The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-12-05
Apemoerntie Manaper's PfoLsst.

In this mornings Intelllgencer is a.
statement signed by Mr.. j. slidell
Brown. editor OF the Kingwood Argus
and chairman of the Democratic execu-
tive committee Of Preston county. The
article appeared in The Argus Of last
wsek-that paper being the Democratic
organ OF the county, and relates to the
alleged Republican frauds" in Preston.
about which the Wheeling Register and
the Democratic leaders have been harp
ing.
We refer to the Registers publication,
because the article, written by this hon
est Democratic editor and political man
ageE IS mainly addressed to the Wheel
ing organ, whose mlsreBresntatlons he
corrects. and denounces as a reflection
upon the honor of the good citizens of
the county, and which he says assails
the honor Of Democratic election officials
as well as the Republicans. He shows
how the Democratic attempt TO prove
crookedness IN Preston county proved a
farce, defends the honesty Of the cleo
tlon and declares taht the Republican
majority in that county for congress
man, the head of the ticket, was within
I'VE votes OF what he, as the Democratic
chairman, reported TO Democratic head
quarters previous TO the election 1t
would be, after he had made careful
poll Of the county.
Mr.. Brown is completely disguised
with the effort to cast doubt upon the In
tagrity of the election, and has the cour-
age 10 say SO over his own signature.
Those who know Mr.. Brown know well
his high character. ills reputation at
home for his honesty and fairness. His
paper fought Mr.. Dayton vigorously and
no Democratic paper in the state was
more aggressive throughout the cam
paign than was the Argus. He asks the
Register some pertinent questions con-
corning the fairness OF the Wheeling
organs absurd propositions In regard to
the circumstances of the canvass Of the
vote of Preston county.
One OF these points raised by our
wheeling neIghbor was that three mem
bers Of the Preston board of commits
sloners, or county court. we're candidates
for reelection, and we're helping to cam
vase their own vote. This was for effect
on thougRtless persons. Every school
boy should know that 1t is the duty I'M
der the Law for the county court to can
vass the vote. No other authority can
do so. There were 1--WE other commits,
sloners. There is no authority under the
law for any one else to canvass the vote.
Their election was not in dispute. The
sole dispute was as to the vote for con-
gressmen,
Mr.. Brown desires the Register to In
form him who would have canvassed the
returns had all the members of the court
been candidates for recollection. This
game condition of affairs existed in
nearly all the counties OF the state,
Democratic as well as Republican. No
Democratic paper save the ignorant and
inconslderate Register ever conceived
the absurd idea that there was any other
body authorized to canvass the vote.
we direct the attention of ur readers
TO Mr.. Browns statement. II Is the pro-
test of an honest Democratic campaign
manager ana editor against a libel Of
his fellow citizens, and the reflection
upon county which has never in all It's
| history been charged with fraudulent
voting.