Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-11-04
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BATTLE OF TUESDAY,.
re Cen(rlsiulll Cl1yln nd 0e
InppIti1t Isslw hyolIsl
AN EDUCATIONAL CAMPAIGN.
had Il1y Speakers md I Gsasruu
Distribution Of Literature
THB CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.
Its ADOPTION Viii Greatly httdl tho
States Financial Condition.
AUSTRALIAN BALLOT SYSTEM
History Of the Walton Bill Before The
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Of Booths-
HSs--st.> ~ V~slu~
rHB CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.
AUSTRALIAN BALLOT SYSTEM
History Of the Walton Bill Before The
Observation-Disclosures Of Boeths-
1Iinutiae Of Voting.

The campaign has not been q hurrah
ore, and It has been signally devoid of
excitement This Is due in part to the
fact that at is an off-year in politics"
but In greater measure to the practical
issues involved.
What has been lacking In the whooping
up feature has. however, as far as the
Democrats are concerned. been made UP
for In earnestness. 1t has been q cam
paign Of education, and the party has
covered the State with speakers more
thoroughly. perhaps. than ever before.
The voters have been given food for
thought On the great tariff issue their
reason has been appealed to, and that
too, in a manner which It II believed
will bring forth gratifying fruit at the
polls.
At State Democratic headquarters a
vast deal of work has been done, and
an immense amount Of campaign litera-
ture has been sent out Thus thousands
of voters have been posted In their homes
upon the politico-economic questions OF
the canvass. and have not felt tho neces-
sity Of attending the meetings. At the
same time the party leaders have not
lost sight Of tho necessity of keeping be-
fore the voters the fact that return Of
the Republicans to power in Congress
would mean the renewal OF force bill and
,ther hostile legislation against the South.
WHAT wD vOTD FOR.
The voting will be for congressman
from all ten districts; upon the question
of ratifying an amendment to the Con-
stitution, and to I'LL vacancies that have
occurred In the State Senate, and the
House Of Delegates.
There are Democratic Republican and
Populist candidates for Congress In all
the districts, Prohibition candidates In
ell except the Ninth, and independent
candidates also In the Third. Sixth. and
perhaps other districts The result will
be that the vote will be very much split
up.
The vacancies In the Legislature that
will be filled are as follows:
Senate-Twelfth District, composed OF
the counties of Clarke. Frederick, Warren,
and tho city Of Winchester; Thirty-first
District, composed of the city Of Norfolk
and the county OF Princess Anne.
House of Delegates-The district COM
posed Of the counties Of King and Queen,
DiEwiddie county, Orange county. Han
over county, the city OF Petersburg, and
the district composed Of Smythe and
Bland counties. There Is also a House
vacancy from Prince William county, but
no writ of election to fill the vacancy has
been issued.
TO REDUCE CRIMINAL EXPENSES.
The constitutional amendment to be
voted upon involves not a political, but
a financial Question-a question affecting
vitality the finances Of the State. Its
object Is to rehablltate police justices
and justices Of the peace with the powers
and Jurisdiction of which they were de-
priyed by the decision OF the supreme
Court Of Appeals in the Mary Miller case.
That decision eliminated from the juris-
diction Of the justices numerous petty
cases. and made their trial by jury COM
pulsory. The result has been that while
the ends of Justice have been no better
served the criminal expenses OF the
State have increased enormously
The Mary Miller case was decided IN
january. 1892, and though there Is no
means of separating the petty cases that
before the decision would have been dis
posed of by justices from those when
would have been tried by 5uries tho FOL.
lowing comparative statement OF criminal
expenses will serve to convey some IDEA
of what the decision has cost the Com
monwealth:
Expense in 1891. ..$SoS.IeS SO
Expenses In 1892. $500 Oh
Expenses In 1893. ................... 5it' 4oz D.
EXPENSES In 1S94................''' o4o'ooo Oh
An examination of these figures ought
10 be sufficient to prove 10 every TAX
naver that Il is to his interest to vote
for the amendment If the increase In
criminal expenses Is not stopped when
the time comes for paying the additional
debt the question will probably arise,
How can the obligation be met without
Increasing taxation"
OUR NEW VOTING SYSTEM.
Another important feature of the cleo
ton will be that In 1t the Australian bal
lot system will be tested in general
election In Virginia for the first time.
The question Of grating this system
upon the Anderson cCormick law had
been agitated for several years, and the
Legislature at its last session made the
graft an accomplished fact by passing
what Is known as the Walton law. The
patron Of the bill was Senator NJ. l.. Wal
ton. of Shenandoah. The measure was
thoroughly discussed in the Democratic
legislative caucus. which met several
times to consider It, and finally, neac
the close of the session, was adopted;
not, however. until 1t had been almost
entirely recast. The work or recasting
was done largely by the patron. and
Senators Flood and Watson. and these
gentlemen had the advice OF the party
leaders.
The system Is In vogue In several other
States. and has already been tried In two
local elections in Virginia.
Elsewhere in to-day's issue OF the Dis
Patch the Walton law Is published in
full. 1t should be read by every voter
who can read. and those who cannot
read should have 1t read to them. There
Is nothing mysterious or complicated
atcut II. It's modus operandi Is simple
and business-like. as experience eise-
where has shown.
HOW THE PLAN WORKS.
A description of the Richmond
booth and annexes will convey a
correct idea of the booths that will be
,sed generally throughout the Safe, and
Ell able the voter to understand how tho
roughly he will be protected from espi-
orfge while preparing his ballot.
The Richmond booth Is made IF wood.
ard Is simply three-sided recess. open
at top and bottom, and measuring 6 feet
4 inches high, % inches deep. and 20
inches wide Attached 10 the rear wall
Is a shelf. furnished with pen and Ink.
The annex Is formed by what answers the
rear wall ana one size OF the DOOM loinen
ut right-angles. and as each one IL set
up with Its rear wall on q line with the
rear wall OF the complete recess. a new
booth is made. In front Of the booth and
each annex Is curtain. which swings
from buttons at the top Of the side walls.
Tho voter will so direct to the polling
place. and after receiving his ballot
there will be two In this instance. one
for congressman and one for voting on
the Constitutional amandment-will enter
q booth and. drawing the curtain behind
him. proceed to prepare them. In the
case Of congressman he viii scratch out
all the names except that OF the candi-
date for whom he desires to vote. In the
case OF the constitutional amendment, he
Will scratch out the line For the Amend
ment to the Constitution or Against
the Amendment to thu Constitution" -
ne may desire to vote. for Or against IT.
MITIGATION.
THD CoN1TABLM
No one but the special constable viii
~ allowed TO entsr . booth occupied By
voter. ana that of1car can only DO 70
e the svsnt that ~ voter b. reason Of
blindnesA cher pAysicAl disability. Or
uheesaey b u1Anae . prapars his 6eIlots
ana requests the oooStnkiSa aariafanr~