The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1904-06-03
.OBSER YER
EXPOSES
CLIQUE.
TELLS OF THEIR METHODS Ar THE
POLLS AND THE DESPERATE
METHODS THEY EMPLOY.
Democrats May Cast Illegal Votes, But
Republicans Shall Not Vote Even Law
fully-Gives the Herald a Rub.
Elitors q Teleeram

Editors Of Telegram;
While your paper is engaged in ex-
posing the deceptive pleas OF the
Democratic politicians and pointing out
tho insincerity of the crowd that il
running the Herald in the interest Of
the Democratic party in Harrison county
have come to the conclusion that it Is
proper to give a few of my personal OBJ
servations of the way they BEHAVE them
selves at the polls. happen to know a
rev things that show them up in bad
light.
Down in my ward I was not only
amused but indignant over the way they
acted. The Democratic election officers
seemed to think they owned the eartn
and that not"ing went unless they said
so. They considered themselves in their
egotism the power behind the throne
and they wanted to dictate to the,voters
as to whether they had right to vote
Men, and many of them at that, were
questioned about their residence. not
withstanding the fact that they had been
voting there for years and were known
to be legal residents of the ward. All
these men the Democrats believed wers
going to vote the Republican ticket, and
they knew no other course than to try
to Brighten them out of their right to
exercise the American franchise. They
became so obnoxious in this respect that
some men actually gave it up in disgust
and left the polls with the remark that
If they could not go to the polls and
vote without being insulted by the
election officers they would not vote NJ
all. These Democratic election officers
thought that because of their position
they were clothed with the authority to
intimidate voters.
Fully two-thirds of the Republicans
who voted at that place were questioned
by these Democratic election officers.
The plan seemed to be to let none escape
them and ther intimidation. Men who
are accustomed to vote without molesta-
ton or being questioned, We're angry at
the manner in which they were treated
and they have not forgotten it either.
But they did not act that way with
Democrats. To the contrary they were
given all the ropes they needed. In one
case two men who had lived here but
month were extended the privilege OF
voting so far as the Democratic election
officers were concerned and notably a
certain barber. But others happened to
know that they had not been here long
enough to be entitled to vote and thus
prevented an illegal vote or two that the
Democrats We're perfectly willing to let
go in the ballot box. Another instance
remember was that a man came in
to vote. One Democrat questioned him.
not being posted, but another said he
was all right, and they decided that he
could vote, but when he said he wanted
to vote the Republican ticket. they sud.
denly changed their minds. Why? Not
that they were opposed to the casting OF
illegal votes, but because they did not
want Republicans to vote.
On the face of all these things 1t Is
very inconsistent on the part OF the
Herald to support that crowd since it
has howled so much about Illegal votes
and unfair elections, but since it does
know these things and docs continue TO
work for that crowd, it Is palmer than
daylight that the Herald means only to
turn the county over to the Democrats
if it can, and it does not care how IL
legal the mems.
OBSERVER.