The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-05-09
Discussing A CONTEST
The Crawford Pearson Case Taken
Up in the House.
Mr. Roberts. From the Committee ON
Elections. No. 3, Calls Up the ResO-
Grounds of Contestant Set Forth
in Embellishments of MIR. Miers.

The contested election case OF Richmond
Pearson against William T. Crawford, in
volying the representation in Congress OF
the Ninth District of North Carolina, oc-
eupied the House today. Directly after
the disposition Of the morning routine,
Mr.. Roberts. from the Committee on Elec-
tons. No. 3. called up the following reso-
luton which was reported on February .:
Resolved That William 7. Crawford not
elected a Representative to the fiity-siNth- Non-
eress from the Ninth district OF North Carolina,
and is not entitled 10 seat therein. and
Resolved. That Richmond Pearson was elected a
Representative 10 the Ffty-siNth Congress from
the Ninth district Of North Carolina, and IS en-
tit-d TO the seat.
Mr.. Roberts in the presentation o. the
case 10 the House recited that the official
returns as certified by the Secretary OF
State of North Carolina show for Crawford,
10. 6O6 votes; for Pearson. 1858 votes: for
Bosgs. 90 votes; making a plurality for
Crawford over Pearson of 23S votes II
was set forth that the contestee comedies
a clerical error Of ten votes made by the
clerk of Cherokee county. A recount OF the
ballots cast al Muddy Creek precinct, Nc
DowelI county. showed that. either by de-
sign or accident the votes east for the con-
testant and contestee at that precinct were
trahsposed. The correction OF this eT-
TOR. or fraud said Mr.. Roberts reduced
the plurality of the cOntestee TO 21S. 1t
was set forth that in his notice Of contest
the contestant alleged that there was a
fixed determination on the part OF the
Democratic leaders in the State TO carry
the election. If not by one means, then by
ha ~ n
certed plan all political and economical
questions were ignored by the press and
public speakers of the Democratic party
VINO made the campaign on the race issue
solely and who thus made IL a campaign,
not OF argument and elaboration. but OF
passion, rancor, and terrorism. resulting in
many Iawless acts. in blOO1shed. and in
breaches of the peace. in the breaking up
of political meetings, in the S-eaking up
and staying OF elections. Whereby many
Republicans were prevented from eAercis-
ing the right to vote guaranteed by the
Constitution of the United States. and by
the constitution and laws OF the State OF
North Carolina"
Mr. Pearson. in his notice OF contest.
further alleged that many spurious. false,
and fraudulent letters with contestants
name attached were circulated in the dis
trict in the interest Of the contestee and
to the injury OF contestant; that many
Republicans were inundated and others
bribed TO abstain from voting; that the
campaign, wagad solely on the race is
sue, with intense bitterness, eliminated in
the lynching of a negro on the night be-
fore election and that the leaders in the
lynching were the chief participants in a
bloody political riot on election day
Contestant then enumerated in detail
thirty three grounds OF contest, attacking
specifically certain precincts and certain
individual votes.
The attention Of the House was called TO
the testimony OF ". }. Harrison. Of Ashe-
Vile taken by the committee. in which
the witness testified that J. D. Murphy.
Chairman OF the Democratic Executive
Committee of Buucombe county, and one
of contestee's counsel in this case prom
Used to pay him (Harrisoa) $40 for twenty
FIVE votes. Harrison further testified that
after the contest in this district had be
gun Murphy urged on him to leave the
town. saying If you leave here l Will
help pay your way. but if you stay here
and testify you may look OUT Harrison
replied. You have threatened me enough;
/ viii tell it if l die"
Mr. Miers OF Indiana in presenting the
case for Mr.. Crawford said ne desired in
the outset TO call attention OF the House
to the fact that the district in question
vas not and never had been regarded as d
Republican district. The district was or
gained in 1888 and the Democrats car
ried il in 1884 1855, 1890. 1892. and 1898
The Republicans carried 10 in ISIS. the Flu
sionists in 1894 and the Republicans in
1896. In the second place. he said. il mus
be remembered that the election OF 1893
was held under an election Law passed By
the FusiOnists in 1895, which put every
precinct in the State in the control OF the
friends Of contestant. the election board
being composed OF four Fusionists and two
Democrats. And the irr5 gularites com
planned OF were committed by the political
friends and allies of contestant. who COM
posed a majority of the board OF election.
and the House is called upon TO render a
decision contrary to all legal proceedents-
that man shall profit by his own mistake
or the mistake of his friends and support
eTs.
Mr.. Miers said that the contestant spe-
cihcalIy alleges IN his notice OF contest that
many members OF the Eastern Band of
Cherokee Indians were deprived OF the
right to vote and frightened away from
the ballot box on account OF threats, dis
turbanoes. and lawles5 proceedings By the
political supporters OF contestee. These In
dians vote in Mingus. BirdtOwn, and
Quallatown precincts. and the examination
of the evidence by cOntestee disclosed tns
fact that the election in these three town
ships was eminently fair quiet full. peace
able and orderly.
He denied that there was any evidence
OF intimidation or violence. He said
"The majority attempt TO brush aside
the bitter and relentless opposition OF lead
ing and influential Republicans to contest
ant as being Of little consequence, by say
ing that contestant ran ahead OF his tick
ct and that contestee ran behind his In
the first place X is not true that contestee
ran behind his ticket. and il he had 1t
would not prove anything favorable to con-
testant as II has not been claimed that the
local ticket OF the Republican party was
popular or successful. II il be conceded
that the Republican local ticket was weak
er than the Congressional ticket. this
weakness certainly cannot compensate the
contestant for the losses he sustained. II
Is strange reasoning to conclude that con-
testant gathered strength from the weak
ness of his friends"
Hcurich's may have initators hut can have no
connections Competition is impraCticable Wheri