Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-11-05
TO the Editor Of the Register.

4
Attempt to Vote.
| To the Editor of the Register.
NEW MARTINSVILLE, w. Va. No
vember 4.-The Democracy of Wetzel
/ county are confronted by evils they
/ never before were forced to contend
with. In former years they have sue
cessfully combatted numerous unscrup-
ulous schemes and have taught the ov-
er-sanguine enemy that 1.-THE well-laid
| plans of mice and men gang aft aglee.'
In this campaign, however, the Re-
| publicans In their desperate efforts TO
| carry this 1.-THE Second) Senatorial dis
! trfct and the Tyler-Wetzel delegate dis
! trict, ind it necessary to reduce the
normal Democratic majority OF Wetzel
| county from 900 to from 800 to 500 In
order to do this they have employed
some OF the most disreputable and UNI
| scrupuious rascals, jail birds and ex-
| conVicts that can be found in or out
! of the State.
Three principal methods have been
adopted by the bosses to bring about
the desired result in Wetzel. First to
vote all the negroes and Italians work
! ing on the West Virginia Short-Line
Railroad. Second, To transport about
two hundred negroes from Virginia and
the District OF Columbia. Third, To
buy, outright, from two hundred to
three hundred Democratic votes.
In order to bring about the first re-
suit they have enlisted the services OF
a negro by the name of Armstrong,
who was recently released from the
State penitentiary at Moundsville,
thanks to the pardoning grace of our
most benevolent Republican Governor.
This convict was too good a Republ-
can, and too def and slxillful in the
manipulation of political wires, and in
the dispensing OF Doodle, to be left
languishing in the unpleasant obscur-
ity imposed by the grim and forbid
ding walls OF the States prison. He
could do so much in the outside world,
and especially were such services as
he is so eminently fitted for, sorely
needed by his party in Wetzel county.
The work of this notorious scamp
among the negroes along the Short
| Line Railroad has been ably supple
mented by that of two well-known
MOuAQSNl HE R6puulICdHS anu Sbiuc ~
| cal politicians of the same caste.
Their efforts to accomplish the sec
ond result has been sueeessful-to a
certain eXtent-that is portion Of the
| consignment of negroes from Wash
ington has arrived. 1t is said that they
| left the Capital City last Monday and
| came through over the B. G. o. r. X.
! without fare, all being provided with
| little cards with this inscription
| (printed) on the face:
| "Laborers for B. & o. r. K. S. II.
Johnson"
Below the name of "Mistah John
| sing" (who is the negro whom the
! Republican National Committee has
employed TO colonize these Illegal vot-
| ers) is written: Address Gooch, Rine-
| hart and Dennins" This firm is not
working for the B. &c r. r., but are
| contractors on the West Virginia Short
| Line. and are not now importing col
| ored or other laborers. the reverse
| side of this card, or pass, Is written
the signature of S. II. Johnson and his
| address-Washingto ID. G.
| About sixty of these negroes, who on
| last Monday, for the first time in their
lives, beheld the West Virginia hills,
are now infesting the Fishing creek
valley and are expected to vote in this
county on next Tuesday. But they
/ haven't voted yet.
On last Monday a gang of Italians
numbering about twenty-five, were
taken to Moundsville under the chap
eronage of some of our most industrious
! Republican workers" and boodlers for
the purpose OF having them naturalized,
T, but because of their absolute ignorance
of and indifference to our language,
our laws and our institutions, Judge
Melvin fatty refused to grant them the
priceless boon Of American citizenship.
All honor to this just and upright
Judge But the Republican managers
are working under strict injunction to
| defeat the Democratic candidates for
i the above named Offices at all hazards,
and what care they whether the rights
! Of citizenship is rightly and justly be-
slowed or not, il they can thus manu-
facture % or 80 votes for their ticket?
Therefore, when foiled in their attempt
to do so at Moundsville, they cast
about for another expedient. Now
! there will be q special term OF the Cir
cult Court of Wetzel county held here
o-morrow-Saturday. Another effort
will then be made to increase the voting
| population of the county-till after No
vember eth-for these Italians are not
now employed in the county, and have
10 residence within its borders, but
! are kept here for political purposes
only and are good enough citizens till
after the election. Some Of these ignor-
ant foreigners have been following in
structions to pretend they are for
Bryan in order to fool the Democrats
but these artful doges don't 60 Be-
sides, their leader gave IL away TO.
well known and reliable Democrat
whom ne mistook for a Republican that
it was all arranged for the whole gang
to vote In this county and to vote the
l-stTaight Republican ticket.
The Democracy Of old Wetzel Is on
its guard. These nice little schemes Of
the enemy are already laid bare. and
the third plan, that of purchasing 200
or 300 Democratic votes, win fall as
! fat as the other two.
There is no doubt that the negroes
are expected TO be allowed 20 vote
/ They were fully suDDifed with blank af-