The Richmond climax. (Richmond, Ky.) 1897-1914, 1899-08-30
ELECTION LAW.
Its Real Provisions and Workings Are
Lucidly Explained.

This statute was rendered neces-
sary by the frauds by which the vote
of Kentucky was in 1896 taken from
Bryan and given to Mckinley. By
what means were these frauds in the
election of 1896 committed? By the
deliberate and systematic violation of
the most important provision of the
secret ballot election law, designed to
prevent frauds, namely. that provision
which directed that at each voting
precinct there shall be a division OF
the election officers among the polit-
ical parties contesting in the election.
There never was a secret ballot cleo
ton law enacted anywhere that did
not contain that safeguard against
fraud. Why is that provision so i'm
pOrtant2 Because by other provisions
of the law it is directed that immedi-
ately upon the closing of the polls the
ballots shall be counted, and immedi-
ately upon conclusion of the counting
the ballots shall be destroyed, and then
the voter is prohibited from testifying
in any proceeding, civil or criminal,
how he voted. 1t is obvious that under
such a system, if election officers act
corruptly, they can with impunity
make the result of an election what
they choose without reference to how
the votes were cast The ballots being
destroyed, and the voter prohibited
from testifying how he voted. it is i'm
possible to prove the fraud When the
offices are divided among the political
parties, the Representatives of each
party can see to it-and if they are
honest they will see to it - that no
false count in the ballots is made, and
they will refuse to join in certifying
any other than the honest result.
fha five fho4 Tho hin g. ~.
election law was offered in the senate
every time I have publicly said any,
thing about this law | have stated this
fact In the election of 1896 the cleo
ton officers Of the city of Louisville
were so appointed that at over 40 pre-
cincts there was not a single election
officer for Bryan. This statement has
never been questioned by any one.
Under these circumstances a majority
of $4,000 was turned out in Jefferson
county for Mckinley. 1t would have
been quite as easy to have made the
majority $4,000, and there can be no
doubt that if the Democratic majority
in the First and Second congressional
districts had not been underestimate
by the Republican party leaders and
their allies in that contest the McKin-
ley majority in Louisville and Jeffer-
son county would have been much
larger than it was. We have the au-
thority of Hon. John s. Rhea for this
fact Several weeks before the election
of 1896 it became known that the Re-
publican county judge of Monroe
county had grossly violated the law
requiring a division of the election
officers. Mr.. Rhea's brother and a
friend went to Tompkinsville. the
county seat of Monroe county, and
called the attention of the county
judge to this violation of the law, and
demanded a division of the election Of
ficers. The county judge promptly
agreed to comply with the demand,
and told the Democrats TO select their
= list of officers, which they did, and the
judge appointed them. On the evening
before the election this county judge
revoked the appointments thus made,
reappointed the officers he had orig
inally appointed. and the next day