The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-11-16
Honor to Whom Honor is Due.

To the Editor: l notice you wish TO
give all honor to Ashe county for the
splendid showing it made in the recent
election, and 1 join you in congratulating
it, but let us honor all to whom honor
is due. Our little sister, Polk, is just a
trifle ahead of Ashe. She elects every
county officer, except sheriff, closing
that by only eight votes), gave Gudger
for Congress a majority of nineteen;
Spainhour, for Solicitor, 1862, and carried
through the entire Democratic ticket for
State officers.
This is the first time Polk has gone
Democratic since 1876, and no county in
the State is entitled to more credit for
services rendered the Democratic Earty
in the recent campaign. And the Demo
Gratis are determined to hold it hence
forth
The writer had talk on Thursday
with Registrar j. C. Fisher, of Tryon.
who was arrested by a Deputy United
states Marshal on the 3rd inst. for de-
Ginning to register Republican because
the latter refused to testify to having
been in the State two years. Mr. Fisher
is thoroughly conversant with the cleo
violated it in any particular. Speaking
of the affair, he said
Il refused to register no one who could
subscribe to the prescribed oath and
have not given myself the least concern
about the arrest and final investigation
of the matter. Republicans were permit
ted to inspect the registration hooks all
along during the time they were open,
but / did not permit any copies made
until the day for challenges. This seems
to have incensed a few Republicans and
doubtless prompted them to take the
course they have in the effort to intimi-
date me, in the hope of preventing legit-
innate challenges from being sustained.
THE great Democratic gains at Tryaa
precinct ocCaSioned further surprise tC
the Republicans and may have caused
some of them to think we had taken un
due advantage of them But upon my
word and honor, there is nothing in this
charge. The registration was perfectly
fair and the election was the most qsiet
and orderly of any we have had for
years. The poll books will bear me ou
| in the statement that the Republicans
certainly have no cause to complain
II
living in South Carolina were permitted
to vote. Two or three who had gone
across the line to make crops during lht
i summer, returning when their summers
| work was completed, were allowed t
| register and vote. If this is a violation
of the law | must confess total gnoranc,
of it's meaning. An investigation vii
show that if any fraudulent votes were
cast. the large majority of them were
| by Republicans who had bogus tax re.
| ceipts, or had been overlooked by The
I! sheriff in making up his certified list OF
those who had paid their taxes prior tt
| the first day of May We are ready tol
it and invite an investigation"
Hardly had Mr. Fisher completed his
I story, when a message was conveyed II
him from United States Commissioner
| 'rhorne at Saluda, advising him that the
prosecution against him had been with
drawn and he need give himself no furth.
er concern about the matter. Thus ends
a Republican scheme to intimdate ar
1 honest official in the faithful discharge
of his duties and their effort has come
to naught
| NJ L. SHIPMAN.
Hendersonville, N. c., Nov. IA.