Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-04-13

inc NO0Ik 0A0 NV ~VessO"
sTt cannot be doubted that II was the
purpose OF the Legislature TO frame ,
law which would promote fair elections
says our Supreme Court OF Appeals on
the Walton law.
This knocks "sky-high" the theory
which has prevailed with some that the
Walton law was conceived IN fraud ana
designed to cheat illiterate men cut OF
their votes.
This. too, Is the basis Of the courts
conclusion with respect to the vaifd''y
OF the law. II the court had been OF Inc
opinion that the law was an engine o'
fraud. Its decision would have been 'he
reverse Of what 1t was.
So the Legislature which passed the
Walton law Is fully INDICATED oy 'he
highest court In Virginia, as IT mao al
ready been by our people-since II is an
uudoubted fact that 1.-The purpose OF the
Legislature was to frame law winch
would promote fair elections.
The question of the power OF the eiec.
toral boards to alternate the names OF
candidates on tina ballots was not raised
land consequently was not passed upo"
in the Brunswick case. decided on inu's-
day. However, we have the opinion Oh
the Attorney General Of the state on
this question. and that Is good enough
authority for our officers OF election.
On the subject OF the two-and-a-haif-
minute limit Of time during which voter
may occupy booth to prepare MS pai-
lot. our Supreme Court makes the FOL
lowing statement Of the law. attention
to which should be given by every mem
ccsss3 wealth sssis
law places no limit upon the
number of booths that may De suppheu'
while the power of the county courh
to multiply voting precincts Is fuiiy COM
nile. and this court cannot. as PROPOSE
lion of law. decide that the time
allowed by the statute is In
adequate. A limit Of time was
obviously necessary, and the period u.s.
we presume, arrived at as result OF
careful estimate based upon experience
in this or perhaps In other states where
similar legislation has been introduced.
The time given was doubtless deemed
sufffcient 10 ODVidte the HcSSssity Aoi "">
due haste upon the one hand and to
prevent the resort to merely obstructiv.
methods Of delay upon the other"
But important as are the details OF the
law which were passed upon by the Su-
preme Court, the greatest triumph OF
all In the decision, certainly so far az
the trainers and friends of the Walton
law are concerned. is in the declaration
Of the court that 'it cannot be doubted
that II was the purpose Of the Legisla~
ture to frame a law which would pro-
mote fair elections" Now let us heat
no more about the fraudulent purposes
of the Democratic members OF the last
General Assembly who voted in favor
Of the Walton law.
We should think that this opinion
would be very helpful to Congressman
McKenney, Otey. Swanson, and Tucker
in their contests. since the highest Viz
ginia court has not only sustained the
constitutionality of the law, but has
shown that the legislative purpose In en-,
acting the law was to promote fair cleo
tions. 1t Is the custom Of the House of
Representatives to accept such decisions
as this as conclusive Of the points raised.
and the Republican majority in the next
House Is so large it will be unnecessary
for them to depart from old landmarks
to maintain their present supremacy