New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-10-04
EJECTOR4L Reform IN VIRGINIA.


II Is gratifying to note the steady ana healthy
growth of public sentiment in virginia III ia'or
of n reform in election laws ana methous. 81
uowerful has the sentiment already Decoihe '"''
the Democratic State Committee III lis '''o",
meeting felt constrained 10 take notice vi II """
fry TO measure the strength 81 the lo'ceS wa
arr, arraying themselves on the size oi i"ii ""
honest elections. The subject WAS cohS'"' :"
and discussed in private. and efforts WERE "'''.
TO keep the proceedings from the puphc, o"'
enough has leaked out to Indicate that the poui-
hon leaders feel deep concern. ana reaiize 'iia.
the ISSUE Of electoral reform Is one that they VIII
he compclled TO face In the coming state c"i''
r.i.p One of the most significant ana sus
',o.,iva facts developed by the discussions i'll
tho committee was that the members IRON '''
"whlte" counties uniformly reported sum
and growing sentiment in favor OF riu'cai '''o'
acotions of the isiing election law WIFI ''''
monitors from the black counties uhiio'h,i'
r.norted that there was little or no apparent us
satisfaction with that law, and therefore ho'"'"s
! 90 fo,r from II In their respective countries
I, * said that the amendments faVor" d!
,,o,rhers of the committee from white co"h'
tio. wore first. to provide for two speciai ooh'
stables lone TO be appointed from each oi 'ne
,,vo nrincipal political paries) ut each election
,,n., whose duty il should be TO preserve
,a, and 70 assist voters asking for such assist
anoo ,o nrepare their ballots, and, secohd ~
s,,o, watchers representing the several poii'lcal
1T, having candidates in the field 10 be pres
~, and observe the polling and counting VI
these votes Both of these proposeu aN'''.
..o,,s "a well AS every other proposition 10
change the existing law under cover Vi "n'' "
w.. ,,ost outrageous frauds were perpetrated at
tho last election, will undoubtedly W p''o,'
onnosed by the Bourbon leaders IN the p'aoA
counties. where such frauds were more si'i'ne
and stunendorls than In other parts Oh the "'''o'
That the elections In many or the White 'o"'i
tics were likewise tainted by FRAUDS CONTINUE"
under cover OF the law by unscrupuio"s pH
tisons who abused their Official au'hori'! 'S
sneciol constables and judges anu clerks Vi eiec'
zion there is unfortunately, good reason 10 pe'
uevo In fact no other reasonable OF piausip'e
exclamation can be given Of the heavy decrease
+, ,ho total vote of the State without any CORE
ordi,, diminution Of the Democratic pluiall-
,;os sinca the enactment Of the present law III
1888 the total vote was about 3O4,Oo0; al the
c,oto election Of 1889 The total vote was 2S'''
ooo. in the Presidential year Of lso2 II rose 10
oo, ooo. nj the State election Of lS!s3 llled uh"c
a., Ian. NOW in force, the total fell 10 2l6'OoO,
49,, the total vote for candidates for Congress
in 1891 was only 215OOO. The Democratic can
didat. for Governor in 1889 received pinrah'!
~ Io177 votes; in 1893 OFerrail received Il
nlurollty of 49, 7Ol votes, which was only 4'ooo
smaller than Cleyelands plurality IN 1917, III,
,h,,,,,h rho totol vote was 10000 smaller in lS|'
than in 1882.
We are clad 10 observe that not only the Ike
nuhlicans. Populists and Prohibltohls's' ou'
many Democrats also are taking an active par
I'm th. movement In favor OF the ehac'H'n' vi
, fair election law and a radical REFORM Oh 'ie''
non methods in Virginia In several Oh TIE
cnuntie, in which Democratic conventions nave
| h..p held 10 nominate candidates for the state
| 7 legislature resolutions have been adopted peug'
| inc the nominees 10 support such amendments
| ~ tho nresent law rs will insure fair ana honest
| ,octions This would not have been done ii
| th.re had not been a strong aud general demand
for Il and II must therefore be regarded as an
| encouraging Indication But, nevertheless, IN
our opinion. the only hope Of electoral reform IN
Virginia in the near future is In the election Oh
LEGISLATURE this fall majority OF which VIII
l.. onnosed ON that issue. TO the leaders or the
! Damncratic party In the State. Every voter III
! VircIuiu whether he be Democrat, Republican,
prohIbitonist or Populist, who favors fair anu
honest elections ought to do his part in the strls-
r. TO obtain such majority. We believe ihere
is reason to hope that. if the struggle is success
mi the Democratic Governor will not attempt
to ureycnt such changes in the present law as
,ro necessary to relieve the Old Dominion OF tile
stig,na which that law has forced her 10 bear