West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1898-12-01
"RelDIGm FIQldS IN Preston"
An Honest and authoritative Stale
ment from One Who KnORS what
He is Talking About.
VIII the Wheeling Register Please
Take Notice.

county, We deem ~ proper and
right to make n pl,in statement OF
affairs connected with the result
and correct some OF the Wild and
snfounded Statements that have
appeared in tho papers Of the State
charging wholesale fraud and cor.
ruption in Preston county, and we
want the Wheeling Register to take
particular notice Of what We say,
for most Of This reckless and uure.
liable stuff has appeared in its COL
umns, and has been a direct and
totally uhcllled for Islander on the
good citizens OF this county, both
Democrats and Republicans. aud as
editor OF the Democratic organ Of
the county and Chairman Of the
Democratic Committee, we are sup.
posed to know what VIC are talking
about and so speak officially and
with right and authority to do so.
1t has beef hsraldod broad cast
that gross frauds were committed
in this county by the Republicans,
when there was no evidence what
ever for the assertions. IL there
had been any frauds we would have
known 1t as soon as the Register or
any of its correspondents. and
would have been the first to call
attention to it and demand and
have an Investigation. The charges
are a reflection on the Democrats
Of the county AS well as the Rspub.
lioans.
In the first place, part of the
officials who held the election at
every precinct in the county. we're
AZ good loyal Democrats aud honest,
intelligent citizens as there are in
the county, and to charge fraud and
corruption about the conduct of
the election and the making out of
the returns, was to accuse the
Democratic members Of the Board
with selling out or conniylng with
the Republicans, or else they were
such q set OF ignorhmuses and idiots
that they we're easily hoodwinked
and fooled by the Republicans, and
either way you take it, the refec.
ton is n serious one on them, and
also on the writer of this, who, as
Chairman of the Democratic Com
mIttee OF this county, selected the
members OF the Election Board at
each precinct, and with u Commits
sioner, Clerk and Challenger, who
were well known for their feslty to
the party and integrity and intelli,
gence, We we're willing to risk the
returns signed by them, and in
many cases brought in by them.
Had there been any frauds or
rascality accomplished, or even
attempted, it would Rave been
promptly reported to us. A mum
Der OF Irregularities aud some lille.
gal voting vas reported to US and
promptly exposed in this paper,
and the attention OF the public and
the C%anvassing Board called to it.
However, ne do not believe that
there was any more OF this kind Of
work done than ia other counties
OF the State controlled entirely by
o party. Under the present
election law thsre are so many re-
quirements and complications that
there 10 not a county iu the State
but what some flaws eau be picked
in some of the returns and some
Irregularities noted, II they are
examined closely. We will risk our
reputation aud every dollar we
have ia support OF this assertion.
When the County Court con
Vened as a C~anVassing Board, at
torneys were here to represent Mr..
McGraw in the recount, and they
we're treated with great courtesy
aud patience by The Court, and
had svery opportunity for discoy-
criug frauds, had there been any.
Que Of The attorneys, lion. Sam Y.
Woods, Of Pnilippi went home
aitoi % days investigation, salts
fed that there wss n0thing wrong.
The returns from a numBsr OF
places we're rot signo on the out
side Of the Aour sack containing
the ballots, across The sealed place.
- required By law, but TIE CouY,
promptly sent Tor al Che officials
from those precincts, who came 10
and identified Che returns from