Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-12-24
7 HORP VS.. M'KENNEY
Notice of Contest Served on the Con-
gressman-Eleot.
Allegations of Fraud Made-The Al
legged IniqGitOus Provisions of the
Walton Election Law.

Notice was today served upon Mr.. w. r.
McKenney Congressman-elect from the
fourth Virginia district, that Mr.. r. T.
Thorp would contest the seat in the next
House The notice was served at Peters
burg this morning. The main basis of the
contest is a question of fraud and the
contestant furnishes details for each pre-
cinct in the district In closing his notice
of contest, Mr.. Thorp says:
Il charge that elections held in this sec
ton of the state had become so notoriously
corrupt, false and untrustworthy, because
of the bad character and fraudulent prac-
tees of election officers appointed by
partlZan democratic electoral boards,
that about the beginning of the
present year, while the legislature was in
session. a general outcry against such
fraudulent practices and methods went up
from the honest people of the state, regard
less of party affiliations, was taken up by
leading democratic newspapers, and many
instances of the fraudulent methods by
which democrats were returned as elected
from counties and cities known to be over
whelmingly republican, exposed to such
an extent that the legislature was forced
by public opinion to take some action.
The Walton Law.
But composed as 1t was of members
many of whom were the creatures and
beneficiaries of these very fraudulent
methods and practices, the legislature did
not pass an~honest and fair election law,
but defeated just amendments offered by
honest democrats to secure fair elections,
and passed what is commonly known as
the " alton bill-a law artfully pretending
to provide an honest Australian ballot sys-
tenn, but leaving unrepealed and in full
force all the odiOuS provisions of the in
famous Anderson-M Nc Cormick law, under
the operation of which frauds had been
encouraged and sustained, the effect of the
hain a aTafn
its provisions Will show, to open another
door by which election rooms may be en-
tered, and the honest expression of the
will of the voters may be defeated
Indeed ii was an open caucus secret at
the time this law was under consideration
that it's passage was urged by prominent
democrats of the black belt of the state
upon the ground that ii was the only law
which could save this part of the state
and the fourth congressional democratic
district to the party, because the honest
people mad become so disgusted and well
acquainted with the old fraudulent praC-
tices and devices they could not be relied
upon, and some new way of defeating the
Will OF the majority had to be devised
some new Cogs had to be added to the
wheel of the old machine. Even a cursory
view of this so-caled Walton bill will show
it's partisan character. more careful
reading OF it Will reveal it's real infamy.
The Special Constable.
The creation of a new officer-special
Ccnstabe-of election, with duties Hide
fined. evidently by design; his appointment
by partisan electoral boards, whenever it
suits their convenience; removable at their
sweet will, and removable even on election
day at the will of majority of the judges;
vested with extraordinary powers the
great care taken to conceal the character
of the ballot and the names of the candi-
dates; the heavy penalties imposed upon
private citizens who dared to inform
ignorant voters, and the care taken to
force such voters into the clutches Of
partisan constable. These and many other
provisions of this law stamp it as a unique
specimen OF election machinery which
opens wide snother door to fraud, and in
yites corruption to step in without fear of
detection or punishment"