New-York tribune., 1896-10-30
SH4RP TRICKS IN VIRGINIA.
OBSTACLES IN THE WAY OF GETTING a
FAIR VOTE AND HONEST COUNT

OBSTACLES IN THE WAY OF GETTING a
FAIR VOTE AND HONEST COUNT
Returning from A thorough investigation OF the
situation in Virginia. ~ Il. Scott. OF the Repue-
lcan National Executive Committee. said at nesn-
quarters yesterday: If We can get falr COUNT "e
shall carry Virginia BY 10000 X We gel nan
count We shall carry il by 1000 MI scott tnen
went on at length to explain the precautions TAKEN
bv the National Committee TO insure fairness In
counting the ballots in the Old Dominion. He SAID
in outlining their plan;
I'VE have the votes in Virginia 10 carry the Stale
bevond doubt. The only trouble In the oid
Dominion is their methods OF preventing the honest
expression at the polls. Now TO illustrate:
They have what they call 'purging registration
lists The law requires that the inspectors shall
give notice fifteen days before registration ms
must be posted and affidavit made to the fact thst
II ha, been posted. Then after the registration
they must give notice that on certain day. at
least ten days before election. they will sit as .
court and they must give notice by posting tho
names which they want TO strike of the registra-
ton lists so that these men may appear and give
evidence as 10 why their names should not be
stricken OFF.
What Is the effects OF these methods?
well for example. take Jackson Ward IN the
city of Richmond. Our people had three men on
watch day and night 10 see whether the list would
be posted with the names that II was proposed 10
strike off the registration lists. They left tho
place. however. for a Few minutes prtWten IL ana
l2 o'clock on the night OF the last day on which
the list that they proposed TO strike OF could be
posted and when they returned they found that
II had been posted and Immediately torn down.
Bur in tearing II down In such great hurry ihey
tore IL down diagonally, and so our people got nod
Of a part of the list. and IL showed that there
were names in that precinct that IN" ofncals nan
stricken of Many Of these were Of men who had
voted in the ward for twenty-five years Now, you
see heir object to comply with the isw ana
Vet not 10 comply with II. They posted IL up
They could make affidavit that II was posted put
n was Immediately torn down. We brought man
dav and all the decisions of the Judge were IN our
favor They have demanded a jury trial. ana *
p7sslbe we will put them in such close quarters
on Election Day that they will not be able TO vofe
for Bryan and free silver
'Is this condition OF affairs limited 10 Rchmond
only or il it general In the State?"
I'VE find II exists generally In the dark counties
and have begun mandamus proceedings IN num>
Der OF other places to bring them into court
ITO return. however. 10 this fraudulent prsctice
number OF voters IN that ward is 500, and there
are only four polling places in the ward The pur-
pose OF this is obvious. They challenge every
negro that comes up TO vote. The law provides
half "a prepare his ballot. They consume he two
minutes and a half In challenging the colored man.
and the result is he loses his vote. Hence when
the polls close there arc hundreds or voters VINO
have not had a chance TO vote. so you can see
what difficulties have to overcome In carrying
an honest election in Old Virginia. We have taken
every precaution in every county and in every pre-
circf in tho State. and II We do not get fair
count there will be some rattling Of dry bones amer
election. al. .l.- :
I'm spite of the disadvantages and obstacles vs.
shall carry Virginia. in my Judgment nv very
gratifying ma jority. h'-