The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-12-09
ELECTION LAWS ATTRACTING AT
TENTIOS.

The Norfolk Landmark, copying from
the Richmond Dispatch and the Richmond
star. comments upon them as below:
we hope that the election officers IN
other parts of the State are as honest
and intelligent as those in Richmond
IL So with what indignation VIII they
hear of the effort being made 10 cast
contempt upon the fairness OF our eec-
lions and the integrity of the men adj
ministering them Richmond Dispatch.
This Is very tiattering to Richmond,
and we can heartily congratulate mat
great community upon the healthy con-
dition thus testified TO. We wish very
much. the same could be truthfully said
OF all other places. Turning to an evening
paper of Richmond, The Star, we find
the following contradictory statement,
however:
mo one who reads. or who is at all
familiar with some Of the contests Incl
dent TO primaries in Richmond within the
last three or four years, can for moment
make the public believe that he knows
nothing or suspects nothing calculated
10 attach suspicion to the results Of those
elections. And If members OF the same par
~ will seek by unfair means to gain an
advantage at a friendly primary. it is
but natural TO suppose that the same
tactics would be resorted TO on a much
larger scale in a general election, when
the contest is between opposing parties
We are not now prepared for the vivi-
section OF political bodies, and hence do
not purpose lecturing upon the conditions
which are disclosed by such a method OF
treatment. but II may not be improper
for US TO say that reform, like charity,
should begin at home, and we suggest to
The Times that it include Richmond in
its category Of horrible examples.-Nor-
folk Landmark, December 9Th.
We will say to the Landmark that it
is very true that there was cheating in
the primary elections held in Richmond in
the spring of 1893. The Times however,
made no attempt TO deny IT or gloss it
over. The cheating was openly de-
nour ced and The Times took part in de-
manding an Investigation; the investiga-
ton was made and the fraud established,
and the party cheated was given all his
rights. So much for that case of frauds
in elections. a case in which the fraud
was corrected so quickly and so surely
that IL has left Richmond nothing to be
ashamed Of in connection with il but the
bare fact that the cheating occurred. We
will further say that this incident IS the
solitary case that has happened In Rich
mond for fifteen years that has thrown
any suspicion upon the purity OF her
elections until very recently. Charges
are made now however, that frauds are
practiced here. The Times does not pro-
pose to blink the case. IL Is at work on
II and It will expose whatever fraud has
taken place in Richmond elections If il is
able TO uncover them. Meanwhile we
must ask the Landmarks forbearance
while we are looking into the facts An
this emphasizes the Importance Of this
subject being taken up by the Legislature.
There is a very large body of Virginia s
best citizens who believe that our cleo
tons In the negro districts are not fair
While It Is true that a large body OF her
citizens think this and turn from il
with horror. there is another large body
which believe Il and think il necessary
TO their very being that 1t shall be winked
at ana condoned
This latter body. in our opinion, takes
wrong view of the case. We cannot
approve OF the cheating of negroes with
out encouraging dishonesty and paving
the sure road to frauds upon ourselves.
Fraud is "a principle which never rests
II must be extinguished or 1t must spread
There Is no middle ground The man
who tolerates fraud must himself become
dishonest Ninety-nine men In every
hundred who wink at. frauds in our cleo
lions viii utterly repudiate this sentiment
~ applied to themselves. yet it win as
surely undermine their probity as the con-
cnued and unreasonable use OF whisky
VIII make a man a drunlxard. II frauds
are practiced in cur elections. Virginia
must rouse herself and stamp them out,
or she must prepare TO see her people
turn into a population of rogues. This
strong language. but II states a prin-
eaoie that 10 a. sure in its working as the
~ tAsf carries the earth around tbs
~