Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-03-25
tn WILL, ROT,T

After the democrats of Morgan county
Mr. Clarkes own upporters-furnish
conclusive proof that all the votes for
Mr.. Clarke at Decatur "were counted as
they were deposited" after Mr.. Clarke's
own supporters in Morgan-his own
newspapers there-acquiesce in the result
and charge no fraud; after the count was
made without a word of protest from
Mr.. Clarke's ten adherents on the execu-
tive committee; after delegates to the state
convention were selected and instruct
ed for Johnston without murmur from
any of the able Clarke leaders in Nor
gan-still the Advertiser-a newspaper
no longer dominated by home influences
continues to defame the honest and
law-abiding citizens of Morgan county
Can any one longer doubt its motive?
Its charge of fraud was an after thought
made in preparation of bolt, as it
charged Kolb with doing in 1892. If not
why did it start the cry of fraud when
none was made by the local Clarke sup
porters? If not. why does it keep up the
cry of fraud, when the local Clarke sup
porters say there was none? If not
why does it keep up the cry of fraud and
attempt ito undermine" the party, as it
charged Kolb with doing, when all it
claims could be conceded to Clarke and
still leave that county two to one for
Johnston?
Intentionally passing by unnotced the
positive proof of j. w. Tyler, w. e. Wal
lace, w. c. Preston, II. Cartwright. w
A. Petty Ga Clarke NAM, citizens of De-
catur of the highest character" that the
primary election was conducted fairly
and honestly and that fran6
practiced for or against any candidate"
it heaps insult on injury by branding
these men and the others who say there
was no fraud as the "hired witnesses of
the State Herald" who have failed to
produced one scintiIla of evidence 10 dis
prove the charges of fraud at Decatur"
Are the statements of these reputable
Alabama democrats to be brushed aside
in this manner?
In addition to the above, Mr.. w. A.
Petty, "a Clarke man, who was in the
Decatur box to look after Mr.. Clarke's
interests and see that he was fairly dealt
with, states in detail everything that
was done, showing he was fully aware
of all that occurred there. Mr. Petty
says that the ballots were received and
placed in a box securely sealed or
fastened and kept SO during the entire
time the voting was going on. Imme-
diately after the polls were closed this
box was opened in the presence of all the
judges and clerks and the counting be-
gan" Yet the Advertiser exclaims
THAT paper box could have been spirited
away and another substituted without
his knowledge" There is nothing to
justify any such unjust suspicion; 1t
dwells only in the mind of the Adver-
tiser man-"Honic soft qul NAL y pense."
Mr.. Petty says: 81 was constantly pres
ent from the time the polls opened until
the last act was completed So the spir-
itng away of the box theory will not do.
Furthermore, it intimates that Mr..
Petty did not state the truth when he
said ct can truthfully say | believe
said votes were counted as they were de-
posted" The Advertiser suggests that
he shut his eyes to the imaginary fraud
existing only in the mind of the Adver-
tiser man, and says that "Mr. Petty
avoided doing anything save to keep the
tally sheet" and that he wasn't so sure
of his surroundings" and, therefore,
wouldn't accept the offer of the Johnston
men to let him take the ballots out or
the box and read the ballots" In other
words the Advertiser. in effect, says Mr..
Petty who was there to look after Mr..
Clarke's interests, betrayed his trust.
What a poor opinion of human nature
the Advertiser man has!
Another important fact the Advertiser
omits in it's review of the evidence offer
ed by the Morgan county democrats, and
that Is, that five well known, reputable
citizens of Decatur say, over their own
signatures, that McIver. the man sent by
the Advertiser to prefer the charges of
fraud, confessed in their presence THAI
"the charges could not be substantated'
and that he would so state through the
columns of the Advertiser.
The Advertiser omits to publish the
above evidence. 1t gives only garbled
statement. We give the evidence in full.
Any impartial reader after reading 1t,
can no longer doubt that the Advertiser
is trying, in the heat of a political cam
paign, to Undue the minds of the people
with the idea that democrats are ballot
box suffers" so to work up sufficient
following to defeat the democratic party
when the Advertiser bolts the convention
in April.
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