Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-02-14
UPTOWN OFFICE. ~ EAST BROAD
oTN1Er.
WEsr-CND OFFICE. PARK-PLAcD
DHARNACY. D<lvidere and Main strseta
MANCHESTER OFFICE. i3os HULL
01REET.
THURSDAY. FEBRUARY IA, 1895.
Asestsens for the Tiacs Newspaper

The Timss IL wandering away from the
uubjeet. What IL the use Of its telling
~ that the opinion OF the Attorney
General 10 all right: that the circular
sent out by Secretary Lawless Is all
y,ght-that both Of these officers arc
blameless In the matter Of alternating
the names Of candidates on the Official
ballots used In last Novembers elections
IN Virginia.
OF course they are blameless. The At
torney-Gsnerai said that the arrange
ment and order Of the names on the bal
lot was left to the judgment and discre>
ton Of the electoral boards: the Secre-
tary OF the Commonwealth communi-
Gated this opinion to the electoral boards,
and there the duties of these two officers
ended. But that the electoral boards.
acting under the opinion OF the Attorney
General. did have the right. as they sim
cereiy believed that they had. to alter
nate tho names We shall continue to in
siet--the opinion Of the Times 10 the
contrary notwithstanding.
Now let US return to the main Ques-
ton. On Tuesday Of last week the
Times protested against the Dispatch's
''desecrating the name Of fairness BY
saying that the CIovember) election was
fair" and II denounced the alienation
Of names on the tickets as master
piece Of trickery" that reflects
undying infamy upon its manipulators."
Now here's q question for the Times:
Eupposing that before the election Harry
Tucker knew of and approved the pro-
posed alterns ton; supposing that since
the election he had spoken boldly and I'M
Aesitatingly in defence OF alienation;
suppoang that this question were vital
question in his contest. and he should
still be willing to hold his seat In Con-
Kress, would the Times class him as q
beneficiary of fraud. and include him
among those "manipVlators" who are
condemned to 'undying infamy"? And
under such circumstances would the Times
think that Tucker could honestly hold
his seat?
What have you to say to these aues-
hons. Mr. Times? Answer II you please,
and say up and down. should Tucker have
his seat In congress or not.
Surprising the name Of Tucker erased
and that Of William A. Jones substituted
therefor. would the Times think that
Jones could honestly hold his seat? An.
swer. please.
Or supposing instead Of the name or
W. A. Jones we insert that Of Gardiner
Tyler, does the Times think that Mr..
Tyler could honestly hold his seat? An
swer. please.
Or. take the name OF W. r. Mckinney;
would the Times allow that Mckinney
WAS honestly elected? Or take the case
of Otey: or Meredith. In either case does
the Times think that the Democratic
candidate could honestly hold his seat?
Apply the test TO the entire list of Demo
Gratis elected to Congress from Virginia
In 1874. and let the Times say which one
q, or Is not. entitled to "undying In
famy"--whioh one is or Is not honestly
elected.
And mind you that every Democrat In
che virginia delegation elected last Novem-
bes comes from . district-for aught that
We know to the contrary-where alter
mated ballots were used-this Infamous
nevics. this masterpiece Of tricksry."
which IL the prime question now under
discussion between the Times and the
DisoAtch--the Times having dropped It's
absurd ocntention that the Secretary Of
the Commonwealth had no authority
under the law to communicate to the
essctsssi boards for their guidance. an
opinion of the Attorney General OF this
state which said that the order and ar
sangement Of names on the ballot was
left BY the Legislature to the judgment
and discretion Of the electoral boards.
Just one more question to the Times:
The Times has quite recently eulogized
The Hon. John Randolph Tucker. 1t ad-
mits (as We all do) that Mr.. Tucker Is a
gysat lawyer: II has much admiration for
his personal character: It believes. we
take It. that Mr.. Tucker Ii the Christian
man that be processes to be. Now then.
n the Times knew that the Hon. John
Randolph Tucker approved the alterna-
ton Of names on the ballots. would It
shink him q "trickster': would Il include
him IN the list Of those Democrats Of
Virginia whom II would consign to ''un-
dying infamy''i Now. answer this ques-
tioa. too. Mr.. Times!