The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-06-29
The Walton Election Law

To the Editor Of The Times: Your adj
Vocacy during the recent session Of the
LEGISLATURE or the passage OF adequate
laws 10 suppress frauds in elections, war
rants the belief that YOU were sincerely
opposed TO the fraudulent methods which
had recently been resQrted to in many
parts OF the State under the Anderson
McCormick law. and regarded those
methods as fraught with all dangers to
me integrity Of our Government that can
result from corruption Of the source Of
poliucal and Official power.
Many Of your readers who agreed with
you were, therefore. disappointed at the
nasty approval you expressed OF the Wal
Ton law When the question Of its pas
lature during It's last hours. II was APP
parent 10 those who are familiar with the
lrlckSters methods in sections where
fraud IS rife, that this law provides pos
sibilities for crime against the right Of
Suffrage IN comparison with which those
under the Anderson Mccormick law are
insignificant.
II you had considered this enactment
carefully The Times would not have given
1t aid and comfort
The political mind Of Virginia is about
as tranquil now as It probably will be
for some time to come. II may not.
therefore, be improper at this time 10
consider the. measure dispassionately.
IT is well known that frauds practiced
under the former law. had produced feel
ings Of Widespread disgust, and distrust
OF public officers who knowingly held by
fraudulent tenures. II was this feeling
on the part OF the people who had not
politics and ordinary larceny. and the
discovery of the manner Of committing
political theft under the Anderson-Aic-
Cormick law, that produced, on The part
of the people and representatives elected
by the people, a desire 10 change the law
in the interest Of honesty. and. on the
people but 10y fraudulent returns. a d,
sire TO so change the law as TO give a
further license TO fraud and render its
detection impossible.
knowledge that by the exercise OF great
diligence the people could prevent fraud
under the Anderson Mccormick law until
the closing OF the polls but after the clos
ing Of the polls the facilities afforded
by sections l29 and 100 Of the Code en-
abled the election officers. while pretend
Ing to be engaged in making the number
OF ballots correspond with the number
of names on poll books, to perpetuate
frauds almost impossible to detect
To eradicate this evil a bill was intro
bill did not pass. Neither was its lust oh
1ect made one Of the features Of the Wal
ton bill.
Under the former law 1t was permlssI-
bic also for the people TO keep a tally
sheet. Such a sheet could not. OF course
affect the official return before the can,
vassing board and signified little In the
way of technical proof on the trial of
/ erect
however, Of convincing the people that
frauds were being perpetrated. And 10
prevent this the Priddy bill was offered
The Times justly denounced this bill. and |
declared that free people would not sub
nit to II. The measure. as introduced |
lid not become n law; but the Walton biIi /
contains II in all OF its vicious vlgor II |
s impossible. without consuming too |
much Of your space 10 state all the oh !
ections which might be urged TO this /
aw.
Whether or not u was so intended by |
III the members OF the Legislature who |
'oted for II. its inevitable effect will be !
o permit the special constables 10 rob (
lliterate and blind voters ad libitum. and |
he judges Of election TO commit ali day |
ong every kind of fraud that partisan |
xigency may require.
1t must have been obvious TO thinking
bservers of the recent session that two
purposes existed among the members OF
he Legislature-one 10 so legislate as Ia
revent fraud In elections, and the other
o so legslate as 10 license fraud and |
revent its discovery. The Walton bill Is
he triumph of the latter purpose.
icCormick law. was that II permitted the
Ulcers or election to shut themselves IN
or a time after closing the polls ana
ommit such frauds as politicians con-
idered necessary TO effectuate their
chemes. "
The effect of section 10 Of ths u.,.s |