Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1890-10-10
OUR ELECTION LAW.

Messrs Riley and Meighen, chair
men Of the Democratic and Republi
can State executive committees in
West Virginia, have issued the follow
ing joint address, calling attention tc
the provisions of our election law and
giving warning that they will prose
cute all violators
To the Voters of the State Of Vest Vr
ginia:
At the extra session of the Legisla
/ ture commencing January 10, 1890
the following law concerning election:
was enacted with the view of main
tanning political purity at the polls
and prescribing punishment for any
VIC lation thereof
SECTION 9. Whoever, being candidate fol
any office loans or gives, directly or Indirect
! ly or offers or promises to loan or give any
money, or other thing OF value, to any cleo
tor. for the purpose Of influencing or retain
! ing the vote Of such elector, or induce sucf
elector TO work or labor for the election o
such candidate, or to refrain from working
! laDOIluB lDi lut tItGliOli vi any OhhSA >''A
didate or TO any person to secure or to re-
/ tain the influence or vote OF such elector, In
! his behalf as such candidate, or TO be used by
such person in any way TO influence the vote
| of any electors, or OF electors generally, foi
| himself or any candidate or ticket; and who
ever hires or otherwise employs for consider
alton, any person to work at the polls on cleo
| tion day, for the election OF any candidate, tt
be voted for at such election. on conviction
/ thereof shall be fined not less than three
! hundred dollars nor more than one thousand
dollars, and shall be confined In the county
iai! not less than thirty days nor more than
SIX months.
! SECTION 3. Any person who shall give oil
offer TO give, directly or indirectly, apy mon
ey. property or any other thing of value, tc
any elector TO influence his vote at any regu'
lar election. held in this state pursuant &c
/ law; or who shall, at any such election, So
/ licit. furnish or receive any money or other
means for such purpose, or who shall ala, al
wise, counsel or suggest tOany person, or per
sons generally, to use or procure any money
/ or other means TO be used 10 induce, hlre OIL
! buy any person or persons TO vote or refrain
| from voting for any candidate or candidates
or to remain away from the polls at any cleo
| ton, whether or not any such person shall
act or attempt TO act upon any such counsel
! advice or suggestion, shall be guilty of mis-
! demeanor and upon conviction thereof, shall
! be fined not less than $500 nor more than
| 81 900, and shall be confined in the county
! jaiI not less than thirty days nor more than
six months.
/ who shall. directly
! or Indirectly, give, offer or promise to give,
| to any elector any money property, or other
| thing Of value, for the purpose of preventing,
| influencing, inducing or procuring such elec-
! tor 10 refrain from voting or TO remain away
| from the polls at any election held under the
| laws OF this State, shall be guilty of INSIDE
| meanOr and upon conviction thereof shall be
fined not less than $500 nor more than $1,000
and shall be confined in the county jail not
| less than thirty days nor more than Six
| months.
SECTION ). Any person not duly authorized
by law, who shall, during the progress ofany
election In this State, or after the closing OF
the polls and before the ballots are counted
aud result ascerta.ned, or within six months
thereafter, break open or violate, the seals or
/
In which ballots have been deposited at or
after such election, or who sh ell obtain pos
session Of such ballot box, paper. envelope,
or bag, containing such ballots, and cancel,
withhold or destroy such ballots, or who snail
frauduIently or forcbly add to or diminish
the number OF ballots legally deposited there
in, or who shall fraudulently make any eras-
ures or alterations of any kind upon any tai
~ sheet, poll book, list OF voters or election
returns deposited therein, shall be guilty OF "a
felony, and upon conviction thereof, shall be
confined in the penitentiary not less than
one wear nor more than three years.
SECTION q. 1t shall be the duty OF the Judge
of the Circuit, at any term thereof, to give
this act in special charge TO the grand jury.
SECTION :. Every persen called asa witness
to any violation of any OF the provisions Of
this act, shall be compelled to testify fully,
but his testimony shall not be given in evil
dence against him in any prosecution for such
ofiense.
SECTION S. Nothing In this act shall he so
construed as to prevent the employment OF
political speakers in any campaign, or TO pre-
vent the holding ofpoltical demonstrations,
or the distribution or circulation OF campaign
documents and literature for party purposes.
And we further call attention to
chapter 3, section 8 of the Code, which
provides that no person who Is IA
minor, or of unsound mind, or a pau
per. or who is under conviction of
treason, felony, or bribing in cleo
tions. or who has not been resident
of the State for one year and OF the
county in which he offers to vote for
sixty DAYS next preceding such cleo
ton. and who is not at the time of the
election bona tide resident of the dis
trict in which he offers to vote" shall
be permitted to vote in such district
while such disability continues, and
no person in the military, marine or
naval service Of the United States
shall be deemed resident of this
State by reason of his being stationed
therein. nor shall any person in the
employ of any incorporate company,
or of this State, be deemed a resident
of any county or of any district there
in by reason of being employed in
said county or district.
We hereby give notice to all parties
that the above law will be strictly
and rigidly enforced, and request all
persons who may be approached with
the view of inducing them to violate
any of its provisions, or any person
who may have knowledge that any of
its provisions are being violated, or
are violated, to report TO us at the
earliest possible date the names and
addresses of any such persons.
T. ). RILEY,
Chairman of Democratic State
Executive Committee.
b. f. MEIGHEN,
Chairman of Republican State
Executive Committee.