The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-01-07
l. 1T a REPTBIICs

IL VIII surprise most people to learn that
a congressional committee viii probably
DO appointed to determine whether or not
republican form OF government exists in
Alabama. The investigation is likely to be
very earnest and thorough because Il is
!nstgated not by Republicans. but by
Democrats, and is supported by men OF
all parties II was started by a petition
signed by 10000 white voters Of the state
rather startling. Senator Allen. of Ne
braska. summarized them when he said
that Of lloS65 votes returned for the Dem
ocratio candidate for governor. 1876 were
fraudulent
There is no race war in Alabama. The
whites are in a majority and they sim
ply count the colored men out. IL is gem
orally understood that no coloIed man Will
be permitted to sit in the state legislature
but they are allowed to fiji enough OF the
minor offices to keep the entire body from
combining against the Democrats, with
the Republicans and Populists. The con-
test is between two factions Of the Demo
cratic party. one known as the regulars,
who are now in power. and the jefferson
ians. who. being out. are enusiveiy viz
tuous. and charge all kinds of misdeeds
against the majority.
The political history of Alabama affords
some evidence that neither side has been
as scrupulous In politics as IL might have
been; but success has emboldened those
Ia nj af afa -
is said. that with grim humor the oath
administered 10 judges was TO perform
the duties OF your office to the best inter-
ests OF the Democratic party. so help you
God" At another precinct. so the same
affidavit says. the oath administered was,
so help me over the fence
one county. Dallas, in what is known
as the black belt has about 800 colored
voters. almost unanimously Republican,
aud about 900 white voters. OF whom 30
per cent. are Democratic. There has been
no attempt In recent years to prevent the
eoiored people from voting. but although
they regularly cast Republican ballots into
the box, by hocus pocus. they regularly
come cut Democratic. In 1884, therefore.
the Republican leaders made a thorough
canvass OF the county and admonlshed tho
negroes not TO vote at all. but to allow the
white folks 10 fight IL out. Therefore
they remained away from the polls almost
70 a man. Watchers were stationed at
every polling place TO take the votes and
politics OF the voters. They reported about
800 votes cast. q which only - were by
people known 70 belong 20 the Jeffersonian
faction. Nevertheless. 5.l62 votes were re
turned for Robbins. the regular Democratic
candidate for congress, and 10 for Adrich.
the JefIers1nian candidate. From one pre-
cinet. when only six voters appeared dur
ing the entire day. by actual count 90 ma
tority was returned for the regular Demo
cratic nominee.
In another precinct only twenty-one men
approached the polls Three negroes ana
four white men OF that number did not Of
fer TO vote. ycs the returns showed 1S9
votes cast-lSo for Robbins ana for Al
drlch
similar returns. 50 the AFFIDAVIT says.
were received for the entire county. ard
the p0u lists for 1894. which evidently
were made un from those Of ISIS end ISso.
show the names 81 many men who are
dead. and others moved away years before.
n one precinct. only three mos from the
c.ty OF Montgomery. independent POLLS
were set mp by the managers % the Jefrer-
ssnlan campaign and every voter was in
ta-sd 20 east a duplicate open ballot Tor
the purpose or making a test: E23 votes