Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-12-01
THE ELECTlON-LAWS.
What Changes Should BE Proposed mt
This Legislative Session?

What Changes Should BE Proposed mt
This Legislative Session?
The general judgment is that our cleo
tion-laws can be impr0ved-somo say IN
one direction. some say IN another
A distinguished Virginian who IS a we'll
known ex-judge and one Of the best speak
ors and the greatest thinkers the party can
summon 10 its AID said Yesterday: " In my
judgment what IS needed Is greater secrecy
m casting tho ballot. At present II negro
wishes to vote the Democratic ticket, IN
many localities, he dare not DO so. The
law ought 10 be so amended that man
can 90 before the judges Of election with
absolute surety that no one Will know h0ic
he votes Yes; the thing We need, L
think, IS greater secrecy. Indeed, there -
10 secrecy about it at all now. so far as ne
grOes are concerned. for a negro ticket
holder stands at the polls and offers ballots
20 all col0red mon, and he who refuses 10
take one and hold II IN his open hand until
he drops il in the ballot-b0x u spotted.
COLONIZATION A GROWING Evil.
Taking on the subject of our election
laws. Navor 4. @. AttkissOn, of Manchester,
n thourhtfiiland sazaciousmau. sa' Il ycster-
day: think urprcsCnt system of votnglsa
good one. and chat the polls are generally
fairly and honestly conducted IN Virginia.
J think there might be change mado 10
the registratiOu-laws 20 prevent colonial
tiou. which IS a growing evil. Make the
law so that q person leaving the state Tor
% period % three months or more snail oe
disqualified from voting at the election
next after his return unless he personally
appears before the registrar of hls voting
place twenty or thirty DAYS before the cleo
ton and declare his intention TO vote at
that election; also, provide that ten Gays
before every gUberuaforal election the
observation-disclosures shall he purcci, and
placca heavy fine on the registrar for every
failure 10 erase the names Of voter from
las books who have been transferred or
who have died.
TIE AUSTRALIAN SYSTEM.
Col. John b. Cary, who was for many
years chairman Of the CITY Democratic
CommIttec. and has always been one OF tho
most influential Democrats Of this city,
said, when asked what IN his opinion were
the changes most needed IN our election
laws: hesitate 20 express an opinion on
so grave a question as that, since nayenot
had the opportunity 10 examine II care
fully: but 10 seems 10 me that some mOdl-
fcatiOn OF what is commonly known rs the
Australian system might be adopted with
advantage both to the public Interests and
public morals.
tOiNlei DliF N't hOt NY VIM "'H'
meut 20 tho Austfailan-laAot system coulu
be adopted
This change. however. has been suc-
gc~ted: That each voter shall 60 into %
stall or booth 10 fix his ballot. No ono
shall approach him while he 70 10 there;
but he lla. cell .u the Official tcket-holier,
which Off. lll he 0Hu1rei. but not CONF
pe c6, t. DE-, .Ae voter arrange his ballot.
rIH-Io-Sr OF THE rcwHArAN.
Mr. Pre.ton Gelvin. president Of the
Povbaf2u Climb. said Yesterday that howls
CLEARLY of the opin.0u that some change iu
o,,r l,g.s .rn needed and should bea,led
ior 90 the approaching ses,ion0. the Gene
ri A.s.r,fir Inn. bo had NOT vet been able
t+.'-',,r., ,,,, liz mind eva.fIv what e.0uld
H., t.t,+i'rnd for M t,. hands of the
C.o,,.-o,ii .l-.r,,ri.-
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lili'-" n
Ny. y. IT, IuIlillH' VINO It7','.T 'il -'ll''I
ch -ter ana P,ac, ict, i4" u"." 'H' .'-'
in ,ignIA'h'' ~" "H' j. go IL.
t2l Democt nc leA.leI' '.it
when asked Tor his Vows on 'Il.7
10 is un"i5e ln my opiHioi ~ c-'i.- ."'
sys em OF voting Our Ell. IONS pre- e ..
Tici'fl1 10y j." iH'-' '"''
system l- an - N'eIi' u, Ull,' ..t
7. lue- '-t, j "u"lu ~" "1'ci'i'-' W ''-'''
tAiuk c'uI i.' lthi, 'ii'i.
l. i-- 'irpo 'i,r, If r,..i- fr.,rs fo
st-i,-, era-nc-of voters tran-f Rcd from
tSe.r pre.irct- ID others from thor books.
tl,rs oaorlinr ,orrtpt voters "a chance 90
vote I'M Two nIarcs. 3. The neglect OF
tbo urnper authorities 10 have the re-istri-
ti,r-I.fs uur-ed. The remedies for these
evil. tBqt would sugee are: !. An
amondment 10 the electon-law that would
comuol the voter o. appear i D,rs0p before
Tine REGISTRAR M least thirty DAVIS before
,lec..or-Jqv. where he had been our
of fho state for more than three
months and declare his intention of
voting AT the ensuing election. -
STRINGENT laws 30 f0rco the registrars
% strike all voters transferred from Their
lists 3. Coudign and ser1e punishment
Of the culpril who votes or attempts 10
vote at two places. 4. A strict enforce
ment Of the laws relating 10 purging the
lists and the enactment OF laws under
which such pur. ing can be accompl he'd
with facility. D. As auxiliary q these sug-
restIon. [ would also suggest that the
clerks If thecourtS OF theNtate Doe required
% forward 10 proper person at tile ,Hpl-
fol a certified list of All parties convicted
Of an offence disquatfWug the offender,
and that printed lists Of such names be
Finished 10 the registrars a. least ten days
before each election.
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