The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-03-06

tho Democratic party II hsi' b'fh 'hti X
ed IN some quarters that fraud had been
committed but he was not on the hoor
81 the House 20 either 20 admit or to
donv that assertion. II had been charged
thaE I'm the white counties 70 cost mem
hers Of the LEGISLATURE twice as much
10 b. elected as their compensation by
the state. lie thought the proposed law
was ia the right direction. While part
Of the public press had condemned the
section Of the State from Whlch ne
came. the same newspapers now falseu
their voices in approving this measure
ANY fraud perpetrated was a stain upon
the manhood and dignity Of the citzehs
Of Virginia
II had been said that the bill was
unconstitutional. but similar laws hau
Ieen adonted by tliirty-siN states IN tne
Union. II 81 had not been considered ID
The committee. It had certainly been
thoroughly discussed for two nights IN
the Democratic caucus. The providing
for special constable was certainly
better than the bribing Of voters ana
the bill took away ali inducements 10
bribc.
Mr.. Coleman, of Spotsylvania, onered
as an amendment that his county be
exempted from the operation OF the law.
Judge Edmondson offered a similar
amendment exemptlng Rockbrdee county
from the provisions Of the bill.
DanyiIle Protests.
Mr.. Withers. Of Danville protested
against the bin In the name OF the
neople whom he represented and In the
name Of political fairness and justice.
This bin would sound the death kneil
of the Democratic party as surely as any
measure that Intended 20 repress the
rights OF the people. 1t would create an
oligarchy that would cause 1illman
to arise en- Virginia, and every man
who sat now in the councils OF the
Democratic party would be downed and
ostraclsed. The working OF the Australian
ballot in the other States had been cited,
but he ventured TO say that such law
az the one under discussion was not on
any statute book. No party would ever
be- able 10 put a repressive election law
upon Anglo-Saxons to keep political
party I'm power.
Judge Cardwen said he could not see
how this bin would wreck the Democratic
party. The Populsts had demanded IT,
and a newspaper I'm this city, which had
made the assertion that fraud and cor
ruptiou prevailed at elections. demanded
IT, II ought 20 be the desire Of all good
Democrats 10 harmonic the party. He
felt convinced that If the bin was passed
70 would relieve the public mind and paci-
fy the Democratic party.
If there was anything needed for the
people Of this State it was the passing Of
some measure 10 take il beyond the
power Of men TO organize clubs and
gangs for the purpose Of selling out on
election day
There was great force in the assertion
If the gentleman from Fauquier under
the peculiar framing OF the language of
the bill, that the measure was unconsu-
tutional. but this could easily be remedied
by changing the language of the bill. so
that instead of forcing a person to be
come "a candidate for Office who had not
announced himself twenty days before
election. the bin should read that In
this instance the name should not go on
the official ballot. while the person should
not be disqualified. The Australian ballot
had been adopted by thirty-siX States.
and among them West Virginia and
MARYLAND. where IL worked admirably.
and the Constitution of West Virginia
was almost Identical with that Of Nir-
ginis.
Only n sham.
Colonel Gibson interrupted Judge Card
well by saying that the measure under
system
Judge Cardwen. i'm continuing his re-
marks. said that the Democratic party in
West Virginia and i'm Maryland was ac-
tuatcd by the same motives as the Demo-
Gratis in this State This bill if enacted,
would relieve the state from fraud and
corruption for & would prevent the men
from selling their votes. and for this very
reason he supported the bin. Manhood
required il that IF am election law was
passed in this state il should be the
same i'm AN counties. When the Ande rsOn-
Mccormick law was passed II was not
considered whether the counties i'm the
mountains needed IL or not but IL was
passed for AN counties I'm the State. A
few days ago ho had been I'M conference
with a prominent gentleman from Mary
land. who assured him that the intro
ducti0n Of the Australian ballot had in
troduced peace in the Democratic party
of chat state. The previous elections had
boon controlled bv money and he expected
that if the hin was passed the greatest
howl among the people would come from
those who previously made money out Of
the elections and whom this bin was en-
deavOring TO down.
Mr.. Kellam. OF Norfolk, opposed the
bill but stated that he favored honest
and fair elections. lie thought uniform
election law should be introduced for the
whole state or none at all. However, he
opposed this bin because it would dis
franchise a large portion of illiterate Dem
ocratic voters.
MIR Moon. of Albemarle, offered as an
amendment that the special constable
should point out the names on the bal
lots TO those who could not read.
Two Ballot Clerks.
Mr.. Digs of King William. offered an
amendment which substituted two ballot
clerks for the special constable He siatee
that there was an unrest I'm the hearts
of the white people i'm this state tina
the election was not honestly conducted
i'm negro counties. He himself came from
a negro county and he considered TINS
assertion an infamous Islander upon On,
people whom he had the honor TO repre-
sent He wanted to see two ballot clerk.
ounointcd who should assist the ignoran
voters. and he desired % have anothe
section inserted provided that the ballot
box should remain i'm view OF the peOpl'
during the dav. and that at the close OF
the polls not more than two friends Of th'
opposing candidates should be admitted
20 the poling-place during the counting
of the ballots.
Mr. Hunton briefly replied TO Judg
Cardwen while Colonel Logan. Of Roa
noke. said that his constituents did no
want such law. which would exclud
from voting those who could not read
I'm his county There were districts com
prising 500 voters. If this law was en-
acted It would take about two and a hal
minutes for each man to vote. therefor,
not more than 300 or 400 voters could cas-
their votes I'm one day az one precinct
- l. ......lh nnnn.ciintn the Dividing q