The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-11-28
TRICKS IN NICHOLAS.
How the Democratic Ring Retarded tn
ltec0unt of Votes,

INV '"u democratic itinR Retarded the
I,ecouni OF va,es.
Special Correspondence. Il
NICHOLAS c. H., Nov. 2i.-rhe his.
tory OF the political organizations IN
this county proves beyond n fact tina.
1t has been OF a one-slded nature up to
the preceding campaign.
The Democrats were as jubilant M
they were In the earlier part OF the
campaign. from the fact that their
slated ticket was successful in the
county primary. AS the weeks passed
they began to realize that they were in
a peculiar and deplorable situation.
Their party was split, They became
alarmed. Many schemes were put In
operation and the baby act" was I'M
i~versally played.
In the darkness of the night their
Moses summoned his wise men and
counselors together that they might
lay the situation before him. They were
obedlcnt TO the call and came from all
parts Of the county.
One, Aaron McClung. the candidate
for prosecuting attorney, was appoint-
ed as challenger at his voting precinct.
He marched In with his neghbors and
fellow-cltizens, to witness the pro-
ceedings as they exercised their sacred
right 70 cast their vote.
Election day passed, the ballots were
counted and the ballot boxes were re-
turned TO the county clerks office, some
on The day following the election, and
others later. An inspection OF the poll
books was made and then 1t was evil
dent that their schemes had been equal
TO the emergency. Their candidates
were successful. their majorities rang
ing from nineteen up to four hundred.
AS soon as the result was declared,
the Republican nominees demanded a
recount OF the ballots on the prosecut-
Ing attorney, county commissioner and
the judgcship.
The county court met and would obey
the mandates Of their party. The
normal school building was designated
as the place where they should meet.
But they were made to believe that
they could not meet In any place other
than the place where the circuit court
met. The two courts were In session at
the same time. The demand had been
made for a recount. The canvassing
board would meet at $3.50 o'clock and
the circuit court at Q o'clock. Before
they could begin on the. cou some
OF their legal lights would get the floor
and hold 1t until the hour of the meet
Ing Of the circuit court.
Then the special judge, F. B. Smith,
the sheriff, and others would rush into
the court room and open circuit court.
The county our would adjourn until
the following day, when the same pro-
ceedings would occur. This continued
for several days, until the people be-
came disguised with the actions of the
leaders OF the ring. and the heavy eX-
pense that was incurred.
The expense OF holding these two
courts was almost double that OF any
previous one. Forty Jurors. quite a
number Of witnesses. compensation OF
special Judges. rental. and several in
cldental expenses, all amounted to
about 1880; besides nothing was done.
The recount Of ballots I 'ultcd in a
gain of 4 few votes for tombstone.
The indications are that some OF the
ballots have been tempered with. Sew
eral facts are known as to the pro-
ceedings and actions of certain people
n they ma need assistance, from
some other source before the affair
ends. The citizens have been spectators
Of the proceedings. from start TO finish
and many of them expressed their de-
sire TO do away with the Democratic
ring and "bossism."