The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-09-25
Small Attendance at Night.


of s had arrived and those who were pres
ent resumed consideration of the O'Neal-
Simpson contest.
During the executive session the fol-
lowing resolution had been offered by Mr.
Sanford and adopted:
Resolved, that the motion to dismiss
be denied and that the contestee be al
lowed to file an answer, setting up any
matter of defense he may deem proper
and that each side be given one-half hour
in which to present his side of the CASE
Chairman Lowe said that in accord
ance with the resolution the committee
would hear the answer of the contestee to
the petition in the contest of O'Neal
against Simpson.
Captain Simpson thereupon read his
answer to the complaint of Mr.. O'Neal.
He denied that 300 fraudulent votes had
been cast in the election in Lauderdale.
He further said that it was not true that
O'Neal was not allowed any managers or
representatives in any of the beats of
the county except at Florence. He said
| that he did not know of any rule or reg
ulation of the Democratic Party which
provided that each candidate should have
representative at every polling place.
In the details of his response Captain
Simpson went exclusively into the his
tory of the Lauderdale primary and de-
scribed the conduct of the primary by
the election inspectors and managers
He entered specific denials of the charges
of fraud made by Mr.. O'Neal.
Chairman Lowe, on the floor. with Mr.
Mullins of Chiffon in the chair, suggest
ed that the whole issue resolved around
the proposition that the State Committee
should direct the County Committee to
TO fhaF ohor
thought the committee should act upon
the question in order that time might
be saved.
Mr.. Sanford of Pike arose to a point
of order and reminded Mr.. Lowe that
each side had been given half an hour
for the presentation of argument and
facts
Mr.. Lowe said he had no desire to de-
prive any one of his rights but the COM
mtttee had authorized the introduction
of evidence
Mr.. O'Neal was. however, instructed to
go on with the presentation of his side
of the case. He said that his only de-
sire was to get an order from the State
Committee to the County Committee to
hear his evidence He called Chairman
Paul Hodges of the Lauderdale County
Committee before the committee and
tuVoAloiVu DIS u lIle dCllOn the
committee on his contest.
Chairman Hodges said the committee
had declined to go INTO the investigation
of fraudulent votes except those that
had been challenged on the ground that
the committee had no Jurisdiction
MIR. ONeal was interrupted by Mr..
Brightman of Lowndes County, who
questioned him on circular letter which
Mr.. O'Neal had sent to the voters of the
County, in which it was alleged that he
said that any man-Republican, Demo-
crat or Populist-was eligible to vote who
would agree to support the nominees of
the Democratic party.
Il want to ask said Mr. Brightman,
what in the name of heaven constitutes
Democratic voter in Lauderdale Coun-
tyr"
A Sensational Colloquy.
The closing argument of Mr.. O'Neal
was characterized by a spirited colloouy
between him and the contestee, Cap
tain Simpson. Mr.. O'Neal excepted to a
statement of Captain Simpson, that it
was the contestants desire to destroy
harmony in Lauderdale County, prolons
the contest and consume time until a
Republican should be elected from Lau-
derdale County.
Mr.. O'Neal asked Captain Simpson If it
was his intention to charge him with
conniving towards the election of a Re-
publican
Whether it is or is not your purpose "
replied Captain Simpson, that will be
the effect of your action"
IL wish to state" said Mr.. O'Neal his
voice rising, IF the gentleman person.
ally charges me with endeavoring TO
elect a Republican the statement is un-
true"
Captain Simpson arose, and in an ex-
cited voice. exclaimed:
I'm ask the gentleman to repeat that
statement outside"
however, Acting Chairman Mullins rap
ped for order and declared that both
gentlemen were out of order.
In closing his remarks Mr. ONeal pre-
scented the following resolutions:
Resolved, That the Democratic Exec.
utive Committee of Lauderdale County
be and Is hereby instructed to reopen
hear and determine the contest of En-.
met O'Neal against r. T. Simpson fol
the nomination of representative and tC
hear evidence and consider and deter.
mine the illegality of any votes cast in
the primary, which is contested and clim.
mate from the count all votes cast there.
in by persons not qualified under thS
rules and regulations of this Committee
in said primary, and after such elimina.
ton to declare who is the nominee oil
the party for Representative. whether
O'Neal or said Simpson"
Before the vote was taken on this res
olufion Chairman Paul Hodges of the