The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-01-21


side and counted for others; and there
were illegal votes cast. There were
many Irregularities, but after all these
things have been consideration the
final analysis Of this case-it appears
that Mr.. Decs has % more votes than
his opponent, and he is therefore, en-
titled to the seat
Mr.. Clarkson, of Mecklcnburg, had
taken some pains TO investigate the case.
It appeared to him from the evidence,
that the Fusionists had made special ar
rangements to capture two townships
Grantsboro and Bayboro. At the Bay
| boro box they took complete control,
having majority of the election officers
and these officers were relatives of
the candidates. One of the two Demo
cratic officers they made drunk.
1T will thus be seen that there was
| plenty of opportunity to commit fraud,
and there was personal interest to spur
| them on. Under these circumstances
the order of Judge Bryan, for re-
count, was perfectly proper, and there
| is every reason to believe that the re-
| count was more honest and reliable than
| the original count.
There is only one question Of law in
| volved in this case. Mr.. Paul claims
| that he was not present at the recount,
| and therefore it should not be used as
| evidence against him. Though he was
! not present, his brother-in-law was, and
| )thers interested in his keeping his seat.
| Then again he has never demanded
another count"
Mr.. Hampton, of Surry argued that
| The original count was the best evidence.
when il was made the election Off
| GERS could not have known that the cleo
| ton would turn OH the change Of
few votes The other side knew that
| Mr.. Dees must depend on the recount.
1t is not surprising, therefore, that sew
| 1ral of the boxes-amOng them the Bay
| boro boX-were found in bad condition.
| Some of them We're not sealed and
)thcrs were not locked. And for a re-
cunt to be valid it must appear affir-
natively that the ballots have not been
tampered with"
Mr. Hampton. however. based his
claim for Mr.. Paul, principally on the
,rouEd that Paul was not present when
he recount was made, and that the
evidence could net therefore be used
against him.
1T is net question of politics. We
are in 4 hopeless minority. Mr. Paul
>an do US no good. You are in a big
majority, and Mr.. Dees can DO You no
,ood. 1t is simply Il question of right
md law. Ii ii were a question of poll
les we would prefer that yen give the
seat to Mr. Dees That would furnish
Is Radicals with campaign thunder.
But l would be unwilling TO see a wrong
lone even to give us political adyan-
tage."
Mr.. Leatherwood of Swain also
hought it Il question of right and not
# politics, but the right, he contended,
was on the side Of Mr. Dees 1t had
been objected that Mr.. Paul was not
present at the recount. but that. Mr..
Leatherwood held, is no valid objection,
is Mr.. Paul was represented by rela-
ives and attorneys.
Mr.. Giles. Fusion) of Chatham. got
,ay on the ''bull-pen" question and said
he Democrats i'll former years, had a
bull pen in every county, and it did
seem to him they ought not to object to
he E'usionists having a bull-pen in one
little township. He claimed that the
boxes had been tampered with before
he recount, and he thought the origi-
nal count was the more likely to be
correct.
Mr.. Winston, of BERTHE, said the COM
mittee had been met at every point in
| this case with some legal technicality.
| To begin with, it was moved to dismiss
| the whole matter because the sheriff,
in serving notice on Mr.. Paul, simply
| delivered to him copy instead of sitting
| down and reading it over to him.
Now, here they come and say the re-
count was mo good for the reason that
| Mr.. Paul was not present. The law
doesn't require him to be present, not
even by attorney, though in this in
stance he was duly represented by
friends and relatives.
There is one circumstance in this
case that I'm proud of. l notice that
whatever of suspicion. whatever of
| doubt. whatever of destroying of tickets.
| whatever of removing political opponents
| and the appointment of relatives ON the
election hoard--whatever of these and
| haveother things of evil report
there may have been, not one
act of il all can. be charged up to al
| Democrat Mr.. Dees comes into this
House if he comes ut all. with a clean
record in this matter for himself and his
| party. | had understood that this great
| election law, this fair election law, this
virtuous election law, was to arrive at
| the truth and not to stitie it. And yet
| here comes man bearing in his hand
claim to the office. signed by blood kin
and married relatives, and wearing onI
its face strong evidence of fraud.
I'VE are to be told that because the
court house was not built of iron wall
and surrounded by fire and sword and
| flaming sentinel, that forsooth the vote
cannot he recounted. In this connec-
ton / want TO say that the boxes were,
deposited at the very place the law
prescribes. They We're not taken to
any out-of-the-way place. They were
stored in the court house. The clerk
had died, Mr.. Thos. Campen. man
of the highest character, was appointed
to take charge Of them; and he swears
the seals on the boxes in which mis- |
takes were found had not heen tampere |
with. That disposes of this contest.
"When the ballots were counted for |
Bayboro township five more ballots were |
found than there were voters. How did |
they dispose of this surplus. They divi- |