Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1904-11-19
W0RCESTER'S
ELECTION HITCH
Clerks Did Not Tally Properly, So
Had to Come to Snow Hill Last
Tuesday and Correct Errors.


Never in the history of this county has
there been such unprincipled doings in
politics as in the campaign and at the
election held on the Sth inst. A care
fully planned scheme to rob the people
of victory has been attempted and under
the guise of virtue the Republicans have
done all in their power to thwart the
will of the people as expressed by their
ballots at the election.
There were no trick ballots used In
this county, in fact the sample ballots
sent out were fac-simile of the official
ballot. as to type, spacing and general
makeup. 1t was as clean a ballot as
was used in the state. and the man who
sent to the Baltimore NeWs telegram
from Snow Hill that trick ballots were
used in this county is a common cur and
contemplate liar
Although the election in Snow Hill
District was acknowledged by all parties
to have been conducted peaceably and
fairly, and the Judges of election having
agreed upon a method of procedure in
counting. as they were about to finish
their work a messenger from the Repub
lican leader went to the polling house
and whispered loud enough TO the Re-
publicans for the Democrats to hear,
Don't sign the return sheets" An at
tempt was made TO carry out the orders.
when an attorney present informed
them that they must give reason for
refusing to sign, and that he could help
them out by informing them that they
had just received instructions from
without not to sign. Immediately this
was said. the Republicans saw they were
caught. admitted that everything had
been conducted fairly. aud then proceed
ed to sign the returns.
On Saturday after the Canvassing
Board had adjourned, it was ascertaiDed
that the clerks in all the districts of the
county except PocomOke had failed to
tally to the votes of the electors of all
parties the straight party vote, so the
Court passed au order calling together
the Conv ,ssiug Board to rectify the
matter and give to the public a correct
statement of the result of the election.
With this end in view the Oanvassing
Board, composed of the three Election
Supervisors, summoned the election Of
ficials of all the districts in the county
except Pocomoke to appear before them
and correct their errors. The officials
came and would have proceeded to per.
form their duty to themselves and the
state had it not been that they were ad-
vised bv the Chairman Of the Republi.
can State Central Committee not to par
ticipate in making the corrections. again
showing the desire to create a muddle
where there was no need of it, aud hon.
esty forbade it.
Tally and return sheets were correct
ed, however. and the people of the
county and state were given the full
vote for electors.
At the election there were some votes
thrown out in the county for both par
ties because of their being improperly
folded, and others because improper
ly marked. Both parties were affected
by these. but as the greater number Of
illiterates are in the Republican party
that organization probably suffered the
more by thrown ont ballots. In Snow
Hill district careful attention was given
by the Republicans to the teaching of
the colored voters as to the marking and
folding of their ballots. and Republican
workers were quite gleeful in the after
noon at the Democrats who neglected to
properly fold their ballots. They be-
lieved the Democrats would suffer the
more by Improperly folded ballots but
they squealed like sucking pigs when
they discovered, as the ballots, were
taken from the box. that not only white
Democrats but white Republicans and
black Republicans alike, had made the
same mistake. This was the case in
other districts.
In looking back at the election and
the returns made, aud all of the charges
and counter charges, it is gratifying to
know that no errors occurred and no
corrections had to be made in the CON-
gressional vote and returns. All Of
these were properly Tailed by the Clerks
and attested by the Judges. and the
proper return sheets filed with the Clerk
of the Circuit Court at the first meeting
of the Board of Canvassers. Copies
were transmitted by the Clerk to the
proper officials before the Board of Can.
vassers was re-convened by the Court,
the returns showed that Thomas A.
Smith received 1852 votes. William II.
Jackson, l471 votes and Nehemiah E.
Clark l22 votes. Smiths plurality over
jackson was 4Sl.
Following is the vote for President
and Electors:
DEMOCRATIC.
Parker and Davis ..... 1880
Brown ............... SVVV
jackson 80. 1894
George 1888
Shriyer . 1887