Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1912-09-12
The Hatfield Way Of Doing 1t.

We have received from Senator Wat
son copy of the report of the elections
committee OF the House OF Representa-
tives to which was referred the contested
election case in which Rankin Wiley.
Democrat, contested the seat OF Con-
gresham James A. Hughes. Republican.
There is much interesting reading in the
report. and from il we publih the follow
ing extracts, showing the election meth
DDS in Mingo and Mcdowell counties, In
this State:
Mingo county with 4 population OF
about 10000 had something over 5000
registered voters, and il has consider
able shifting negro population. The
testimony discloses that at the precinct
OF Matewan there was total CT 327votes
cast, of which 237 were cast by colored
men, despite the fact that The testimony
taken on the part OF the contestant dis
closed that there were but 10 colored
voters in the precinct. Conditions had
in recent years become so outrageous at
this precinct that number OF women
belonging 10 the Woman's Christian
Temperance Union determined to put a
stop TO fraudulent elections there, and
with the finest spirit oi American woman
hood repaired TO the polling place al day
break and begged the election officials to
see TO if that fair election was held that
day.
The evidence further disclosed that
coIored men were mobolized in several
vacant buildings in the precinct OF Mate
wan for two or three days before the
election and that food was carried TO
them in tubs. Despite the protest OF the
women, these negroes were shamelessly
voted under the direction of Greenway
Hatfield, above referred TO. Hatfield
was no; voter at the precinct. and II IS
not apparent, except for the position
which he holds, why he was directing
the election at that place. The negroes
were given names at the gate. They
then repaired to the polling place, and in
many instances forgot their names, and
TO remedy this defect in the system they
were given slips of paper with their
names appearing upon them. II appears
that Mr.. @. K. Buskirk, a Democratic
election commissioner. made an effort to
prevent some of these negroes from
voting. Thereuponthe plan was changed,
and Postmaster Hatfield would stand at
the gate, and he was occasionally relieved
by a man by the name OF Harmon. AS
the negroes would approach the door OF
the polling place they would shout Out
the voters name TO the Republican COM
missioner or clerk, and despite further
protest of Mr.. g. r. Buskirk in each in
stance they were permitted 10 vote. DIR.
Turner, a reputable citizen, who testified
that he was a Republican, remarked in
the presence OF Greenway Hatfield that
il was shame to permit these "darkies"
to vote. Thereupon he was struck in
the face and driven from the polls by the
overzealous postmaster. II appears that
many of these negroes voted more than
once, and g. X. Buskirk, Democratic
commissioner or clerk, adopted an in
genious plan OF determining this ques-
ton. As the negro voter would cast his
vote, usually over the protest OF Buskirk,
he would put chalk mark upon his
back, and one industrious repeater had
IL OF these marks.
Mcdowell county is located immedi-
ately east OF Mingo county. Its popula-
ton is largely made up OF foreigners and
negroes who are employed in the various
coal developments of the county. All OF
the county officers are Republicans. The
county court, the body which ap-
points the election commissioners, is
composed of Republicans, and The testi-
mony in the case shows conclusively
that the method Of conducting elections
in the county make il most fruitful place
10 perpetrate wholesale election frauds.
The testimony shows that the president
of the county court, one DIR. II. d. Hat
field, who Is also president OF the Senate
Of West Virginia, refused to appoint chal-
lengers for the Democratic party at the
various voting precincts Of Mcdowell
county, although the law OF West Virginia
seems clear that the county chairmen OF
the two leading political parties shall
nominate and the county court shall ap-
point challengers Of election. The iesti-
mony shows that this same DR.. Hatfield
was very active in the actual conduct OF
the election in Mcdowell county, and
the refusal 10 appoint Democratic challen-
gers raises strong presumption that the
conduct of the election was TO be neither
fair nor honest.