The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-01-28
For the Australian Ballot.

Editor Times: All you have said on
the question of fraud in our elections
is fully endorsed by the great mass OF
the people of this section Ca white sec
tom. and while they approve Of your
suggestion that the county judges be
revested with the authority 70 appoint
the judges Of election because an I'M
prOvemeut on the present mode OF APP
p0intment they do not think that amend
ment alone would cure the evil complain
ed of.
Many OF the county judges are par
tisans of the worst character, and the
majority of them III the white sections
are either leaders Of or members Of the
rings which intest every county town In
the State, still they arc equally, il not
more trustworthy. than the electoral
board, appointed by the Legislature on
the recommendation Of the member Of
each county.
The Republican party enfranchized the
negro for the purpose and with the eX-
pectatlon OF controlling the Southern
States with the negro vote. The eX-
pertinent was a disasterOus failure. ana
that party had paid dearly for its
folly.
tl,. Acknowledgement Of the negro large
" increased the power of the South he
it's representative capacity. 1t made the
South solid and has kept it solid To
the present time The methods by which
the negro vote has been utilized IS known
Of all men.
The Republican party is heartily sick
Of it's bargain. and it Is now maturing
a plan by which this incubus on the
marty IN the South can be thrown off,
The negro IS grateful, and the genera
49,. afrxfa1 xfnffn urQg suddenly CON
verified into full-pledged American clu-
zens BY the Republican party remained
truly loyal TO its supposed benefactor
but the class has 20 a great extent pass
Cd awav. and the present generation
which receives no benefits from the Re-
nublican party and is only thankful for
present and future favors is in Virginia
and many Of the Southern States almost
entirely alienated in feeling and interest
from the Republican party and has be-
come a purchasable factor in all cleo
tons.
Now. while Republican party in the
South without the Negro would be very
like the celebrated play minus the Prince,
[ predict that in the near future that
party viii be re-Organized in the South
without the negro as an element or the
organization. This plan viii work diVi-
silver. and other questions, and II our
election laws are not changed that party
will prevail which can buy the most
votes. our State will then be flooded
at every general election with foreign
money
In my humble judgment the only way
the Democratic party can retain power
for any length Of time Is TO adopt such
election laws as will place the negro and
purchasable white vote beyond reach or
money and I am satisfied honest judges
Of election and the Australian ballot sys-
TEN viii accomplish the end so much
desired by all honest citizens
SOCTHW EST.
In a very recent conversation, ex-Goy-
ernor J. Proctor Knott told the writer
that the Australian ballot was working
well in Kentucky, and that one Of its i'm
portant features was the check IL placed on
the use OF money in elections. The brber
said he. had no assurance that the voter
would. after the receipt OF the money,
vote as he was paid to vote, there
being no way of following him up.--Ed.