The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-11-01
FRAUDS OF The CAMPAIGN.
The Desperate Measures Adopted By
LaWleSS Men.
AT SMITHERS' and SHUMAKER'S
The Places Selected for the Prosecution Of
Nefarious Work-scores of Electors
Cheated Out OF Their Votes by
High.uanded Methods.

Tory while time euUuTes. one sihSle Is,
sre, which a year ago resemOied eioud
.Hc size Oh man manu- dDoNe 'hc vs.
ein horizon, has grown until all slse mas
become OF secondary importance. ms Is
iuo Is the currency question. ana the Not-
els OF the country have arrayed them-
selFes sOlIdly upon ether size. =,
Speaking generally, those VINO are IN
dNOr OF stable ana honest currency
are the best elem Cnts in the country non
cst. industrious. law-abiding citizens. Of
course, there are many good men support
ing free silver who are convinced that
10 Is the right course TO pursue, but tney
10 not constitute the bulk of the silver
party
CHEATING THE VOTERS.
These men have shown the dangerous
Instincts with they are imbued. by the
desperate determination which they have
WINGED 10 control tho election machinery
Il all hazards, and carry the country lOr
neir candidate regardless OF the ieSai or
moral aspect of the means employed No
where has this lawless spirit more plainly
manifested itself than In the county or
lcnrico, where, but for the vigilance ana
tctivity Of those who are determined TO
ave the vote honestly counted as cast AZ
le coming election, scores or voters
,0uld have been cheated out OF their
ight 10 register their Will.
From the ease with which these FRAUDS
from punishment which has always at
ended their commission, the conspirators
ave become bold and dehant. lhey
ave the machine behind them, ana nave
lme to regard the registration books as
rivate property TO be manipulated at
vii I'm such a manner as 10 insure return
adorable TO their candidates.
No more fragrant instance OF this crook
/ work was ever seen even in the
Iost VIGOROUSLY corrupt districts Of this
tate than that which was prominently
iscovered a few days ago, at Shumaker
recinct. situated just without the west
fn limits of the city. The laws OF Nlr-
mia provide that when a registrar de-
Tres to purge his books of the names OF
oilers who have died or moved out OF
q district. he shall. fifteen days before
ne date uDOn which such expiration
kes place, post in several conspicuous
aces lists OF the names or those per
ns who are 10 be stricken from the
ooks. These lists are 10 be signed by
re competent voters of the district.
these precautions are taken IN order
hat the names may be scrutlnlZed by
Inc voters. and If any namo has been I'M
-operly placed I'm the list IL may De
ithdrawn before the books are purBed.
IN the Shulnalcr's case every indication
1inted TO the fact that mere pretehce
"a been made of complying with the law.
O. seemed almost certain that the re-
Tired notices had been posted az the
ne required By law. but that men had
zen employed to follow the poster ana
mr. down the notices before any one nad
ii a chance to- read them. Thus IL hap
ned that nc one concerned knew mat
.h notices had been posted.
On the llth Of October, which was the
70 dav upon which voters could be reg
tered prior 20 election, two sound-mon-
advocates spent the day az shumaher 5
racinct Nothing was wrong apparently
rring the day and AZ $3.50 o'clock. think
e that everything had been concluded,
e. watchers went 20 restaurant Tor
inch. When they returned 10 the pre-
net their attention was attracted by inc
mains Of several sheets OF paper tasSed
the side OF the house. An eXamina toh
.acIOrrl the upper portion Of six sheets
papsr. mon tho first Of which was
erifton: "List 81 persons stricken from
.e registration book OF Shumaker cleo
lon district In pursuance OF section CO.
EAR-MARKS OF FRAUD.
Tho under sheets bore the names OF
amy colOrcd citizens who were known
still be duly qualified voters IN shu-
..ker's preciuct. and the ear-marks OF
md were plainly visible. The matter
.4s al once vigorously taken up, and by
le assistance Of an upright Jucge. the
ristIation books were thrown open ior
.iid revealed. Practically every cOioreu
0ter i'm the precinct had been stricken
rom the book. with pen-marks so heavy
nd black that 10 was only by the ala
d "a strong magnifying glass that some Oh
be names could be deciphered.
The whole affair bore the aspect OF
.aviug been planned with deliberation,
md exccutcd with the most reckless in
oleucc. The registrar, small insig-
,ifcant looking man. had evident. from
IN apncarauces. been the dupc OF some
ne OF superior intelligence ana greater
.oldncss who. from long Indulgence IN
rime. had become convinced that no one
would dare TO interfere with MS eVii prac-
ices.
OF different character, though the same
d its effect was the action or the regis
rar at Smithcr's precinct. lie dld ms
gCrk out I'm the OPEN boldly ana dehant-
" and succeeded I'm DISTINGUISHING nearly
hundred voters. The law OF the state
declares that for week or more prior 10
he last day upon which the books are
men for the registration OF voters, the
eeistrar shall be at his home az certain
,ours. to be appointed by himself TO en-
oil the names OF voters, ana 10 give
ransters 10 all entitled to receive them.
The registrar OF this precinct j. X. Syr-
.io bv fame. set this law ut naught I'm
he most orer mcans possible. ie invar-
ably and persistcntly refused, except
where the free-silVer people were con-
.trncd. 10 say when he would be at nome.
70 these latter, however. he extended
very courtesy. and registered them m
he slightest provocation. he was brought
iofore the AUGUST Electoral Board Of
Icnrioo county. which sat with ponder
ms dirritv uron the case. refused 10
lcar auv evidence whatever. and finally
,ut the finishing touch 70 the great wis
lom which they had displayed by the
profound decision hat they could not
emove tie registrar. because. II they did
ne said REGISTRAR would have no appeal
rom their decision
HIS CONDUCT ENDORSED.
Syrcle was much buoycd up by this sub
tantial endorsement OF his ncfariOus pro-
cedines. ard grew If possible, more de-
liant than before. ne was taken before
lie County Court in the hope that that
tribunal might see 10 10 deal with him as
.e deserved. Not 80, however. On purely
cg1l grounds he escaped just punishment.
ud walked from Tie courtroom deter
mined 10 register no one unless that per-
on met with bis individ dual approval
lie stuck 10 this determination with
resistance Orthy az a better cause, dld
zone Of The uninitiaied were able TO nua
nm nigh OF low. 40 one ever seemed
bic TO ind him except the Sheriff of Hem
leo, an intimate and warm friend OK
on the 2ith instant the last day upon
which voters could register before the
lection. Syrcle opened the polls quar-
er OF an hour late and closed them be-
ore sundown. lie spent the entire day
d seeing how much time he could waste.
nd how few voters he could register.
lie succeeded admirably I'm his efforts.
nd wher the polls closed, nfty-two men,
II colored. were still in line, and their
hances 10 vote at the presidential cleo
ion irretrievably gone.
These two instances given above will
erve 10 show TO what lengths the free
liver rcople have gone IN their endeavor
o control the elections. They have shown
heir desperation by their law-defying
lcthoGs. and not one man in their party
as raised his voice in condemnation OF
be corrupt practices which have so plain