Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-01-12
THE w1sE-YoUNG CONTEXT.
Judge Brooke LOCKS Horns With ,Jnh
s W,iSa

THE WISE-YOUNG CONTEST.
Judge Brooke Locks Horns With John
S. Wise.
Yesterdays washington Post con-
talns the following in reference to the
Wise Young contest:
The contested election case of DR..
Richard IA. Wise. Republican, against
w. A Young, Democrat, of the Second
virginia district, occupied the attention
'of the House elections committee No,
yesterday. The arguments were be-
gun at 10 O cloekand continued through
the DAY, with "a short recess at noon,
until $50. when attorney John Wise, of
New York, once a member of Congress
from Virginia, concluded his argument
for his brother, the contestant.
The occasion was "a field day for Vir-
sln!ans, a large number OF whom
thronged the committee room Among
the spectators We're Representative
RtXey, Lamb, Yost and Epes, the last
manned having contest, which viii!
probably be heard before the same
committee today, with r. r. Thorn. al
so present. Other Virginians there
We're John r. Brown, Republican, who
is contrasting the seat OF Representative
swanson; Collector James d. Brady.
one of DIR. Wise's counsel: eX-PaSt-
ma ster Lindsay, of Suffadk, the locality
where the greatest frauds against DIR.
Wise ire alleged to have been perpe-
t.ated. ard Morgan Treat, of West
Point, Va. The chairman of the COM
mittee is General James A. Walker, Of
the Ninth Virginia District. SO that the
Democratic cortestee and his attorneys.
Judge d. Tucker Brooke, of Norfolk,
who made the arguments before the
committee. and Thomas III. Wilcox.
We're to face with an old political foe
an incident that added zest to the pro-
ceedings. Representative Yost sat AT
I,,y a
portion of the afternoon session, while
on his lett was General Brady, who
spoke briefly in the afternoon about the
split in the Republican party in the
Second Distinct.
Perhaps the central figure was At
torney John s. Wise, a magnificent
specimen of manhood, and, as he HIM
self emphatically expressed il, loyal to
Virginia in every fiber" who appeared
TO nave at mis- tongues end every de-
TAN OF the Information contained in
the hundreds Of pages Of printed tes-
trmony. He is determined advocate
and his presentation of his brothers
case was made more entertaining by
MS wit and learning, brought to play
upon the dry facts Of election disputes
He argued that THE evidence in the ease
clearly developed "a conspiracy 10 carry
the Second Congressional District for
Mr.. Young, regardless of whatever vote
might be cast for his Republican sppo-
AACAN, <aiid l!lstl Tie was made
possible by a series of partisan acts of
the Democratic Legislature in Virgin
la, the first OF which placed the Selec-
lion VI registrars. judges, clerks and
the electoral machinery in the hands
or partisan electoral boards in each
CITY and county of the State. He at
tackled the election lapw of March 6,
1894. and the amendment of March 6,
1896, by which, he said. iIliterate voters
We're placed at the mercy of Judges of
election. Mr.. Wise enlarged upon the
right of judge of election ITO enter
the booth With an illiterate voter and
render him assistance in preparing his
ballot by reading the names. and off GERS
to he voted for on the ballot, and point
ing out each name or names the voter
might wish to strike out.
Then Attorney Wise launched into a
number of things the Virginia Court of
Appeals did not decide, which were per-
nnent 2to the Present contest. and, after
reviewing that decision. he said that he
was able TO chow that the lay had been
perverted by Democratic partisans SO
hhaC~tRe CONTESTANT had been deprived
of not less than 5000 votes; that per
jured election judges had pretended to
draw q distinction between physical
and intellectual blindness, whereby tht.
Court OF Apepals was dsfed. He claim
ed to show that ait Ell ghty Ell sfrt precincts
of the district, exclusive of the county
of Norfolk, 30.277 votes .wsre deposited
in the ballot box. and but q, 4S3 votes
Were returned for congressman, and
but 22.758 for Presidential electors,
whereby nearly one-sixthi of the entire
vote cast for Congressman and one
fourth that cast for Presidential cleo
tors was suppressed. We will further
show that in forty -four of said pre-
cincts, 1885 votes We're deposited in
the ballot box. and but 1861 We're re-
turned for Congressman, whereby 1854
or RI rrt h ~
vote of those precincts. was suppressed
and that contestant received at least
2,357 Oof the votes so suppressed. We
Will further Show that at ten precincts
in said district the returns OF votes cast
for contestee, aggTegating 1877, were
false and fraudulent tatements of the
votes cast for him, and should be re-
jected.''
The vote OF the different localities In
State was also reviewed in detail
to show that many negroes were exclu-
ded from the polls and that their votes
| were among those rejected on account
of improper marking.
Judge Brooke spoke ait the afternoon
session. HE presented an able and ex-
haIstive argument, defending the bal
lot Laws of Virginia, and asserting that
the ballot laws were valid and conSti-
tutionaf. Judge Brooke quoted numer-
Gus legal authorities in his argument.
He dWeah upon the necessities that the
Official Msallot be secret and be protected
by certain safeguards. He said that the
contestant had INDUCED in abuse and
linsinuation, but in no instance had he
referred to- evidence to support the
Icharge. As Judge Brooke argued
about the necessity of assistance for
| ilhterate voters ait the polls, General
| Walker asked him whether it was not
necessary tbs the assistance should be
tactual and real. not elusive. and Judge
! Brooke replied that often ilfiterate vo-
tiers had improperly marked their ball
1 lots when the Judge instructing them
i was not TO be blamed,
! II am no Politician said Judge
Brooke, sbut I have associated some