Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1912-01-04
Our Washington Letter.

AnSOe1Iy, vi OillO, 10 Shdihidiij anu WIN
be taken up for consideration by the COM
mittee in short while. Chairman Ans
berry has announced his intention OF
reading carefully every line OF the 722
pages OF the record and of giving careful
consideration to the case. The testimony
in the case is so voluminous that il would
be impossible to give any idea in an or
binary newspaper article OF the extent OF
the frauds alleged to have been committed
in Mingo and Mcdowell counties in the
last election. At one precinct in Mingo
county the testimony Of witnesses on
both sides shows that there were not
more than twelve negroes in the precinct
entitled to vote, and yet the returns show
that one hundred and twenty-five votes
were cast by negroes. At another pre-
cinct the testimony OF the Democratic
election commissioner is that negroes
who had been brought in from Virginia
were voted repeatedly under different
names, over his protest. He says that
when he found the negroes were repeat
ing he got piece of chalk and marked
on the coat of each one as he voted.
When the polls closed he said he found
many negroes withseven and eight chalk
marks on their coats and one with twelve.
At another precinct il was testified that
forty-two negroes were brought in from
away, but that only thirty-eight of them
voted, the other four having forgotten
their names. In Mcdowell county the
county court threw into the basket
the list of challengers appointed by the
Democrats and declared that no challen-
gers would be permitted at any polls.
The county court also held that no chal-
lengers were needed, as every person
registered would have right to vote. 1t
was in this county that negro who could
neither read or write was appointed to
register the voters. II was also at pre-
cinct in this county that the Republicans
selected an election commissioner in place
of the regularly appointed Democratic
commissioner, the one selected being
blind while ore of the Republican COM
missioners at the same precinct was deaf.
These are only instances OF the numerous
frauds charged in the contest and backed
up by testimony which has been presented
to the committee.
Another Republican candidate for Of
flee in West Virginia has been nominated
in Washington. AT least he has been
placed in nomination, for there will be a
vigorous fight against him and it will be
question whether he will actually secure
| the nomination. This candidate is DR..
H. D. Hatfield, now president of the Sen
ate, whose home is in Mcdowell county
and who was brought into the race at a
Washington meeting held for the purpose
OF endeavoring to defeat Chas. w. Swisher
for the governorship. The bringing OF
DR.. Hatfield into the race indicates split
in the machine, the greater portion OF
which is still supporting Mr.. Swisher,
while the element consisting principally
of former Democrats has met in Wash
ington and agreed to support DR.. Hat
field.
DR.. Hatfield is the one big boss OF Nc
Dowell county, where Republican ma
iorities are limiIed only by the necesSi-
ties. Il was he who gave the orders in
the last election that no Democratic chal-
lengers should be permitted at any of the
polls. And, in view of the expressed
fears OF the Wheeling lntelligencer and
others who are now backing DR.. Hatfield,
that the Statewide primary would be
dominated by the tremendous vote pos
sible to be obtained in Mcdowell and
Mingo counties, it would seem that these
methods would be depended upon to try
and bring about his nomination.
Senator Chiffon has been invited to ad-
dress the West Virginia Society of New
York in New York City on January Is.
He has accepted the invitation.
The omnibus war claims bill has been
prepared and is ready TO introduce. 1t
will carry for West Virginia claimants
something like $4,000 as payment for
property taken or destroyed during the
Civil War.
While no formal announcement of the
fact has been made, it became apparent
during the recent visit here of Attorney
General Conley that he will be candi-
date for Congressman of the second dis
trict and that he will probably receive the
nomination without opposition. AS Mr..
Brown is the only announced candidate
on the Democratic side, and probably
will receive denomination without any
opposition, il would seem that the contest
for the coming year has taken definite
shape early in the campaign. Mr.. Brown
and his friends seemed pleased with the
outlook and express no fear of the result.
During the holidays Congressman
Brown has been at his home IN Kirgwood
and during portion of the time his sec
rotary has been there also. Mr.. Browns
office is full of some choice selections OF
documents of special interest TO the peo-
pie in his district which he is distributing
among them as far as he can where they
will be the most appreciated.
Sunday, January 7, has been set apart
by the House as day of special memoir
Ial services commemorative of the late
Senator Stephen B. Elkins. Several
West Virginians are expected to take part
in the exercises.
A pleasant gathering of the Democratic
delegation of West Virginia. as it should
be, was had the other day, when the four
Democratic Congressman and Rankin
Wiley, who is contesting the election of