The Savannah morning news., 1902-06-12
COL. EsTILL'S PROTEST.
SENT TO THE STATE DEMOCRATIC
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.

II Is Against the Claim That 1875
delegates for Hon. j. NJ. Terrell
Were Chosen In the Recent Pri-
mary-The Grounds of the Protest.
Recount Asked in Certain COun-
ttes-other Facts Bearing Upon the
GubernatOrial Contest.
Savannah, Ga, June 11.-Hon. E. T.
Brown Chairman State Democratic
executive Committee, Atlanta. Ga.
mar Sir: From information received
within the past few days, 1 am salts
fed that there were irregularities in
the Democratic primary election held
1une 5. 1902 and, therefore, protest
AGAINST the claim that the Hon. ]. NJ.
Terrell has received 1876 votes. or any
number of votes by which it is claimed
that he is the nominee of the Demo-
cratic party for the Office of Governor
of the state of Georgia
This protest is based on the following
ground, to-wit:
That in the county of Cobb, ]. n.
Can't, chairman of the Democratic
Executive Committee of said county,
did issue and circulate a circular
signed by him in which he stated that
no ballots would be counted in the
Democratic primary in said county I'M
less each ballot had his name as chair
man thereon, and in that way and man.
rer and by such means free express
sion of the opinion Of the voters was
prevented in said county.
Further, that in the county of Banks,
tickets, claiming to be official, were
printed and circulated in which the
names of two candidates for the nomi-
nation for Governor, namely Dupont
Guerry and ]. H. Estill. were printed
with a black or obliterating rule print
ed over said names. thereby prevent
ing voters in said county from ex-
pressing their choice of candidates at
the polls at said primary election.
And this said protestant, ]. H. Estill,
further declares that he believes that
said unfair and undemocratic methods
Lsed in the county of Cobb and the
county of Banks were also used in
other counties to obtain votes for the
said Hon. ]. NJ. Terrell in violation
of the rules promulgated by the State
Democratic Executive Committee.
In the county of Laurens, where
there was only small majority of
votes cast against this said ]. H. Es-
TILL he is informed that one precinct
was not counted, and he believes that
said uncounted precinct would have
given him the majority of the votes in
said county.
In the county of jefferson he is re-
liably informed that one or more pre-
cincts were closed before the hour Of
closing prescribed by law, and had said
voting precincts been kept open until
the proper hour of closing same had
arrived, he would have received ma
jorty of the votes in said county.
Moreover, he has reason to believe,
and in some instances has what he
deems to be reliable information, that
he received a majority of votes in the
following counties which counties are
reported to have given majorities to
Hon. ]. M. Terrell or Hon. Dupont
Guerry, namely, Emanuel, Towns,
Union, White, Dawson, Washington,
syth, Worth, Miller, Fannin, Colquitt
and others.
And, Furthermore, he is informed
that in the county of Tattnall, in one
of the precincts, the manager refused
to open the polls, because there was
no one present to represent Mr.. Guerry
as his manager, and that in that pre-
cinct the only adherent of Hon. J. NJ.
Terrell was the manager, and other
voters, who were thus disfranchised,
were adherents of the protestant, ]. H.
Estill, were deprived of their right to
vote
He further AYERS from general report
that unfair means were resorted to in
registering voters, that facilities were
afforded the adherents of Hon. ]. M.
Terrell and not those of j. H. Estill
and Dupont Query to register by
means of divers devices.
and he further believes that there are
other irregularities in other counties,
and that If there is another count and
the Irregularities and illegalities are
corrected, the said protestant, j. H.
Estill, and Dupont Query will show
that together they received a larger
number of votes by counties than the
said Hon. ]. M. Terrell.
He, the said ]. H. Estill, therefore,
IN the best interests of the Democratic
party of Georgia requests that a re-
count and full investigation of the al
legged irregularities be made under SUI
pervision provided by law, and that he
be permitted through his friends or
legal advisors to witness all proceed
lngs connected Herewith.
am quite well aware of the fact
mat the convention will be the exclu-
slVe Judge of the election returns and
qualltcations of its own members, and
am not asking you or the committee
10 decide this question. All l ask is
mat a recount be ordered in the coun-
ues l have named. so that the conven-
uon will have before it evidence upon
which to act in case of a contest over
me seats of any county delegation.
tours very truly, ]. H. ESTILL.