Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1895-12-13

advantage oil every section of our
State by securing better ways for
getting from point to point and
conveying our products to the
railroads and markets.
THE WALTON ELECTION LAW.
The Governor refers to the fact
that the Walton election law has
been vigorously assalled and earn
eStly defended, and then says: Il
have given the act cal eful con-
slderation, and in the performance
of my duty l shall express my
views plainly and frankly. The
object Of all election laws should he
the securement of order at he polls
and a free and untranmeled, pure
and unpurchased expression OF the
will of the people, through the
medium OF the ballOt-box. Has
the Walton law accomplished the
purpose for which it was intendedi
1t has surely secured quiet, peace
able and orderly elections. The
excitement, confusion and disorder.
aud the badgearing, pulling aud
hauling Of voters that prevailed 10
snch a disgusting extent have
ceased. 1t has rendered the use OF
money impossible, for the venal
voter can no longer be led 10 the
polls by him who has contracted
for his vote. 1t has certainly
secured the free, Hntrammeled and
aud nnpurchased ballot of every
voter Of ordinary intelligence, for
wien he enters the booth he is
exempt from intimidation and the
Influence of MONEY, class and race,
and there prepares his own ballot
! with his own hand, under his own
el e and none other. So far the
effect of the Walton Law must meet
with the hearty support of every
citizen who values orderly cleo
tiODS, condemns the use OF money
at the polls and desires free, un.
trammeled and unpurchased eG-
preston of the will of the people.
THE SPECIAL CONSTABLE FEAT
URE.
"NOw, as to the voters who are
physically or educationally unable
to vOte:' The statute provides that
a special constable, who shall be
an honest and discreet person, and
be able to read and write shall be
appointed for each polling place IN
the State, who, after being dnly
sworn to faithfully discharge his
duty, shall, at the request of any
electOr who may be physically or
educatiOnally unable to VOTE rem
der the electOr such assistance as
may be necessary in preparing his
ballot. 1t is to this provision Of
the law that the most strenuous
objection smade by the opponents
OF the act. 1t is cOntended that
under it illiterate and blind voters
are placed at the mercy OF the
special constable. This Is true;
but ever since the ballot system
was adopted in Virginia until the
passage of the Walton law, all
llliteraie and blind vOSers were
compelled to rely upon others who
were not officers, and were not un-
der oath, to prepare their ballots.
The Walton law gives them a
sworn officer, under a heavy pen.
atty, instead of private citizen,
untonded by the sInctity Of an
oath. There can be no force in tie
objection to the provisiOn-only on
the assumption that the ofici al -,
being of the opposite party of the
voter, would probably prepare the
ballot contrary to the directions Of
the voter; 10 other words, that the
special constable, beng a demo
crat or republican, as the case may
be, will likely pe1ure himself in
the interests of his party. This is
a most violent assumption, and, il
carried to its logical conclusion,
would cast discTedit upon every
Judge who presldes, and every
witness who testifes, in a con
tested election case or other
matter Of a political nature. 1t
would be to hOll that Judge car
not be uusted, nor witness be
lleye ell, because lie may be corrupt
ed, or may commit perjury to sub
serve party ends. This is more
than am willing to assume.
recommend such amendments
as may be necessary to relieve thu
act of uncertainties IN its construc
ton. l recommend that it be sc
amended as to require the ballots
IN each county and city to be o
uniform size aud style, printed q
plain and uniform type, so theI
can be easily read by those 40