Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1910-12-05
MAoNDAY AFTERNOON, DEC. :
MlNGO ELECTION.


60 county who were defeated on the
face OF the late election returns have
done the eminently proper thing in
inaugurating a contest and filing their
notices therefor The attitude of the
candidates seems to be that they do
not care so much for the Offices. but
that they believe it is up TO them to
make stand for clean politics-to
show the Republican gang that there
is still God in Isreal who is on duty
even in Mingo county That the gang
has offended with a high hand and an
outstretched arm appears beyond lit
tie question of doubt.
The Democrats have made the
charge that fraud was practiced, and
that the apparent results did not
represent the the sentiment OF the
lawful voters of the county II is
pointed out that the registration lists
were padded, containing the names OF
some seventeen hundred men who
were either non-eXistent, or who had
no legal voting residence in the coun-
ty. II is charged that these illegal
voters were either voted under the
names placed upon the books, or that
they served TO put through the re-
peating process common among the
Republicans of the county. The Hunt
ington Advertiser which has made a
careful analysis of the vote reaches
the following conclusions:
The total registration in Mingo
county was 5,735.
The total population of Mingo coun-
~, as shown by the report of the CEN
sus bureau made public yesterday,
was 1921
simple mathematical process will
show that there was voter register
ed in Mingo county for every 1856 per
son in that county.
Does any sane man believe that
practically one in every three men,
women and children in Mingo county
is male citizen of more than twenty
one years, resident of the state for
one year a resident Of the county
for sixty days, and in no other man
ner disqualified as a voter?
The usually accepted ratio of voters
to population is one in five. and ex.
animation of the registration as com
pared with population in the other
counties of the safe shows that this
ratio is practically maintained in
every county in the state where there
was a fair registration
Further the specific charge is made
that the names Illegally placed upon
the registration books i'm Mingo coun-
~ numbered about seventeen hun.
dTed Subtract this Der from the
total registration, and We have 4.O35
presumably legally registered votes
IN the county Another simple mathe-
NAUTICAL process shows that this gives
a ratio Of one voter TO every 4.79 per.
sons in the county, which accord
fairly well with the ratio in the other
counties Of the state
II must be remembered. too. that the
county clerk and tho registrars ir
Mingo county, in their desperate a.
fort 70 carry the election by fail
means or foul refused to allow any
Democrat 70 inspect the registration
books for any purpose. until they
were compelled 10 do so by a manda
mus from the Supreme court Of tho
state Their reason for not WISHING
the Democrats 10 view the books be
comes apparent in the view OF later
events. They knew what inspection
OF the books would reveal
Is there any reason TO doubt tina
The frauds we're sufficiently great IL
render the election of no value what
soeyer so far as determining the rea
will Of the people Of Minpo count,
IS concerned