The sun., 1896-12-12
FOR HONEST ELECTIONS.
ORGANIZATION OF soUND.MoNEY
DEMOCRATS IN VIRGINIA.

They VIII Contest the seats or Congress-
men who wero Evidently Elected by
Frnud-Amdavits from $4,000 Men who
Were Prevented from Casting Ballots.
WASHINGTON. Dec. IL" The Sound Money
and Honest Election League OF Virginia" is the
new name of tho sound-money Democratic or
ganization of that State. Frank T. Glasgow ia
President. They have issued q circular calling
upon all citizens of that State who are in favor
OF honest elections to enroll themselves as mem
bers, irrespective Of previous political associa-
tions. They have decided to contest tho seats
OF the silver Democratic candidates for Con-
gress In the Second, Fourth, and Fifth districts,
to whom certificates have been given by the
Election Board. They are now taking evidence
to show that these candidates were elected by
fraud. They claim TO have already found in
these three districts that 10000 Republican
ballots were rejected on one pretext or another,
upon techncalities that were trivial, although
the intent OF the voter was manifest. They have
the aflidavits of $4,000 men in these three
districts who were prevented from casting their
ballots by the interference OF challenGerS or un-
just rulings of the Boards of Election.
For example, in the jackson ward Of Rich
mond. where there are $500 negro voters. only
900 were allowed to cast their ballots. The re-
being crowded away from the polls and the
right to vote denied to some because they
could not tell who their grandfather was or
whether he was nnturalized. Men were actually
turned away by Judges of election, who told
them that they could only vote in the precincts
in which they were born. Negroes who were
born in Virginia and have never been outside OF
the State in their lives were told that they
must produce naturalization papers before
they could be allowed to vote. Many of
them did not know what was meant. Other
judges insisted that the negro voters should
bring certificates of baptism from orthodox
clergymen. Some were accused OF attempting
to vote under fictitious names and were sent
away to find witnesses to their identity. When
they returned and got Into line again they were
not permitted to reach the polls. Others were
solemnly informed that they had been reported
dead and were marke on the poll books, so
that 1t was necessary for them to bring phys
ician's certificate or guarantee from an un.
dertaker. In some precincts no negro was al
lowed to vote who would not answer certain
ridiculous questions and everywhere the voting
booths were blocked by white men. who always
take precedence. When white man approached
the polls usual he always took the head
OF the line no matter how long the negroes had
been stand Ing, and II he was a Democrat he
would hold the attention OF the Judges until
another white man came to relieve him. in
order to prevent the negroes from onerinR their
ballots. When 1t was Impossible 10 prevent
negro from reaching the polls. he was detained
there indefinitely under various prctexts in
order to keep Others away s,: In some n, Of Tie Tie
were out early and most OF them remained in
them by their wives and children.
The committee which is collecting the evil
dence of fraud believes that IT will have. spf-
fcent to Justify the unseatinE OF three of the
Virginia delegation in Congress- They have
h ey sd
n fair election. but they have decided not TO
question the electoral Snx ticket & as that , is not no,
| labor in cnntesting the Congress and leg!sla-
tive candidates, II, their circular TO the cti;,
Money and Honest Election League say:
"Thecauso OF sound money has trumphed.
| and the financial issue has been settled by an
| overwhelming popular vote or the people OF the
| United States against free silver. The other
elections. remains unsctt tied, and the open and
! fraudulent defiance of the peoples Will In many
sections Of this state on election day is unre-
proved and unppnished. 1t is imposstbls to
| overestimRte the importance OF continuing the
| fight for honest elections In which we have en-
| barked, and 1t becomes imperative for the Eir-
| gina league for sound money and honest cleo
tions TO place the organization upon a permta-
| nent and substantial basis. and to push II with
| renewed vigor until 1t has covered the entire
state.
fight which l- before IL, and time should be LOST
| in pressing them with all possible energy Will
the memory OF election fraud Is ripe In the
| mind OF the people. and their revulsion against
corrupt methods Is vivid and pronounced. No
unbiased citizen, whatever his politics may be-
| can doubt that the majority of the voters Of
| this State who exercised the right OF suffrage
on election day. were against Mr.. Bryan and
the Chicago platform. and yet, by unlawful
| fragrant. and corrupt practices OF Election
| Boards, registrars. and judges, the will OF the
majority OF the voters of Virginia has been
| ruthlessly OverthTown.
lit is now proposed by this league 10 ,rcdouble
| It's efforts for the formation OF loc leagues
throughout the state, and In addii. thereto
| ask that every citizen OF Virginia %H in IA
| yor of honest elections enroll hirgs as n
| member of this organ ,tion. and thr' . his
Cnuntenancc and support to the Souhr ,Ioney
| and Honest Election League OF Virginia Shall
| the people OF Virginia longer suffer Its fair
name to be stained by corruption and fraud. or
| shall they. by vigorous methods, protect tho
suffrage and guard the rights and liberties Of
| the citizen Z"