Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-01-21
An HONEST Presentation.
Continued from First Page.

fore they could not unite in nominating
local officers in the counties and dis
tricts, or members of the Senate and
House of Delegates. 1t is well known
that the National Democratic party by
petition nominated the Democratic
State ticket. and that the names of the
candidates on the Democratic State
ticket were published as the candidates
Of the National Democratic party, for
the same Office and it is well known
that the same persons were nominated
for local offices in many counties III
the State by the Democratic party, and
by the National Democratic party,
sometimes by uetition, and sometimes
bv conventions. and how it is possible
to argue that their uniting the local
candidates would be a fraud in law, l
cannot conceive.
In this legislative district, Jefferson
and Berkeley. Messrs. Henshaw and
Hunter. were nominated by the Re
publicans for the House of Delegates,
and afterward they were nominated by
petition, as candidates for the same
Office on the National Democratic uck-
ct. and l am informed that the nomi-
mating papers in that instance were
signed largely by Republican voters,
which papers stated that Messrs. Hen
shaw and Hunter, although candidates
| of the Republican party, represented
the National Democratic party, as can
didates for the Legislature. So in this
case. although Mr. Shaffer had been
nominated by the Democratic party, he
was afterwards nominated by these pc
titions. signed by Republicans, by Dem
ocrats and by National Democrats, as
a candidate for the Legislature on the
National Democratic ticket. There IS
no sort of inconsistency in a man be-
ing a candidate for the Legislature up
on the tickets of different political
parties. which differ on national issues.
This Senate and this Legislature has
nothing to do with the free silver
question. Ii is not expected to pass
any law affecting the national currency
or any other national question, and the
people of the district have a right TO
select a man for the Legislature with
out regard to his views upon national
questions. and this is all that was done
in this case.
Now. it Is respectfully submitted,
that the doctrines upon which the de-
cision of the majority of this commit
tee is founded would result, If carried
to their legitimate effect, in making our
elections a trap and snare. If in
every instance where there have been
any irregularities in the nominating pa
pers. or in any of the preliminary steps
preceding the making up of the ballots,
the votes are to be thrown out, then
a dishonest clerk, or other public Off
Ger. could. by committing some error
or irregularity. disfranchise a large part
of the voters aud the very spirit of our
laws is to prevent this thing from be-
ing done. and it is uniformly held that
where the result of the vote can be
ascertained clearly the election shall
not be interfered with or invalidated,
because of any error. omission or ir-
regularity. which does not affect the
casting and counting of the votes.
These IS citizens who voted for Mr..
Shaffer on the National Democratic
ticket have the right to have their
votes counted. They had the right TO
accept that ballot as it was prepared
and cast their votes accordingly. It
will not be denied that if they had
stricken out the name of D. w. Shaffer.
as it was printed on the ballot and had
written the same name on the same
ticket. that it would have had to be
counted. and now, because instead of
striking it out. and rewriting it, they
voted it as it was printed, they are to
be diSfranchised.
A man was elected by the majority