Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1893-05-26
A Novel Election Contest Spoiled.

/
After each election for several year
past, the papers Of the State have calle'
the attention of thoughtful men to th'
growing evil of the use OF money for othe
than legitimate purposes. Votes were
openly bought and dozens of men stood
around and shamelessly announced thai
their votes were for sale. In every cleo
tion of any Importance large sums Of
money were placed in the hands Of
"heelers" or STRIKERS" for the purpose OF
b1yiDg the corrupt element with scarcely
an attempt at concealment. To such an
extent has this thing been carried that
candidates fitness for the position he
seeks is DO longer one of the main ques-
tions of the contest. but it is simply can
he stand the necessary strain upon his
pocket.
The Page COmier is one of the papers
that has been most active in the fight
against the wholesale use of money IN
elections. One of its editors, Mr.. Andrew
Broaddus, IS a candidate for the clerkship
of Page county, and to show shat he has
been sincere in his opposition be has en-
tered into an agreement with Mr.. S. j.
Richey, bis opponent, and of which the
following telegrapbic summary, sent ont
from Luray under date of May 1Sth, is an
explanation
"a. Broaddus, Republican, and s. J.
Richey, Democrat. opposing candidates
for clerk of the Page County Courts, en-
tered into written agreement, sworn TO
and subscribed before a notary, obligatirg
themselves not TO levy or procure votes
for money, wbiskey, nor through any
other unlawful means, and to prosecute
any one, friend or foe. whom they shall
ascertain to be buying votes for them. A
deed of trust IN the penalty of $1,000 has
been executed by each to the other on
their homes in this place, conditioned to
meet the full requirements of the agree
ment. The agreement will be published
in the county papers, and thousands Of
copies as extras will be sent throughout
the county. The language of the agree
ment is strong, end the only use of money
under it will be in the necessary and
legitimate expenses"
A telegram sent out from Lu7ay gu the
10Th gives the following: The campaign
was progressing satisfactorily when, to
every body's surprise, Ri9hey, the Demo-
cratic candidate, withdrew from the con-
test. He explains this action in an open
letter to Broaddus whom he charges with
having stated that he bad IN his possession
letters written by Richey which, if pub
lished would blast his name. Mr.. Richey
demands that the letters be published
He has Withdrawn from the Methodist
church of which he is prominent men,
Der, and says there will be trouble if the
letters are not published.
"1he Democrats have put another can
didate in the field. He is B. w. Petty"
We regret the withdrawal of Mr.. Rlchey
rom the contest as We were anxious to
see what effect the caryiDg out of the
agreement would have had on the vote,
and what tendency the failure to use
money to purchase votes would have bad
in keeping them from the polls.
We hope the day is near at hand when
fthe people will realize the gravity of this
offense and its danger to our republican
form OF government and will require all
candidates to enter into j.st such an
agreement as the one between Mr.. Richey
and Mr.. Broaddus.