Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1908-05-05
UGLY CHARGES.

~eN Ass Aaudeoy AOANcHg VI ~~~~~1 So
the congressional nomination In the
Eighth district, will involve someone
10 charges of fraud before these two
doughty democrats finally settle their
political difficulty.
Mr.. Oarlin now has the seat 10 Con-
gress, as be wss elected to succeed the
late John F. Rixey over two COMPETE
tors, Mr.. Gordon and Judge Nicol.
Although it will be many months
before the voters will have another chance
to express their choice, the louisa can
didste has been in the fray for weeks,
and he Is moving heaven and earth to
encompass the defeat of the Alexandria
man.
He has openly charged that the Oarlin
forces won their last victory by The use
of liquor, and, furthermore, be has
challenged his opponent 10 meet him on
the stump. Mr. CsIlp sOnounces that
be will not leave his seat ia Washington
to engage in a debate. He thinks this
would be neglect OF official duty.
Furthermore, he denies that any
liquor was used at bis instance. The
congressman, it should be understood,
is directing bis battle from sfar, and the
most aggressive of bis lieutensnts is
Raleigh T. Green, editor of the Onlpeper
Exponent.
Mr. Green has proved himself no
sluggsrd in taking care of the interests
of his man. He has had an answer
and q hot answer st ihst-ior every
charge, and, moreover, he has given the
Gordon contingent some extra things to
think about.
Recently the editor accused the Louisa
people Of voting negro in their last
primary, and now he comes into the
arena with still more serious allegations
the charge that between fifty and sixty
men who were delinquent in the matter
of poll taxes, voted in the Louisa primary
when Gordon ran sgainst Osrlin.
Editor Green did not launch this
serious allegation without first posting
himself. He came to Richmond and
made a careful study of the books In the
State auditors Office. In this work he
was assisted, as far as possible, 6Y the
auditors clerks, though these, Of course
know nothing OF the facts in the con-
troveTsy.
AS a result of the Investigations here
and In the Eighth district, Nj. Green
nov charges that between the elections
of 1905 and 1907 the qualified vote In
Louisa increased Sc per cent, the In
crease having taken place just before the
last congressional primary, and that not
withstanding this, the clerk Of the county
turned into the State treasury for the
six months ended September Let The
meager sum Of IS IS for delinquent poll
taxes-in other words, the taxes OF only
two men with penalties attached.
Not satisfied with bringing this matter
to the public view, The Oulpeper editor
now Is investigating the deiquent tax list
of Orange county while'a representative Of
Mr.. Gordon, according to special re-
ceived here Saturday, is doing the same
thirgs in the city OF Alexandria.
MIR. Green apparently suspects that
some forty or noIe delinquents have voted
uDlawfuily In Orange, and one OF the
suditorS' clerks at present is looking in
to this matter.
Just what may be inferred from the
present situation, it Is hard to say, bat
it looks IS If somebody hiss been guilty
either of fraud or of gross negligence.
so far ss the Louisa books are con-
cerned, 1t appears that the discrepancy
actually does exist, though why 1t exists
Is not explained.
@. Lee Moore, the first clerk TO the
auditor, would express no opinion about
the matter yesterday morning. He said
that Mr.. Green had been to Richmond,
and that he had assisted him 10 gather
Ing such data So be needed, but that he
(Moore) did not know what the informa-
ton indicated. The Inference, however,
In the case of Louisa county seems to be
pretty plain. II yet remains to be seen
what The investigation concerning Orange
and Alexandria will reveal.
Mr.. Green charges that soms of the
delinquents had failed TO pay their taxes
fer two years back, while others we're de.
linquent for only one year. BE fur
nished the auditor with the name of
every man he suspected and the records
we're consulted as to each one Of these.
1t may be that final explanations will
clarity the whole matter, and show that
only innocent mistakes have been made,
but Mr.. Carlin's friends appear 10 think
that the discrepancies are most signi6-
can't.
1t would appear, too, that the explans-
tions will have to come from the county
clerks. It is these oficisls@or deputies
specially appointed by them-who have
to collect the delinquent taxes. The
law forbids treasurers to do this.
Just how 1t happens that q friend of
Mr.. Gordon (MOnis Wamplei) has
gone 10 Alexandra to consult the books |
there Ia not fully explained. 1t mar
be, however, that the Louisa maa pur-
poses fighting the Osrlin contingent with
their own fire, aud that he hopes to End
just as many Suspicious signs in Alexsr
dria. IS Editor Green claims to hs, nm.
earthed In other sections Of y a di.irict
Indeed, 1t Is not got too far to say
.na' 'ne's sts -Ome who believe that
Si'S'oPsu' a of the sort indicated might
W I'D in all parts OF the common
wealth, il an investigation we're made.
1t would seem, too, that proof of will
full crookedneSs In the directions indi-
Gated would bring the offenders fully
within the scope Of the criminal laws
not only the statutes touching the en-