Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-10-25
ASK FOR THE NAMES.
REQUEST Of Mr. 1horp, Like Others,
Refused by Secretary LaEleSS.
LOOK AFTER REGISTRATION.
Chairman Dawson Urges Richmond voters
to he Acknowledging Last Night-
Fitz Lee to Speak.

terday, and presented to the Secretary
of the Commonwealth the following letter.
which raises quite an interesting question:
RICHMOND. VA. october a. 1894.
Hon. Joseph T. Lawless. Secretary Oh the
Commonwealth. Richmond, va:
Dear Sir,-Please furnish me names OF
the several candidates for Congress from
the Fourth Congressional District OF VIZ
ginia who have officially notified you OF
their candidacy. and whom you have GER
tilted 10 the secretary OF each Electoral
Board Of each county or city OF SAID con-
gressiOnal district.
Yours respectfully. u. I. Tfiohr'
Mr.. LAwLEsS'S REPLY.
In reply to the above Mr.. Lawless wrote:
RICHMOND. VA. October p, 1891.
Hon. X. 4. Thorp. Richmond. Va:
Dear Sir.-Replying to your application
for an official list OF the candidates Tor
Congress I'm the Fourth Congressional DIS
trict / beg to say that according 10 my
construction OF the law. | am not author
tied to divulge this Information.
The fourth section Of the Act TO
Provide for the Method OF Voting by
Ballot" commonly known as the Walton
BILL" requires the Secretary Of the Com
monwealth to notify the secretary OF
each electoral board OF each city or
county of the State OF the names OF
those persons who have served notice on
him OF their intention to be candidates.
BY the sixth section ii Is provided that
a member of the Electoral Board shall
take them q. e. the ballots into his
exclusive possession. allowing no one to
examine them: nor shall such member
communicate to any one any information
as to the size, style, or contents of said
ballots" ANY violation Of
the provisions Of this section for which
no punishment has otherwise been pro-
vided shall be deemed a msdemeanor
and punished by fine OF 500. and i'm
prisonment for one month In Jail"
ANOTHER PROHIBITION.
Indeed, my declination to comply with
your request might be entirely rested In
that clause Of the sixteenth section, which
reads:
ANY member OF the Electoral Board.
the printer who shall print the official
ballots provided for by this act. any
Judge of election. or any other person
who shall give or sell to any person
whomsoever, except where it is distinctly
provided by this act, any official ballot
or any copy, or any fac-simile of the
same. or any information about the same,
or shall counterfeit. or attempt to coun-
terfeit the same shall be deemed guilty
of a misdemeanor and. upon conviction
thereof. shall be fined 500 and imprison-
ed in Jail for six months"
While the foregoing does not specifically
forbid the Secretary Of the Common
wealth 10 give the information you desire,
il is clearly the intent OF the law TO
retain 1t In the exclusive possession of the
Electoral Board until the day OF election,
the penalty imposed upon such board for
dlvulging it being very heavy.
This intent would be defeated were
to give the information. and in this view
of the law / must respectfully refuse
your request.
Very respectfully.
JOSEPH r. LAWLESS,
Secretary Of the Commonwealth.
INVARIABLY REFUSED.
Mr.. Lawless has had requests from
various other sources for lists Of the
candidates for Congress, but has invari-
ably declined to comply. a few days ago
ex-Congressman Venable. Of Petersburg
made an application similar 10 that OF
Mr. Thorp. and was refused. Mr.. Lawless
writing 10 Mr.. Nenable, in substance.
what he wrote To Mr. Thorp. Several
representatives. OF newspapers have also
made application for the full list Of can
ddates in the State. but Mr.. Lawless has
felt constrained TO withhold the infor-
nation. feeling. as he does. that it would
be a violation Of law to give 1t out.
See That You Are Registered.
In the following letter to the Dispatch
Chairman Dawson calls the attention Of
the Democratic voters OF Richmond 10 a
matter that should receive their prompt
and thorough attention:
HDQRS CITY DEMOCRATIC COM.
100 EAST MAIN STREET,
RICHMOND, VA. October q, 1894.
To the Editor OF TIE Dispatch:
/ desire TO call the attention OF the
voters Of Richmond TO the urgent neccs-
sity for obtaining transfers at once.
Registration day Is Saturday. October
27th, and no transfers can b. had after
that time.
Already about one thousand transfers
have been obtained from the city Demo-
cratic headquarters No. 100 east Main
street, but ii is believed that many have
still neglected this important duty.
From seemingly authentic reports.
which are rapidly coming in from all
parts OF the district. II appears that
both the POpulsts and Republicans are
making strong AMI desperate. though
secret and quiet fight; and If the Demo-
Gratis OF this district desire to preserve
its past glorious rccOr1-and all good
Democrats do-every man must do his
whole duty as a patriot, citizen. and 4
Democrat THIS Is what Is called an OFF,
year in politics, and IL IS very difficult
to thoroughly arouse the people To ac-
tion. If we wish to give the usual Demo-
cratic majority every vote must be cast.
Let every one. therefore, see that he Is
properly registered. and If he knows Of
any one who has recently moved 10 his
nelghborhood, let him hand his name and
address 70 the superintendent OF head
quarters and he Will be transferred.
My fellow citizens, we have no fear
that our gallant leader will be defeated.
or that our district will be false 10 itself
but we want the usual majority. Let
every individual determine that IL shall
be forthcoming on November 9Th.
Yours truly, MARION l.. DAWSON,
Chairman City Committee.
Populists First Richmond Meeting.
About one hundred and fifty people,
including in the neighborhood of one hun
dred women and children, assembled on
High street near Pine last night, to listen
TO Populistic doctrines. as preached by
State-Chairman j. Haskins Hob:on and
Little Jimmie Gregory" What was lack
ing in enthusiasm on the part OF the
audience, was made up by the shaking
of dead leaves from mulberry-tree by
small boy perched among the
branches. Robusto oratory and cigarette
smoke filled the air. The meeting was
presided over by a fat gentleman with
gray hair and his introduction OF the
speakers was in the most approved
method of abbreviation. The platform from
which the leaders spoke was erected III
a vacant lot next to dwelling No. 6l'
High street, was rude structure. and
was occupied BY the speakers. the chair
man, and one other person. Mr.. Hobson
spoke first. and during his talk Mr..
Gregory paced restlessy the gravelled
sidewalk back OF the stand. Mr.. Hobson
is a ready speaker. but his address
fell upon barren ground. and ne
no doubt felt the fact as there was
scarcely a ripple of applause. He began
his remarks by saying he was born a
Democrat, and rocked in Democratic
cradle: that his first vote was for Horace
Greedy. and his last equally as disgrace
full when he voted for Grover Cleveland
The usual abuse OF all parties but the
Pops " was INDUCED in, and n great deal
OF time was spent on the money question,
which, the speaker said, was the only
~ lon