The news & observer., 1897-02-05

| minority JbH1Ek, anu Shlu II lie ullUGr-
stood the majority report he latter
gave as one reason for unseatiny Ransom
and Reid that they ought to have ~
more votes than were I, corded for them.
and as another reason because they al
lege house was entered by masked
| men. He wanted to know if this was in
| accord with the provisions of the new
election law. He said he was astonished
at Cooks argument that if q mans
| name was registered his vote should be
counted even though not deposited in the
ballot box, and he declared this was
| preposterous and contrary to the letter
and spirit Of the law.
! Reid of Mecklenburg spoke in defence
| of that county and of its people, whose
| honesty had been so noted all over the
State and nation. He said he stood here
| fairly and honestly elected, the report of
| the majority to the contrary notwith
| standing, and that he had certainly re-
| celved a majority of the votes cast. He
| said it had been made to appear that dur
| ing the campaign and at the election q
| reign of terror existed in Mecklenburg
| He said this was false. That grand old
county is the birthplace of liberty, the
home of men who spurn political slavery,
1 anu NlV W III lOb NOu14GlldilCC AiduuS 4l1
elections The election last November
| was quiet, orderly and decent. The only
reason why the contestants failed to be
| elected, was because they did not get
| votes enough, but yet they came here and
| contended that according to the arrange
| ment and combination agreed on they
| should have had a certain number OF
| votes. But, said he, ''the best laid
| schemes of mice and men gang aft aglee. J"
| He was not here to say that partisan
| prejudice had anything to do with the re-
| port of the majority but would say the
| minority report was in accordance with
| the facts and the evidence. He denied
| that there was pandemonium and politi-
| cal hell turned loose" in Mecklenburg, as
| had been alleged, and he cast back the
| foul aspersion. He said the contestants
| had failed to give the thirty days notice,
| and hence their case should be cast out.
| Why not require such notice in Neck
| lenburg, and yet require it elsewhere
| In conclusion, he said he cast back
| with scorn and contempt the reflections
| and aspersions upon his county, and asked
at the hands of this House the adoption
| of the minority report.
| Blackburn spoke in support Of the ma
| jority report, and said that this contest
| showed that behind two honest faen, the
contestees, was most iniquitoust scheme
of fraud, and that old Mecklenburg serv-
ed notice on the people Of the State was
| again free. He said he knew of vast
| frauds, and he denounced the Demo
cratic machine, which until two years ago,
when the manhood of the State rose in
| its might, had suppressed the vote and
| thwarted the will of the people. We
Republicans and Populists are going
| TO see the election law of 1896 is Itnin-
| tained."
Ransom said the only reason why: the
| Republican contestants did not win in the
| election, was because the Populists did
not vote for them, and that he had ger
| tihcates stating that they did not vote
for the contestant. He declared he woald
| not have accepted the office had he pot
| believed he was fully entitled TO it.
| Nelson replied vigorously to Blackburn S
| attack on the Democratic party, and de-
| clared that that party stood earnestly IN
| favor of free and fair elections. But this
did not bear upon this case, for here the
question resolves itslef into about this-r
that there were rumors in Mecklenburg
| of frauds, and upon these the maporitE
| bases its report. He said the evidence OF
intimidation would not carry any weight
even in n trivial case in a magistrates
court. He said furthermore, that two
Years ago the House decided that thirty
days notice was necessary in contests.
Lask asked Nelson if few days ago
the deputy sheriffs in Mecklenburg were
not arresting negroes and putting them in
Jail. Nelson replied that there was posi-
tive evidence Of this. He then said
Throw out all the So votes if you wish
That does not throw out these men
There ,is no right TO unseat these men
without evidence, and this had not been
presented.
| Cook, in reply, said the votes of Pine
vile, Crab Orchard, Steele Greek and
Sharon were ruled out to elect the con
testees.
| Lusk asked Cook if there was any evi-
dence that any negroes had been arrest
ed and placed in jail to keep them from
voting.
Cook replied there was.
Furguson asked Cook where the evi-
dence was.
Cook replied: TN that bundle Of pa
pers."
Furguson then said: "Read it." Cook
replied: II will, if you can find it. /
haven't time"
AT 2:05 the vote was taken on a motion
to adopt the minority report. The vote
was ayes 80; noes 72.
Hauser asked to be excused from vot-
| ing. Ransom made a motion to excuse
| him from voting.
| Hancock moved to table this motion.
| This prevailed.
| Hauser, amid laughetr. voted aye.
| johnson asked to be excused but the
| House refused to excuse him. He voted
no, amid applause from the Republicans.
Platt, in explaining his vote said he
would not vote a prejudiced vote for mon
| ey; that he could have done so for money
| during this session Of the Legislature.
| This caused great laugh. He voted aye.
| Hauser was applauded by the Republi-
cans when he changed from aye to no.
Cram, Of Mecklenburg. asked to be ex-
cuhsed from voting. saying he did not like
to take sides He was excused.
Harris, Of Hyde said he opposed cleo
| ton contests, and voted no.
Cook moved the adoption of the major
q