of King VIII
liam. Does the Times mean by its arti-
Gle to say that Mr.. Gregory deliberately
set out by fraudulent methods to set
aside the verdict of the people Of his
county in the recent election?
r. Carter Wexford, Esq, is the De-
inocratIc county chairman Of Richmond
county. Does the Times mean to say
that Mr.. Wexford is guilty Of ballot-box-
stuffing. or the manipulation Of the bal
lot in his county?
J. E. West. Esq. is the Democratic
county chairman of Nansemond. Does
the Times mean to declare that Mr..
West is dishonest. and that he has gone
about to defraud voters Of their rights
by the manipulation Of the ballot-box?
c. J. Faulkner. Esq. is the Democratic
county chairman of Mecklenburg. We
would ike to ask the Times if it thinks
that Mr.. Faulkner is unworthy Of the
confidence of his people. and if it means
10 charge him with manipulating the
ballot-box?
The gentlemen whose names we have
given above had charge Of the election in
their respective counties. so far as
the Democrats were concerned. We re-
spectfully ask a categorical answer TO
the above questions. and II these gen
flcmen are not ltSyoil1lDlN loi ihoh4i"
lating the ballot-box. as charged by the
Times. will that paper please be kind
enough 10 give US the names Of the
pnliIsy parties? 1t Is easy enough to cry
fraud when you ars defeated in an cleo
ton. The real troub,s with the Times
and it's Republican allies n that thoy Sc
cured vast sum OF money TO be ex-
pended in the recent election of Nir-
glnia. and they find Il ascessary TO make
some explanation TO Marx Hanna
why Virginia did nat so Republican as
they promised him II ~o19, and the
only ground upon which they can ex-
Main their failure is that .hey were
cheated out Of the election. This is
FERROUS charge to bring against any peo-
ME. and we insist that the Times shall
name the guilty parties, or else admit
that their charges are unfounded and I'M
true. These same charges Of fraud were
preferred by the Times against the De-
mocratic party when Governor O'Ferral
was elected in 1896 Does the Times still
insist that Governor OFerran Is not en-
titled 20 his seat. but that he holds 1t by
fraudulent tenure?