Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1888-01-27

C0dG the farmers OF DIS GelgnD0fnOOt
wanted to be represented in the Labor or
ganZation.
The following addition was made to tn
committees report, after which it wa
adopted "And we call upon all farmer
to send delegates from their RESPECTIVE
lei ghborhocds to the convention"
CONVICT LABOR.
Mr.. Calder reported from the Commit
tee resolution asking the legislature Il
pass law requiring that all goods man
ufactured by the conyicts in the State pen
itentiary be labeled legibly with the words
Convict made"; to finally abolish al
convict labor that completes with honest
labor, and to prohibit the use of machine
ry in connection with convict labor
Adopted.
THE BALLOT AND ITS SECRECY.
Mr.. Chappelle offered a resolution ask
ing the legislature to adopt the Austria
liam system of voting by ballot, instead OF
the present system. The Australian sys-
tenn is for the State to print all tickets
used at elections, with the names of all
candidates on them (as in primary cleo
ton in this State). The voter is given
his ticket, goes in a room where there is
no other person, scratches such names Off
as he pleases. and then goes into another
room where the election officer is and de-
posits his ballot in box. A special Gem
missioner. appointed by the government.
acts for those who cannot read. He reads
the ticket to the illiterate voter, scratches
out what names he is told to scratch out,
and then writes tie name of the illiterate
on the back Of the ticket, SO he may iden-
tlfY it afterwards it occasion arises. This
commissioner is sworn officer.
Mr.. BetheI-How if the sworn office is
partjzan :?
Mr.. Chappelle-The penalty for viola
tion of his duty is very heavy.
A colored delegate.-How about the fair
count?
Mr.. ChappeIle. The ballots are counted
after the polls close, in the presence of
selected friends of all the candidates.
Mr.. Geo. E. Bowden.-In my neighbor-
hood the people want more publicity and
less secrecy about the ballot. If there
were more open voting there would be
less secret manipulation of the votes. Ii
the balloting is all wrong under the super
vision of three or four sworn men,
wouldn't it be much worse with only one
man?
Mr.: ChappelIe. have seen how the
ballot now operates here and that is
enough to make me want some other
mode. l have seen men that employ from
800 to 400 men, standing at the polls and
handing tickets to their men as they came
up to vote. know how it was worked in
the last election in Virginia and jus5 how
secret the ballot was. Twenty five or
thirty years ago in Virginia, men could go
to the polls and vote openly, but it ism t
80 now.
Nj. Thos. johnson said there was a
great necessity all over the country for a
more secret system Of voting.
Mr.. Geo. Duncan thought the Austria
liam system reduced the possibility of
fraud to minimum. 1t would also in
sure fair count.
Mr.. Hoover.-I was Judge of
Election for ten years. and 1 know how it
works. could tell long before the polls
closed how the election stood. When
saw man come up to the polls with his
employer knew pretty we'll how he voted.
Mr.. Chappelle's resolution was adopted.
BI-MoNTHlY PAYMENTS OF
EMPLOYEES.
Mr.. Geo. E. Conway offered a resolu.
ton asking the legislature to pass an act
urging that for all work done for the
State; for cities; for corporations charter
ed by the State, and, as far as it could be
done, to include work for those engaged IN
manufactures-the wages of all employees
Except salaried officers) should be paid
every two weeks.
the resolution. He said he had worked for
large firm that only paid once month. ,
and even then held back Is days pay for
the next month.
Mr.. Conway said the monthly system of
payment was all for the employer and all
against the employee. The employer got
the interest on the money he withheld, and
by only paying once month forced bis
employees into buying at his commissary.
He cited the case Of the Richmond Granite
company. There, we don't know when it
is our payday, for often on Saturday we
see notice stuck up on the Office door
saying that our wages will be paid the nert
Saturday. They have commlssary where
the clerk says we must not make less than
25 per cent. of our dues at it. If man
could get his pay twice month it would
break up the commissarf system. | have
seen men work whole month at ST. so a
day and getting only 81 10 in money at
the end of it.
The resolution was adopted.
PATRONIZING HOME MADE GOODS.
Mr.. Duncan offered resolution pledg
patronize Union made goods, and Union
made goods manufactured where they
lived, rather than such goods made in
some other city.
He cited the case of a drummer from
New York whom he talked with in Rich
mond, who told him he had sold 50 00t
boxes of Union made cigars in that city
and yet at that time. said Mr.. Duncan
there were cigar makers who had servet
their apprenticeship and become frst-clas
wofkmen, walking about the streets @
Richmond with nothing to do and unabl.
to find employment.
The resolution was adopted.
ELECTION OF OFFICERS FOR THE PER
MANENT ANNUAL CONVENTION.
The convention then went into tn
election of officers of the permanent annu
al nj and q moi ion WAS made q