The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-02-07
HEfORMs NOT REPROACHFs IN
ORDEE.

VIC biSpdtcn says There are
more than LOO voting precincts in Vir-
sInia' and though the Times has been
at work since the gubernatorial election il
has made prima face case at one pre-
cinct only" the natural inference is that
IT intends to create the impression that
the Times has been seeking for cases in
which 1t might prove fraud, and in this
the Dispatch Is as far wrong as it is in
most other matters connected with fhe
elections. Smithers precinct, in Henrico
county. Is the solitary precinct that the
Times has made any effort to investigate.
except that about six weeks back. hear
Ing that the elections IN Jackson ward in
this city was not fair. we had the poll
book for one precinct copied and exam
ined II far enough TO see that about fifty
names on it were not In the city drec-
tory. when something diverted our at
tention and we have never taken il up
since. Smithers therefore. is the solitary
place into which we have made an exami
nation. and the result OF that is before
the country.
II Is no easy matter for private party
10 make such an investigation as we
made at Smithers. because O. private
party cannot summon witnesses and COM
pei them TO -estify. 1t cost us q
good deal OF earnest work. Pm
when the public authorities are in
clined TO make an Investigation IL &c
very simple matter because they can
compel the appearance of witnesses and
they can compel the production OF docu-
ments. and they can compel discIosuras
but easy as II is. nothing will be done
our laws have encouraged cheating and |
frauds In elections until the public con. |
science Is perverted in respect To them. and |
thoush they prevail, as a rule. in most
Of the negro counties. they are looked o,
as excusabie IL not justinabIe The Time.
Is not discouraged though There is
reserve moral force In our people which
81 equal to anything when 1t is aroused
The Times shall continue 10 appeal 70
this force. and II does so with perfect
confidence
Now. that that force knows what the
facts are, though IT may be slow in rous-
ing Itself and making its voice heard. II
VIII come TO the front as surely as that
truth Is preferable TO falsehood, and IL
VIII require frauds In elections to cease
and honesty 10 be the rule in them. The
process may be slow. but IL is sure.
The Dispatch thinks the frauds proven
Mt smithers bring no reflection upon
tho ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS law. ON the
contrary we insist most emphatically that
this fraud could never have happened un-
der any law but just that one. or one
framed upon tho same lines. What took
place at Smither's could not have occurred !
possibly, unless all the officers of election !
at that precinct were cognizant OF what
was taking place. Each and every one :
knew what was going on and each one !
asscnted TO Il.
A whole board OF such officers &c tho ,
natural outcome OF q system which puts Il
The absolute and unapIealable control OF r
The elections under an electoral board. Il
consisting OF political partisans all be- h
longing TO one party who hold their meet a
nss In secret. keep no records unless a
hey chose. and are not subject 10 review Il
pr correction by any one Such a board O
NoulN be more than human il II did not I,
appoint for election officers, men who V
would keep their own party in power by a
infair means whenever they were neees- in
'ary !,
the case which the Dispatch cites. the a,
HcDougai precinct in the johnson and v.
Knight contest. Is striking illustration a,
4 the difference between the present sys- W
EN- and the one that prevailed then. One O,
udse OF election In that case distracted h,
'sme eighty-nye Republican ballots from ci