People's Pilot, Volume 5, Number 19, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 October 1895 — Augusta Frauds By An Eye Witneas. [ARTICLE]

Augusta Frauds By An Eye Witneas.

People’s Party Paper: I was in Augusta on the 2d of October and saw some of the damnable work that was done by Mr. Black’s friends to defeat Mr. Watson. The twenty-one-year-old negroes were divided into squads with a couple or more "heelers” in charge who would vote the scions of Democracy in one ward, and then take them to another, vote them under another name; then move on to the next ward and continue the work indefinitely. For fear a mistake would be made, young Democrats stood near the polls with polling lists and the heeler would approach with his man; be given a name and vote him. The gang of twenty-one-year-old negroes, instead of leaving the polls would squat around and wait for the squad to be moved to the next ward. Electric cars were used to transport heelers and their men from ward to ward. When voting lagged at any precinct, some good Democrat would bring word that so and so must report immediately at the First, Second or such ward as was lagging. While the registration list was adhered to, any man with half a brain could see that a few ignorant negroes were used to poll Mr. Black’s majority. I advise that Mr. Watson contest the election and do so as vigorously as possible. Sincerely, JOHN A. SIBLEY. A grand reception will be tendered to Eugene V. Debs next month at Chicago, on the occasion of his return from Woodstock Jail. It will be under the auspices of the various labor unions, as a protest against Judicial and corporate tyranny. Delegates from labor unions throughout the country will be present, to demonstrate to the world of greed and arrogance that the heroic champion of labor has not been robbed of the love of his fellows by being incarcerated in the plutocratic bastile. Debs stands higher today in the hearts of the masses than any labor leader in America. All friends of humanity and justice delight to do him honor.