The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-10-23
Republican Frauds ON the BnlIot.

Republican Frauds ON the Du3Iot.
On several occasions The Times has
called attention to the open and notorious
colonization of negroes from the District,
and from Virginia and North Carolina, in.
the State of West Virginia for the pur-
pose of voting them fraudulentiy for the
Mckinley ticket. For some reason OF
other the partisans and officials who are
conducting this nefarious business appa-
rently have been Indifferent enough to
public opinion and the law to make little,
if any, attempt to conceal their opera
lions. What is quite as strange, the honest
voters of West Virginia appear to be apa-
thetie in the face OF an intended outrage
and crime which, if successful, will rem
der the election in their State a hideous
farce
In Fayette county alone, as our des-
patches this morning relate upon reliable
authority, the Elkins and Hanna machines
viii try TO vote fifteen hundred negroes
who will have been in West Virginia
an average of a month, while the State
election law requires a residence of che
year. 1t is conservatively estimated that
by the day of election there will be not
less than twelve thousand outland negroes
within the Commonwealth, brought there
for the sole purpose of defeating the will
of the people at the polls. by the com
mission of a crime which, everywhere and
in all circumstances, should be punish
able with death.
That our fellow citizens of West Virginia
CHI oil al go
eminent and their liberties as freemen is a
matter of amazement to us. They are not
compelled to. The negro colonists SO far
introduced have been accurately located.
They are cognizable by the people in the
localities where they have been planted
Not five per cent of them could be voted,
even under the elaborate system of fraud
and perjury which has been established for
the purpose The law is perfectly plain.
The fact that its enforcement has been lax
or that it has become q dead letter wher-
ever the election machinery is in the hands
of the Republicans, does no. operate to ab-
rogate it. a healthy public conscience,
and a determination not TO permit the cleo
toral vote of the State to be dictated by
resident blacks, would result IN organ
ization to prevent the contemp, ated as
| sault upon the suffrage. Swift punishment
meted out 10 a few colonists and repeaters
in each county, early on election day,
would discourage the remainder and avert
the evil. There is yet time ee prepare for
the work. It should be entered upon with
relentless purpose TO save the institution
of free ballot and an honest count, with
cut which our popular elections would
be joke.
It is greatly to be hoped that the honest
citizens OF West Virginia will take this
matter IN hand without a moments delay.
They know. or can easily ascertain. who
the leaders CT the colonization movement
| are Some of these men will, no doubt,
prudently remain outside of the State I'M
| til after the election; but whether en- the
! day. CT before or after it they may hap
pen TO be inside its boundaries they
| should be dealt with in drastic and
summary manner They are simply mora
| and social outlaws, and in no sense emit
tied to the-s1ightest consideration or pro
tecticn.