Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1912-02-03

A telegram from the Washington
Correspondent Of the Baltimore Sun
gives vivid account of the evidence in
a contestedelection case now being heard
by the Congressional Election Commit
tee. The contest was taken up Satur-
day by House Election Committee No.
/. of which Timothy T. Ansberry, of
Ohio. is chairman and Representative
Covington, of Maryland is a member.
The voting of dogs and the exercise
of the suffrage by one negro IL times
were instances Of widespread fraud
charged by the contestant, Mingo and
Mcdowell Counties especially being
honeycombed with violation of the bal
lot box, according to the attorney.
Grave accusations were made against
DR.. II. d. Hatfield, president of the
West Virginia Senate, who is expected
shortly to announce his candidacy for
the Republican nomination for Cover
nor as the standard bearer of the Pro-
gressives.
Within five minutes after Attorney
Wallace had commenced his argument
he electrified the committee by assert.
| ing that Bob Buskirk, Commissioner of
Elections of Lick Fork district of Min
go County, actually marched his pet
bull terrier into the election precinct and
voted him for Congressman Hughes and
the entire Republican ticket. So open
and boastful had become the violation of
the election laws Of West Virginia, said
the attorney, that carloads of negro re-
peaters were taken into the election
precincts over the Norfolk and Western
railway from adjacent States. MIR.
Wallace also declared that certain ne
groes were known to have voted at least
| IL times.
He asserted that wholesale repeating
was done in such defiant manner that
organized bands Of woman watchers had
no difficulty in detecting the frauds. The
election officials would draw stripe
with chalk across each negro's back as
he came forward Woman watchers
had stated under oath that one negro
with IL stripes marched forward and
received his twelfth for the "good of
the Republican ticket" They testified
that there were numerous examples OF
five and six striped negroes lounging
around polling places of several of the
Mingo Countys precincts,a great major
ity of which are located in saloons.
The attorney charged that the county
court of Mingo would only grant liquor
licenses to Republicans with twoor three
exceptions. He contended that the bar
keeper and the proprietor were in many
instances the only election officials at
the polling places. He declared that
practically three-fourths of the men,
bers of the grand jurics were Republi-
cans, despite the fact that the majority
of white citizens of the county are
Democrats.
In reference to Mcdowell County,
Mr.. Wallace severely attacked DIR. Hat
field. president of the county court of
that county. for what he termed his
violent methods of thwarting the peo-
pies will. He intimated that the doc
tor had refused point blank to appoint
Democratic challengers at the election
precincts. declaring that they wereitoo
contentious. He declared that DIR. Hat
field drove the challengers away from
the polls at Vivian. Mcdowell County.
by threatening physical violence.
"What relation is DIR. Hatfield to the
feudist family" asked Mr.. Covington.
Informed that he was closely connect
ed with the famous Devil Anse, sew
eral of the committee said they did not
blame the challengers for making them
selves scarce. Attorneys for Mr..
Hughes here interrupted by saying that
the doctor was man of his word. and
that if he threatened violence he would
be pretty likely to put his threats into
deeds.
According to Mr.. Wallace, negro
clerk of election was asked il he could
read or write, and he replied that he
could not. but that this was unnecessary