The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-10-11

IAN unwarranted attack upon Col. Nc,
Graw''-this with reference to the Tay-
lor county ballot frauds which deprived
the Republicans Of a legally elected rep
resentative In the legislature. The
story OF that crime Is too well known to
be repeated here. John T. .McGraw was
the candidate for the United States SEN
ate at that time. and he was using
every influence ne could command to
obtain a Democratic majority in the
legislature. He was the inspiring cause
OF yitiating the will OF the people In
Monroe county, Taylor county and the
Webster-Iewls delegate district. The
most daring crime on the ballot was
committed In Taylor county, Colonel
McGraw's home. twas perpetrated by
his tools, and q committee sent by the
Legislature, composed of two Democrats
and one Republican. to make perfume
tory visit to Grafton. to INVESTIGATE
charges OF fraud, did exactly what was
expected Of them-that Is the Demo-
cratic members Of the committee. They
refused to hear the truth. They saw
that the name of Brohard hud been
marked off the ballots, Dents written
In it's stead with an indelible pencil, and
were told by the election officers OF pre-
cincts ut which the ballots were found
10 be In this condition tina, the booths
were supplied with pens, and Ink only,
that none Of them &tle supplied with
pencils. that none OF the ballots when
examined by them In gascertainIng the
results at theirspreclnctsihad m indell-
Bile pencil mark onithem. 1t WIS clear
also that all thesechanges were made
with the same pencil, and in the same
handwriting, although the changes
,purported 10 have been made In five dlf-
ferent precincts. They were told by
these officers that at precincts at which
as many as thinty,or thlrty-ilve of such
changes appeared they knew that Bro
hard's name had ,notcbeen scratched or
more than fouror i've times. All these
statements were made to the committee
by witnesses duly sworn.
AS soon as these creatures Of McGrnw
heard the truth they closed the INVES-
TIGATIoN, adjourned sine die and re-
ported to the legislature that the Demo-
cratic nominee was entitled to the seat.
But that was not all. A grand Jury of
the county Of Taylor, composed Of both
Democrats and Republicans, made a
full and careful Investigation OF the
matter. and made a report. That re-
port contains these words:
AT a circuit court held for the coun-
ty Of Taylor. at the court house thereof,
on the 18th day OF April, 1899. we, the
undersigned grand Jurors for the term
of 1899 Of the circuit court OF Taylor
county. have fully and carefully exam
ined into the alleged election frauds at
the election held In November, 1898, and
herewith submit all the testimony taken
therein to the judge of our circuit
court.
1.-THE testimony taken before the COM
mittee of the house of delegates was
read in full by the secretary OF the
grand jury. IT WAS FOUND TO BE
THE UNANIMOUS OPINION OF
THIS GRAND JURY THAT THERE
HAD BEEN A FELONY COMMITTED
UPON THE BALLOTS OF PRE-
C1NCTs NO. AND S OF GRAFTON
DISTRICT. NO. 2 OF 1iNOTTSvILLE
DISTRICT, AND NO. 2 AND NO. 3 OF
COURT HOUSE DISTRICT"
For showing up these proven crimes
the Intcllisencer Is accused Of "unwar-
ranted attacks" on the prime instlga-
tor Of these unholy assaults on the in
tegrity OF the ballot The Register cor
respondent claims the charges Of this
paper were made without foundation
and without one scintlla of truth to
base It on. Everything said In that con-
nect!on Is malicious SANDER, and not
In fact reflection on Colonel McGraw,
but an open attack upon Republican
ol'ceholders of Taylor county. who had
charge of the ballots after the election.
and In defense Of them (some of whom
are now dead, It can be said that the
investigation by the Legislature the
body whose province and duty 1t was to
Investigate such matters, showed that
the election, as we'll as the recount, was
In every respect fair"
So far rs the Republican oHlceholdcrs
were concerned they were hoodwinked
by McGraw's agents. There can be no
hiding behind their skirts. for they are
dead and cannot speak. But the grand
jury Of Taylor county has spoken, and
that is all sufficient.