Semi=weekly graphic., 1898-09-03
fIs MAYOR BELLS REQUEST
 FOR REPRESENTATION.
The Election Commissioners Address an Open and Insulting Let ter to Mayor Bell and
 His Supporters
Pine 8 a9. Aut 3l, 1898

Dear Sir--We desre to aeknoWi- edge receipt Of your communication of tue 27th inst, requesting the Board of Election Commissioners to appoint the persons named by you, as judges Of election at the severa. voting precincts of this county. Al 8 Hbe same time you also filed with us petition, purporting to be signed bg164 persons of which the follow ing (omitting signatpres) is 9 copy, (Here follows Mayor Bells peti- ton aud letter, recently published in this paper
 We have given your letteraud the above petition that careful and dc 1iberate consideration which the im- portance of the subject deserves and we desire to say fn reply,
 1st-Tbat lest cur silence be con strued as aa aeqQience, we desiFe to repudiate and deny the statement of fact eontalaed In the first sen *tepce of sald petition, we do aot HRofg or admit hat both the candidates Tor the office of sheriff are of t6e same political falth.
 We do know Maj. Fl A. McCo9. the nominee of the democratic party of Jefferson ea"atv. ta 6e demo crat, bei We only know that you aee Hhtiag the reg ular democratic organization as an independent candidate, and it is matter Of common notoriety that you have been endorsed ? (which is equivalent 10 n8mination) by the republican committee of this eoua- ty, that Ferd HaYis, Miadlebrooks, Jenesson and other notorious negro republican leaders of the county aee among Che loadest in your support and that youf only hope for success s, 10 be elected by negro votes over Those of the whlte democrats and tax payers of the county Ia our opinion a democrat is one who sup ports the ticket, advocates the prin- ciples and labors for the success ofI the democratic party, and We seeI nothing ih yoar present course which would bring goa within this definition
 Your petition from beginning to end bristles with uucaiied for. unwarranted and gratuitous insults to the democratic party of this county. It assumes in almost every 7 ssentence that unless you are allowed te appoint a judge and clerk Of elee- tion at every voting precinct in the county, that fair and hoaeet elec ton cannot be had. Wren and how your supporters beeeme the eusto. dians of all tbe political honesty and virtue in the county does not ap- pear; and we respectfully dissent from such , conclusion We know of nothing in the history Of our county democracy, since it rid lts
 Of some Of it's old 'cQmpromise' leaders and assumed sole eontsol of| sshe county government which would warrant your or your supporters in assuming that fair and honest. election will not be had on the Sub, prox., under the management ot the regular democratic authorities For six years past no such charge has ever ueen made by any decent 1e. publican in the county, and certainly not by any democrats.
 3d- We have no power to appoint clerks, but the law makes it the duty of this board to appoint three .,edges of election for each voting precinet. Tue only limitation is that they shall be qualified electors dis. erect persoag able to rean and write, ana shall not all be select ed from the same DO itieal party f competent persons of different polis ties can be foend We fiud noth- ing in either the lette. or spirit ot the law which gives to any c7ad' dale the right to select judges in his own interest. Political parties only are to be considered-not per sons Hence, if you are, as yoa ; claim, q Democrat the appointment of two reputable Democrats pos essing the requsite qualifications, will amply safeguard your interests Ii, in view of your Republican en- dorsement and sMpport. you shonld