The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-11-19
At the Polls while State Election Is Being
Held.
they HAVE NO MORE RIGHT IN SUCH CASES
Than Have the Officers of Britain or
Germany-Armed Soldiers I'm Elcc-
tions q Public Menace.
From Cincinnati Enquirer.


arouse much interest in legal and politica
circles throughout Kentucky. 1t puts
new phase upon the election difficulties II
Kentucky and calls attention directly t,
the lawful remedy for any attempt to con
troll elections by force or fraud.
Judge Tarvin prefaced his instructions t
the jury by saying:
RECITAL OF FACTS.
ION last Tuesday there was held in thi
city and county an election for the pnrpos
OF electing state officers and city officers
OF Covington. The election was held IN
der the election law In the State oil Ken
lucky adopted In 1892 and amended IL
1885, Section 1891 Of this election Law
provides that this court shall give special
ly in charges to the grand jury first con
vening after a general election the pro
visions OF the election law. Since tina
election has been held ii has been openly
and VIGOROUSLY and frequently charged
by individuals and through the press Of
the State that in this city and count!
there were numerous frauds committed IN
carrying on the election.
II have, OF course, no personal knowl-
edge on that subject ! do not say to YOU
that there nave been any frauds commit
been any wrong done, bat do say TO you
that there has been SO much said about
1t as 10 render 1t only proper for the grand
jury to give the matter its special a.
teniion and investigation, OF course 1t IL
always true that immediately following a
holly contested election there is a great
deal said and written that ought not 20 be
said or written. and people under the in
EueBce of disappointment or excitement
fo .tx7 Cd 81 NJ =
nd charges You have nothing to do eX-
cspt TO examine with uns.9sed minds, and
ia no presumption vi guilt upon any
land. and endeavor 20 ascertain whether
mere has been any violation OF the election
Jaw or not. 1t would be impossible far me
100 strongly cypress to y0,; he import
3Hce OF fair elections, an honest count and
"a honest return.
"Thorc are no words in tho English IAN
gusEe that would fully express to you hos
strongly | and thousands of other citizens
feel on that subject.
WHAT FAIR ELECTIONS MEAN.
In my opinion, aud it is one shared by a
great majority of the community. fair cleo
lions constitute the basis of all that is de-
ssirable in our government; and | believe
With others that II we could always have
fair elections it would not be long until we
would have. in fact as we'll as we have in
theory, a government owned by, con
,rolled and operated by the people, ant
nobody else. Every fraudulent vote that
rs cast In an election, or every vote that
is iraudulently returned IN an election, iE
an injury and wrong, not only to the
public as such, but it is a fraud and
wrong to every. individual who casts his
ballot at that election Every fraudulent
tsnfn l. i a.
out the vote OF soIne honest, decent elector
and l know of nothing in the way of a
violation of law In the State or city that
ought to arouse more general resentment
among the individuals of a community than
frauds in elections"
Judge Taryin continued in n wholly non
partisan and judicial spirit TO review the
extraordinary occurrence ACCOMMODATING
the late election.
THE TALK or RLooDsHED.
The people OF this State" said he. "are
not looking to force or TO bloodshed as any
remedy for any wrong that may have been
committed That sort of talk comes from
! the lips OF very few people. and those who
indulge in IL are men who arc carried away
bv their passion of the moment their ex-
element or feeling, but the people of the
state are looking 10 constituted authori-
y,
the constituted authorities have exhausted
their powers and the end is reached, then
the people OF The commonwealth will he
SATISFIED and contented no matter what
happens"
Now. 1t has been charged publicly and
openly, he continued that there have
been cast Illegal votes in this election in
Inns city and county; that there have been
iase counts OF the votes made as cast by
the electors, and that there have been false
and fraudulent returns made from the
voting precincts. | do not suppose there
ever Was law anywhere that gives more
power or more scope to the grand Jury than
me election law in Kentucky does. II is
certainly the most forcible law that have
ever read; 1t gives more scope to the grand
jury and allows 1t to do more In order TO
arrive at the truth and punish yiolators of
election law than any statute l have ever
seen anywhere"
Judge Taryin cited the penalties fixed
ny the Inherent sections of the law and
said:
A BROAD LAW.
These sections embrace nearly II not all
Of every Uncomfortable violation OF tho
election law Of the State, and under the
provisions Of this chapter grand 1uries
cAn reach and indict the person who is
Sunty OF any manner or shade of wrong in I
holding an election.
fou have right gentlemen OF the
Grand jury" he continued. "to send for
any person connected with this election in
any capacity directly or indirectlv anv
person VINO can have any possible knowl- |
ecge on the subject. bring them before Won
by process Of the court il necessary and
wnen you get them there compel them In
testiiy ana answer any Questions WI,
choose to ask them under oath: IL thew "a.
fuse or fail to do 1t, you win And this
court - ready and willing to enforce tbs
law In reference to them. and make than,
40 u or stay In Jan until they Eel ready
70 DO i. You can send for any books or
any evidence that you imagine ia desirable
tosyou; you have all the power and author.
~ OF the circuit court at your back In
order to gel. Il Every election officer. every
man who saw anything, any person. no
matter how or In what capacity. can be +
compelled 70 come before you and tell nm.
der oath all that happened or answer every
question put to him, whether his answers
cf1mipate himself or not. And say again. |
that no such power II given to any grand
Jury under any statute have seen any
Where, and when you go ink, your room.
going TO investigate these matters, YOU |
can DO II with knowledge that the Off
foyg Of this court VIII b ready. willing and :
apxi0ue to assist the t-and Jury at every <
.tege n that inquiry in getting at the
ABOUT MILITIA AND MARsHALs.