The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-08-13
MAKING COLORED VOTERS |
Charge That Republicans Are Col
onizing West Virginia.
Between 5000 and 10000 Men I'M
ported Into the State RecentIy-Not
Residents Early Enough 10 Vote,
Rut the Democrats Assert That
the Opposition VIII Attempt Fraud

PARKERSBURG. w Va, aug. 10
There IS but one thing that causes The
Democratic managers of this State the
least anxiety over the outcome of the ap-
preaching national election and that is tbs
colonization Of negroes by the wholesale
from other States. Between ), 600 and 10 coo
negroes have been brought into the State
in the last few months. Not one of them
will be entitled to vote this fall, none of
them having been in the State a year, but
it is believed to be the intention of the Re
publican managers to vote every one OF
them. Unless the utmost care is taken to
prevent Illegal voting the Republicans will
accomplish their point. There are enough
negroes in the State now-brought ia
within the last few months-to give tkz
State to the Republicans If they are per
mitted to vote. But if the law requiring
residence in the State of at least a year
is enforced then the Democrats will carry
the State
Every possible excuse for flooding the
country with negroes from the sure States
OF Virginia and Pennsylvania has been
made use of. New mines have been
opened in the counties of Barbour, Tucker.
Harrison. Fayette and others and thou
sands Of the negro cOlonists have been en-
ployed there Then the railroad work il
the State has brought in several thou
sand more.
The Short Line Railroad being con-
structed between CIarksburg and New
Martinsvflle has employed nearly 1000
men. nearly all of whom are negroes. The
Coal and Iron Railroad being constructed
between EIkirs and Marlinton. where it is
10 connect with the GreenbTier branch of
the Chesapeake and Ohioa Road has given
employment TO hundred OF these negroes.
while in the southern part of the State,
in Kanawha. Fayette. and the counties
along the Norfolk and Western Railroad.
the influx of strange negroes is remarkable
The Republicans do not deny that these
negroes are TO be voted if the Democrats
viii permit them TO do IT, and only the
highest possible degree of watchfulness
will prevent several thousand OF these ne
groes from voting unIawfully. Scarcely
day goes by that q carload of negroes does
not 90 by on their way 20 new work. and
the same report comes from all over the
State. If West Virginia is carried by the
Republicans 1t Will be their Illegal negro
voters who Will do it.
The campaign IN the State IS now well
under way and SO far everything seems 10
be very favorable for the Democracy.
There are no longer any Gold Democrats as
distinguished from and opposed to the
regular Democracy. The Popu}ist party.
which attempted 10 nominate State ticket
to be voted on this fall. could not find
enough members of the party left to fill
the ticket, and some of the places on the
ticket were left blank.
The party is thoroughly united in every
portion Of the State, and the Democrats
are standing shoulder TO shoulder in the
fight for the maintenance of civil liberty
and the preservation Of the Republic Ev-
cry Democratic meeting that has been held
has been large and enthusiastic, AID the
reception given to Judge Holt on the ocCa-
sion OF his formal opening Of the campaign
last Friday night was as fattering as any
candidate could have asked for
The old war horses OF the party are in
t.ao harness again, md such men as ex-
Senator Camden, ex-senator Davis znd
others. who few years ago were the lead
ers In the political battles, are now ear
nestIy in the fight to win, and their assist
ance and influence viii be of tremendous
value to the party workers
Mr.. Holt will take his fiddle into the
campaign and attempt TO follow IN the
foosteps OF several other West Virginia
politicians who have found the fiddle a very
powerful vote etter in the mountain coun-
ties The late United States Senator Ken
ma ALWAYS carried a violin with him in his
campaigning trips through the southern
part Of the State and he was the 1901 OF
the Third district. Ex-Governor Wilson
used the violin with good effect in his
campaign. and Governor Atkinson made use
of violin which was presented TO him by
a friend. who had laughfngly remarked
several years before that he would give
him his fine violin when he was nominated
for Governor. When Atkinson was nomi-
mated his friends remembered his promise
and presented him the violin, which fgur-
-fy,1T in election
already taken I'D the fiddle and has been
pIavinfg the Arkansas Traveller and the
t.DeviI's Dream" in some of the lumber
narnns along Tug River with good effect