The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-02-02
UNDER the Dome

(UJ00QIG1' IullD lUWuGQG
A gentleman thoroughly familiar with
the merits of the contest from the
Thirty-frst district, which was decided
yesterday, said last night in rega"I to
it: THE committee dealt most literally
with the cOntestees, giving them every
opportunity to get up evidence III re-
buttal 1t looked oyer& palpable and
fragrant violations of the election law
in Mitchell, which afforded opportunities
for fraud and in which actual fraud was
committed, and addressed itself TO a
cold question of law, the discussion OF
which was favorable to the contestants,
and that was the registrations on
other days and at other places than
those prescribed by law. The
lawyers are unanimously of the opinion
that the law is mandatory, and that reg
istration on other days and at other
places than those prescribed was not
legal. The gross Irregularities in Mitch
ell. as stated by Mr.. Daniels, would
have, according to all presidents. thrown
out whole boxes and given the con-
tcstees an overwhelming majority.
For instance. at Fork Mount, the eie,-
ton was not held at the voting pre-
cinct nor by the legally appointed Off
GERS 4 magistrate who was not
registrar kept and registered the names.
At Harrels precinct the cOntesting was
done the day after the election, and the
boxes were kept over night at the house
of a Republican. Before the Democrat
ic Judge arrived the Republican judges
and registrar had about finish
ed the count At Lower Hol-
low Popular all the judges were
Republicans. There was drinking,
and the Republican judges tried to in
timidate Democratic voters. At Turkey
Cave the Republican registrar himself,
a candidate for magistrate, carried the
book all over the township soliciting
Republicans to register, and placed ION
the registration book after the election
names of Republicans who were per
mitted to vote when their names did not
appear on the registration book These
and many other facts appear from the
evidence which ordinarily, as we have
said, would have thrown out whole box
es with their large Republican MAORI
ties"
Col. Olds, writing to the Wilmington
Messenger, says: There is yet much
talk about the penitentiary, and Capt.
Bill Day is always stirring. He says
the new penitentiary bill is of no use,
and that another will be found TO be
necessary. He notes the fact that thc
committee recommends, just as he did,
the surrender of all the farms save one,
and the purchase, not lease, of that one.
He declares that the thing to be done
is to get the penitentiary out of politics,
but that twenty-one directors instead of
nine will put it only deeper in politics.
for under the old law, drawn by the
late Superintendent, Paul Faison, after
twelve years experience, the Superin-
tendent could appoint employees, under
the supervision of the directors. Capt.
Day thinks that when this power Of
appointment is put in the hands of
twenty-one directors they will naturally
be looking out for their friends. As 10
whether he will retire as superintendent
here is what he said this morning: g;
have not said what | will do. / have
not said | would resist the action of the
Legislature. No one knows what | will
do. The penitentiary cannot, under the
new law, be, managed by anybody. Fail
ure is more than predicted. viii MOI
tell any one my future intentions. The
Investigating committee has done its
work wen, but has failed to look into
the treatment of convicts. / tell you
the penitentiary is filthy. The cells
are full of vermin. 1t is recognized that
the new law is impraeticable, and it.
when the board meets. on February 10th,
surrender, a decent law will oe drawn.
In conclusion Capt. Day said that when
he had the confidence Of sucn mel as
Editor Caldwell. Senators Osborne, je
rome, Skinner and others he was ihd;f-
ferent as to what great many people
say There are, in fact, half dozen
men in the Legislature who can control
him."
Mr.. w. C.. Hardison. OF Wadesboro, is
one of the best business men in his sec
ton of the State. His fitness caused
many who knew him 70 suggest Mr.