The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-10-06
SPEECH OF MIR. GORDON.

argument, and having concluded he Of
fered a resolution sending the matter
back to the people.
SPEECH OF MIR. GORDON.
Mr.. s. T. Gordon said his sympathies
led him in one direction, but his sense
of duty inpelleti him to vote contrary
I" his personal preference Ever since
the President OF the United States in 1877
was counted out by fraud he mad grown
to look with horror upon all species or
fraud in elections. and looking at all the
evidences OF fraud as contained in the
record OF the contest between Treat ana
Gregory, there was no question in his
mind that fraud had been practiced ana
to the prejudice of Mr.. Treat. seventy
two witnesses under oath stand here I'M
challenged and their attidavits are not
dentcG.
He very eloouently alluded to the high
character of Judge Gregory and declared
that in all these proceedings his conduct
was above reproach; he had passed
through the fire untouched with any sus-
picion of complcity in the fraud and
unconscious OF its preparation.
JUDGES FAILURE.
Mr.. Gordon commented severely on the
faliure-of the Judge of election to appear
as a. witness. He said he was not one
who believed a negro could not tell the
truth. but if they had sworn ,uat they
voted for Gregory he would be inclined
to doubt their truthfulness. He entered
into a long and vigorous denunciation Of
fraud in elections, and cited many illus
trationS to show how it would lead to
endless trouble and injustice.
He said if it was not we'll known that
every negro would vote with the Repuh-
licans against the Constitution. what was
the force of the argument which has
been made here so long ami repeatedly
to submit this Constitution to an abridged
electorate? What sense was there III
supposing they voted to send Judge Greg
DRY here to deprive them of ever being
able to vote again?
Referring to the contention that there
might have been :, combine at Beulahville
whereby in exchange for negro votes for
Gregory white men voted for negro mag
lstrates and a negro constable. Mr.. Cor
don said the Very suggestion of such a
thing was an insult 10 the AIglo-SaXon
race ana should be scornfully repudated
BY the white people of that com n unity.
Mr.. Gordon entered in a legal argument
as to the regularity of the proceedings
brought by the contestant and discussed
at length every requirement of the cleo
ton law. ella aiming that they had been
complied with. Coming to the Cold Har-
Dor returns, he held up over mis- head a
batch of the ballots marked at Cold Har-
could have a moral or legal doubt but
that they We're intended to be cast for
Morgan Treat. He concluded by saying
that a great wrong had been committed
and in the name of the people of Vir-
Ginia he demanded that the wrong be
rishted; that the unholy hand of fraud
had so ohtruGed itself at Cold Harbor
and elsewhere that an honest hand did
not fee! like touching the ballots. and he
cast the ballots contemptuously down
upon the table. He also charged that
the whole State was reeking with election
frauds and closed with an impassionet:
plea thai every man should have the
right to cast his vote and have it counted
as cast.
MIR. POLLARD'S RESOLUTION.
Mr.. Pollard withdrew the resolution for
merly offered by him and submitted the
following:
Resolved, That in the matter OF the
contested election case OF Morgan Treat
against Roger Gregorr a new election IS
hereby ordered, and that the president OF
the convention is hereby instructed to
issue writ of election.
Will, VOTE zTEESDAY
Mr.. Harrison moved that the vote on
the Treat-Gresory contest be taken or
Tuesday. and this was adopted.
Mr.. Campbell moved that the cnnven-
ton adjourn to meet Monday at Il clock,
Capt Parks said on Monday at u oclock
the Carnival would open with pressing of
button BY President Roosevelt. and