The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1904-10-27
How Elections Were Formerly Held.

in its platform opposed returning to
the old plan of allowing the sheriff to
select all the election officers, and de-
cared itself in favor of an election
board for the state, to be chosen by the
senate upon the recommendation Of
the chairman of the state republican
and democratic executive committees,
who should appoint an election board
in each county who should appoint all
election officers This year they are
in favor of going back to the old sheriff
system. What will they advocate two
years from now no power can foretell
1t will doubtless be something which
they think will give them some par
tisan advantage, and not anything in
the interest of honest government.
What were the causes which led to
the adoption of this law? Under the
old system one man had the power to
name every Judge and clerk and cleo
ton officer in the county. That man
was also a partisan representing a ma
jority in his county, and hence the mi
nority had no representation and no
voice in the selection of these officers
Under this one man system frauds
were easy and frequent, and in many
counties in East Tennessee, where ev-
cry officer. was a republican, they be-
came notorious aud scandalous. In
the Turney-Evans contest the undis-
puted proof showed that in many of
these counties the poll tax and other
laws were openly and wilfully violated
and thousands of illegal and fraudulent
ballots received and counted, and the
school children of the state robbed of
their just dues. 1t was to meet and
prevent just such wrongs as these and
to give minority representation on the
board clothed with the selection of
election officers, that this law was
passed. Under this law there is one
republican judge and clerk at each
voting place, and it is difficult to see
how frauds can be committed without
their participation. There are some
1900 voting places in the state, and
when my competitor charges the whole
sale stealing of elections in Tennessee
he not only ISLANDERS every democrat
election officer, but he ISLANDERS 5000
sworn officials of his own party.
That this law has prevented fraud in
East Tennessee is proven beyond the
possibility of q question by the fact
that in 1894, when republican sheriff'
held the elections, the Hon. Fl. Clay
Evans, republican candidate for gov.
ernor, received, according to the face
of the returns, So, 747 votes in the coun
ties of East Tennessee, while foul
years later, 1898, when the elections
were held in each county by boar(
composed of two democrats and one re
publican, the Hon. Jas. Fowler, al
equally able and popular candidate
only received 80, 444 votes. Both elec
tions were held in off years when nj
president was voted for, and nobod,
ever contended that Mr.. Fowler diC
not receive the vote OF his party o
have counted for him every vote cas-
for him. No, my fellow citizens, tn
trouble with our redublican friends
that these laws have prevented ther
from stealing elections in East Tennes
see, and there is where the sho
pinches.
Does that party favor fair non-pal
tisan and honest election laws, and ca
1t be trusted to write an election la
for the people of Tennessee? Let u
examine its record for moment. Whe
the democratic party came into powt
in 1870 they did not find the law en-
: powering sheriffs to appoint electio
officers on the statute books. The
found there these laws which | sha
read to you, and these were the la
o laws passed by the republicans on IL
subject of elections in Tennessee:
"That the governor of the state sha
within sixty days after the passage
this Act, appoint commission Of rel
/ istration for each and every county
! the state, who shall keep his office
J. the county seat OF the county, and
shall be his duty to register the nam
of each and every qualified voter, al
to issue certificate that such voter
entitled to the privileges of the electi
franchise.
And not contented with that, the I
publican party waited one more We
and then placed this law upon Il
statute books:
"That it shall be the duty Of t
commissioners Of registration of vote
to hold oil elections now required
law to be held by sheriffs, and that
that purpose he shall have all the po
}. ers and rights that sheriffs now p'
sess.
''The judges and clerks of electic