Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1900-10-13

the hSHtSC people OF TINS state the
outrage upon the elective franchise
and the Constitution and laws of the
state by the Democratic Legislature
of 1889, in Ehwarting and defeating
the VIII of the people of the whole
state as expressed in the undoubt-
ed election of General Golf to be gov
ernor of the state. Closely allied
with this transaction, was the we'll
remembered and infamous tive"
construction OF Democratic COVER
nor by which Republican who was
clearly and fairly elected to Congress
from the Fourth District was denied
his certificate of election and com
PEELED to prosecute a contest in Con-
gress for his rights. Two other Re
publicans, honestly and fairly elect
ed TO Congress, from this state, were
ruthlessly deprived of their certiii-
Gates at the same time. Thus gov
ernor and three congressmen elected
at the same time were denied what,
BY the laws and constitution OF the
state rightfuliy belonged to them.
The laws an the constitution were
ignored, and the principle of might
makes right" substituted for them.
Additional outrages of this kind,
perpetrated by the Democratic
party Of this state, were the unseat-
ing of Newton 0gdin, elected from
the Fourth senatorial district; the
refusal to seat Anthony Smith who
held certificates of election from
the same district; the counting out
of Warren Miller, elected Judge OF
the supreme court Of appeals in 1892;
and the counting out of 5. &. Smith,
elected to the House of Delegates
from Ohio county.
Such is the record OF the gross
violations of law, defiance of the will
Of the people, and brutal disregard
for the elective franchise and the
vested rights of individuals, made by
the Democratic party of this state
in it's struggle to maintain its hold
upon the official machinery of the
state, when it became apparent to
them that the people had determin
ed to put an end to their ineompe-
tent rule and maladministrtion.
Not less unsayory is the history OF
5heir recent attempt to regain their
lost power in the state. Having been
fairly and honestly beaten at the
polls in the election of 1898, upon
the result of which the election OF a
United States senator depended, they
deliberately resorted to chicanery,
fraud and felony in an effort to over
ride the will OF the people.
The true result Of that election
vas legislature Republican by
seven on joint ballot, the Senate
standing seventeen Republicans and
nine Democrats and the House of
Delegates thirty-six Democrats and
Jhirty-fiye Republicans, making 81
Republicans and AS Democrats on
joint ballot By superiority of num-
oers and brute force one of these Re
publicans, Chas. NJ. Via, of Monroe
county, was ousted and Democrat
seated in his place, in utter disre-
gard of law and defiance OF the de-
eisions of the courts, as well as the
will of the people. Another one, w.
l.. Huntington of the Lewis-We bster
DELEGATE district, was deprived OF his
seat by forgery. The election re-
turns gave him Is majority. Upon a
recount in Webster county his Dem
ocratic opponent, Talbot, gained AZ
votes. In one precinct the election
commissioners swore there were IL
blank ballots. Upon the recount the
IL blank ballots were not found, but
the Democratic vote was increased
just II. The ballots in this county
were changed iii a felonious manner
after they left the hands Of the cleo
ton commissioners, UNDER OR
DERs AND AT THE lNSrIGArION
OF PROMINENT DEMOCRATIC
LEADERS.
In Monroe county at each voting
place there were two Democratic
election commissioners and one Re-
publican. These commissioners found
Via, Rep, elected by majority; and
so found the Democratic county
court on canvassing the returns. Bat
there appeared upon the scene at the
couaty-seat of Monroe, an emmisary
Of the Democratic state committee,
in the person of James II. Miller, the
chairman of the Democratic commit