The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-12-21
THE PEOPLE DEMAND 1T.
BETTER ELECTION LAWS IN THIS
STATE Called FOE.

Views OF Leading Newspapers on this sub
ieet-And.rson-N Law "is
Kicking too Hard; Hurts the Party"
The Norfolk Landmark OF yesterday
thus discusses the letter OF eX-Mayor
Barton Myers of that city, which, was
copied by the Times: 'The letter OF 'he
Hon. Barton Myers is very mueh 10 Inc
point and deserves 10 be read carefully
nv every member Of the neral Assem-
bly,. 1t treats of a subject which has been
more or less in the minds OF our cillzehs
for several years. Whenever the pubic
press has raised the question OF election
reforms heretofore we have always heard
the stale remark repeated which was at
tributed to the Hon. John D BARBOUR
that an election law which would give the
Democratic party forty thousand majority
* good enough TO stand by. The same
argument might be made Tor the re'eh-
ton OF the gaHows as a means Oh eAeeu
fion ar the iayboue Of an ass as a wed
pom Of offence The logic OF the claim
is that if this law was adequate 10 the
defeat of the Carpet-Bassers anu hesfo
politicians during and since the days Oh
reconstruction, it IS g1od enough 10 pedS
Democrats and the real taxpayers 81, ~
citizens with now ana hereafter ihi'
argument proves too much'
In an another editorial, devoted TO the
consideration Of the present election laws
of virginia. the Landmark says. IL Is
plain as a pikestan that either the law
or the Electoral Board, or both, should
be changed I'm many quarters Ihere ~
sometimes too much Of a good thing, and
we are IN this position NOW with respect
IN Major Anderson's and Mr.. Mccormick
law. Ii IS like the fellows musket-lt Is
kicking too hard. II hurts the party mat
uses il or permits it 20 be used. Inc
burning question is can't we get alonS
Just as we'll with something WHICH VIII
not hurt so mucb2'
Lvnchbure Advance: The friends Of
General Lee claim that he was the
choice Of nine-tenths OF The Democrats
OF the State. and yet Martin was elected
by manipulating the Legislature. II TINS
IS true, Sc SIS q strong argument In IaVof
OF a constitutional amendment requir-
ing the election Of United States senator's
by popular vote. without conceding the
correctness Of the above allegation, we
earnestly favor on general grounds the
proposed amendment Of the Consutu-
ton.
Mr.. II. T. Smith, who signs himself
Secretary Of the electoral board has
a letter in yesterdays Norfolk Virginian
I'm reply 10 the one from Mr.. Barton
Myers, recently printed in thar paper
Mr. smith. I'm the course 81 his letter
has this TO say: ut is known TACT
that the Hon. Barton Myers was the
candidate OF the Pioneer Club in 1873 Tor
the Navoraltv Of this city. At that time
I had the honor Of being an active
member Of the said club, and 10 the
best Of my recollection 81 was considered
the leading political machine of this
city. I was also a member Of the Elec-
toral Board and well do J recollect that
Il took no less than five meetings OF
that board 10 get the machinery IN
such shape that Mr. Myers could have
bestowed upon him the desired honor OF
Mayor. for / hardly presume that any
one is so ignorant Of the condition OF
Norfolk politically at that time as 10
think that any such result could nave
been obtained without the aid OF such
machinery: (has he forgotten some or
his interyieWs}, and stu ia no extent
should the men. who aided i'm this move
be denounced by one who was the sole
beneficiary IT may be that Mr.. Myers
may have regretted accepting such honor
under the condition or may not have
realized that ne was accepting an i'm
properly conferred honor. Upon this
point the public and himself can answer
Stanton News: We hope our readers
will find time to read in another column
the able communication Of Barton Myers
copied from the Norfolk Nirginian, on
the subject Of electoral reform.
Mr., Myers IS q gentleman Of high stand
ing I'm Norfolk, whose statements as 70
practices there I'm elections may be ac-
cepted without question. As We have
often stated we have been more fortu-
nate I'm this section Of the state in hav-
ing election officers who would not be
parties TO fraud. This does not prevent
bribery and other undue influences, which
are just as Objectionable.
Tn n leading editorial. IN which the
senatorial Investigation is discussed az
length. and the question OF railroad con-
trlbutions 20 The campaign fund admitted
the Danville Register says: il has been
charged That one OBJECT was the eieclloIi
OF Alrs Martin to the United States Sem
ate. ana another object was the election
Of Supreme Court judges that will play
into the hands of railroad corporations.
We know nothing Of the truth OF those
charges. but they have been made, and 1t
has been shown and not denied that rail-
road corporations did contribute largely
10 the campaign fund
We submit that these facts are sufii-
clcnt no matter what may be proven or
what may not he proven before the IN
vestgaung committee, 10 put every hon
est legislator on his guard, and ought TO
be sufficient to cause the defeat Of any
candidate for the bench who is subject
10 the slightest suspicion Of being under
corporation influence
The senator has been named, but the
judges are yet 10 be elected.