Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-01-24

purpose OF aiding me to defeat you.
1t is n ftsct of common ndtoriety in
SAID city that what you term q disaf
fected element OF Republicans. but who
supported Holland, as the regular Re
publican nominee. are very much
stronger in said city than that element
or Republicans who supported you; and
this fact will sufficiently account for
Hollands greater vote than yours,
without the necessity of resorting to
false charges of corrupt practices by
the officers OF election to account for
This very natural strength of his as
compared with yours.
CITY OF PORTSMOUTH.
deny that the said return is false
and fraudulent. and that you received
at said precinct l25 votes. or any other
number of votes more than were re-
turned for you. deny that the return
of los votes for me, and of 20 for Hol-
land, or either of them. is false.
claim that all the ballots returned as
rejected as defective were properly SO
rejected. / claim that the election III
this precinct was fairly conducted, and
that the returns must be taken as true.
| ca,l attention to the fact that you
have not specifically attacked the re-
turns for. or conduct of. said election,
at the First, Second and Fourth Wards
Of the city OF Portsmouth. and shall
contend that the returns from these
precincts must be taken as true, and
th;,t 10 evidence shall be admitted to
- x the same.
CITY OF WILLIAMSBURG.
7 DENY that the return is false or
fradulcnt; and that you received III
Williamsburg l2i votes, or any other
number Of votes more than were re-
turned for YOU.
deny that the judges of election
taf
mark the ballots of illitcratcs, or
marked them effectively; and l deny
YOUR conclusion that the ballots re-
ie-cted as defective were not ballots oi
persons who voted for you. claim
that all ballots rejected as defective
were property 50 rejected.
| claim that the election at Williams
burg was fairly and properly con
ducted and shall contend that the re-
turn at Williamsburg is true and cor
rect. and must stand as made.
And now having replied to all the
charges made by you in respect to the
returns from. and conduct OF the cleo
ton at. the several precincts In this
district enumerated and specified in
your motto. Of contest, call attention
To the fact that YOU have made no
charges against the returns from. or
conduct OF election at the several pre-
cincts OF Charles City county. nor OF
Elizabeth city county; nor at the pre-
cincts nf Rurwcil Bay. Zuni. or Halls
Store. In Isle OF Wight county: nor al
the precincts Of Washwocds, In Erin
cess Anne county. nor at the precincts
Of stanley aud Morrison In Warwick
county; nor nj Bruton Precinct. In York
county: nor 1T any of the several pre-
cincts in the city OF Newport News.
nor at the First. Second and Fourth
Wards in the city OF Portsmouth: and
I l,.ll a hot Ia. Of
these several precincts must be taken
as true. aud that no testimony shall
be admitted to attack the same.
GENERAL. AVER NIENTS.
Under the head OF General Aver
charges.
1t is apparent that these charges were
made in ignorance Of the facts. or
without regard for them. and I unhcsi-
tatingly and unqualihcdly deny each
and every one or the said charges. and
shall prove that the same have no
foundation in fact.
The election law OF this state was
passed by the proper law making body
and IL meets with the approval OF the
decent, the intelligent and virtuous peo-
pie of the State, And 1t has become
rather fashionable for those whom the
voters repudiate in their turn TO re-
pudiate the law
l deny that the election law was pre-
pared and passed or has been admin
istered for the purpose of keeping the
Democratic party in power.
THE WALTON LAW.
The walton law" upon which the
Parker law" now in force, was based
and with which it is identical in all
provisions involving constitutional
rights. has been construed by the
highest court of the State and deter
mined to be not only constitutional, but
admirably devised to protect the igno-
rant and illiterate voter from espion-
age, annoyance and coercion. while
providing for him such assistance az
would enable nm 10 vote intelligently
in accordance with his own desires.
Your charges as to how the law has
been administered in this district are
absolutely untrue.
1t is true that the election machinery
is under the control of electoral boards
who appoint judges and registrars. 1t
is true that they were appointed by
Democratic Legisla ture, but the mem
bers OF these boards are in every re-
spect your equals in either intelligence
or virtue, and were not selected on ac-
count of their Dartizanship. nor have
they ever prostituted their offices as you
have charged.
APPOINTED WHEN REQUIRED.
The judges and registrars were ap-
pointed at the time required by law
and the electoral boards only filed such
vacancies as thereafter existed and
when they were notified of the exis-
tence of the same.
They did appoint a Republican judge
at each precinct, and in many in
stances the one recommended by the
Republican chairman Notably was this
the case in Norfolk city; but they could
not force them to serve. But I deny
that the electoral boards did, or were
obliged to- obey the dictates of either
Democratic or Republican party mana
gers. and TO have done so would have