Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1910-10-31


they got among wet people. that it
was dry ticket. The. name of Will
bur Lilly appears upon the one and
tbe name of A. A. Lilly appears upon
the other. When the illiterate voter
came to vote and called for the Lilly
ticket, meaning A. A. Lilly for con-
gress, they voted him for the Scott
ticket on which the name of Wilbur
Lilly appeared. They not only did
this, but they placed upon this ticket
the name of III. X. Hunter who had
formerly been in the saloon business
In Biueheid, and claimed that
he was the selection OF the candi.
dates whose name appeared on that
ticket with him, when these people
knew that the lives of the men on
that ticket had been an open book
SO far as the whiskey business was
concerned, and that they had all been
consistently dry. The question nat
urally arises, unless there was fraud
to be praticed, undue advantage to
be gained, why did they form two
ballots when it was only a friendly
contest in a political party? Why, if
hey were to give every man fair
show and equal opportunity, did they
nor p1t the names of all these can.
tidates upon one ballot? There is no
answer to this proposition. Certain
W the ring politicians were called
upon over the phone and they were
entreated ito arrange this ticket so
as to give TO every man a fair oppor.
tunity to vote for the person of his
choice; but no such arrangement
could be made. Mr.. A. A. Lilly asked
that this ballot be changed and all
the names be placed on one ticket
The request was refused; they said it
was fair as II stood Then Mr.. Lilly
asked 10 nave his position reversed
by putting Hughes Oh the Hubbard
ticket, and his name on the Scott
ticket; this was also refused. Lilly
made numerous propositions none OF
which was acceded to; hut this frau.
dulent device was allowed to be car
ried through the primary election for
the purpose of carrying into effect
the schemes and plans which had
been laid. This ballot carried the
marks of fraud upon it's face, and no
honest. fair minded mar who is dis.
interested, and who knows the facts.
could under any circumstances de.
eide otherwise. Then, the question
Is, are the people willing to allow the
continuance of men in power who are
willing to resort TO such DOT ical
methods in order to sustain their DO
litical positions, and continue TO dom
mate and ruin the people?
WhJt good, they say, does it do to
defeat the alleged Republican ticket
md elect the Democratic ticket? 1t
means that Mercer county has men
within it who will not stand for cor
ruption, but will arise I'm their man
hood and repudiate itsEAnds n means
The overthrow of ring rule and cor
'upt politics, because the ringsters
Will know that so long as this prac.
tice is continued, just so long they
will receive defeat. 1t does not mean
defeat of the alleged Republican tick.
ut this time only. 1t means the de.
Feat of it SO long as fraudulent prac.
ices are INDUCED in; and when y
ticket is nominated byyfair ami hon
est means, then the Republicans viii
'heerIully support It. and ought TO do
so If they believe i'm the principles
VI the Republican party But they
say that If you don't elect the Re.
publican member of the County Court
that this will put the mahinery in
the hands OF the Democratic party.
What does it matter among honest
men where the machinery rests. and
in fact had it not better be i'm the
hands of the Democratic panty than
in the hands of corrupt ringsters IN
the Republican party? In other words.
the fight Is to destroy the ring rule
ring policies. II makes no difference
i'm what party 1t exists. II is now ex.
listing in the Republican party. This
condition must be met now. and we
think the people are able and willing
10 meet IT. Then, again. these same
'ingsters that are bowling that you
will lose the county machinery are
the same fellows who protested so
loudly against the nomination of Da.
us Thorn Ithat he had to he nominal.
cd three times before his nomination
was declared and after his nomina.
ton these same people Joined In with
'he Democrats and helped to defeat
him IT would have been wen for the
ringdlers 10 have looked out for the
county machinery then which they
claim now they so badly need and
n 10