Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-07-27
AUSTRALIAN BALLOT.
First Operation Of the New Voting
System In Virginia.
ITS ADVANTAGES And DEFECTS.
Prejudice Of the Negroes Against the WAL
ton Law-Works Well and Does
Away with Excitement.

HARRISONBURG. VA. July 26.-(Spe-
clal)-The biennial election Of corporation
officers here to-day was Of unusual inter
est. by reason Of the Walton Australian
ballot being used for the first time. The
method of voting has many advantages
over the old way. which were apparent.
and freely conceded by Republicans and
Democrats alike. That the law as 1t
stands Is unsatisfactory In some respects
was also demonstrated. The contest to-
day, although neither side had made
nomination In convention, was Of parti-
san character and as IL turned out.
the Walton law itself was a leading issue.
The Republicans have dominated in local
politics for a number OF years, and now
hold all the salaried offices except Mayor,
together with a majority OF the Town
Council. ID. NJ. Swita,r. a prominent
merchant has been Mayor for three
years, and has made most excellent
official His administration has been ac-
ceptable to the colored people, ana mere
tofore the Republican leaders have never
been able to marshal the solid colored
vote against him. II. l.. Lewis, the lOWh
Treasurer was "A candidate for reelection.
He is editor of the Spirit Of the Valley,
and that paper has bitterly denounced the
Walton law as a device to 1egalize fraud
and disfranchlse the illiterate cOlored
voter. IL was seen early in the day that
the Republican managers had carefully
instilIed this idea into the minds OF
the cOlored voters; and many who had
heretofore supported the Democratic
Mayor and still preferred him personally
to his competitor. could not be induced
TO vote for him. using the argument or
their leaders. that it was their first duty
10 resent the blow which the Walton law
aimed at their political rights. To this
extent the law worked to the detriment
of the Democrats. Each side furnished
printed memorandum OF the party candi-
dates 10 its voters before they entered
the pollng-place.
WOULD NOT ACCEPT SLIPS.
The Special Constable announced to the
leaders Yesterday that ne would not
accept any Of the slips from the hands
Of an illiterate voter. as guide in the
preparation of his ticket. So none were
offered him 10y that class. one Of the
most satisfactory features of the day was
the absence of excitement on the streets
around the poll. and the vocation of the
'boodler" seemed TO be gone. Both sides
have dealt with a large purchasable e!e-
ment heretofore. and the use Of money
has been fragrant and practically undis-
guised. The privacy Of the voting booth
and the freedom from all physical inter-
ference with timid and doubtful voters
has also been greatly appreciated.
TWO CONSTABLES.
Many Republicans during the day vol
unteered the statement TO the Dispatch
correspondent that the system would be
perfect If only there were two constables
provided. This is made the most serious
criticism Of the law, and the Republicans
here nave worked themselves into flne
frenzy over the single constable feature.
Conccding that they were not appre-
henslve Of fraud at the hands Of the
officials who acted, they steadily an
nounced their determination to contest
the validity OF the election In case they
were not successful. The voting was done
I'm the County Court room on the second
floor Three booths were provided, and
the voting was accomplished smoothly
and without delay. out of "A registered
vote of 81 the entire vote to-day was 5l3.
There were twenty-five names on the oifi-
cial ballot, and the count at midnight
was not half completed. Indications at
that hour pointed to the reelection OF
all old officials and "A mixed council.