Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-11-27
The Virginia Election Law.
tor of the Dispatch

To the Editor OF the DlSpdtch.
The so-called "honest-elections law"
proposed by the Petersburg Conference,
while in many Of its features an unde-
sirabe law, has. nevertheless. served To
draw public attention to the SUBJECT
Comparing the proposed law Win the
law now in force. it would appear 10 De
obvious that il our constable places the
illiterate and floating vote entirely unuer
the control of that constable, then TWO OF
more constables OF different parties, as
provided for by the proposed law, would
place this vote under the control OF the
constable backed by the longest purse.
and would utterly defeat the secrecy OF
the ballot, because the complex. On OF
the vote would always be inferred from
the political complexion OF the constable
who was called upon to fix the ballot.
Another serious defect in the proposed
law is found in the fact that II caters
TO the ignorant vote by providing a pic
ture or device 10 represent the several
parties. In order that the ignorant per-
son may be enabled to vote any par
ticular party ticket without calling upon
the constable TO assist him.
This provision, while apparently ialr'
Is, nevertheless, exceedingly ilnpolltic.
especially under the conditions which az
present environ the Southern States, De-
cause it is possible Cunder this provision)
In any heated campaign in which the
prcjudices Of the negroes would be eA-
cited against the whites. for The whole
negro vote 10 be cast as unit, ana. con-
seduently, with the addition to the above
solid vote of few thousand whites. we
would at times be liable 10 fall under the
dominion OF the vicious classes.
While il Is exceedingly desirable tina.
difficulties should be. as far as possible,
placed in the way of fraud. bribery. and
intimidation, 1t is equally desirable THAI
difficulties should be placed in the way
OF ignorance.
Indeed. since the State. at the expense
| of many millions OF dollars has furnished
| for a whole generation free education, II
would appear TO be perfectly rght ana
lust that the State should provide a bal
| lot and form of election which would,
| of necessity, involve a certain amount OF
| education on the part of The voter in
| order that the general welfare might
| be protected. TO some extent, at least,
! from the evil consequences OF Ignorance.
Under the present law, this end could
| be attained without interfering ia the
| least with the theoretical right of every
| man to cast a vote. by simply doing away
with the constable. and requiring the
| voter 10 go absolutely alone into the vot-
| ing booth, and allowing no person what
| ever to assist him or to see his ballot.
| by this simple change several desirable
objects would be accomplished The Sc
crecy of the ballot would be secured; brl'
berry and intimidation would depart will
the power TO know how vote was CO 1
| and an educational qualification in
| modified form would be instituted, 10y
which the voter himself would be th'
| judge OF his own qualification.
If such an amendment is unconstitu
tional, then in the interest OF the pub
| lie. the Constitution should be speedily
changed in this particular.
/ In some cases such law might appa
ren,ly work a hardship upon few intel
| ligent persons. who are unable TO read
but laws should never be passed to bene
| tit the few at the expense of the many
| and Il is I'm this and all similar excep
lions "A safe and sound principle, that "th'
l.mdividuars rights much give way 10 th'
public good"
Indeed. the inability TO read OF neces
sity involves the inability 10 cast al
intelligent ballot because the individual
has no means Of informing himself a
to the merits OF the questions at issue
and he is merely a tool in the hands o
designing demagogues, and therefore
| HUN a punt VI 'iSNs ~ Wuui'
seem that he should be willing to foreg,
his rights until such time as he coulC
learn 20 read.
| Among other suggestions which discus
sion OF the election laws has evolved, w
ind that many intelligent people fayO
Il return to the 'yiya-voce" system
These persons do not seem TO conside
that. under our present environment
when is altogether different from tina
Of ante-b ellum days. the "vive-voce" sys
TEN by doing away with secrecy Open
the doors to bribery and intimidation
putting the floaeT up TO the highest bid
der, and placing the employed absolute
IS under the control of his employer.
| Again, we ind that many favor a bro
disqualification, under the plea .ha;
person who has no property has 40 in
tcfcst ia the country. This position Il
| manifestly false, because the citizen (an'
| he is quite numerous), who has no pro
| perty, has as much interest in having
| laws passed under which he can hav'
fair chance to acquire property ~
the properiy-owner has in having law
| passed that viii enable him TO hold hi,
property The interest OF perhaps on
half Of the people would. under such 4
law be placed In the hands OF their eco
monte enemies: therefore, the law ap
pears TO be class legislation In its wors
form, and not conducive 10 the public
welfare. JAMES II. ROBERTSON.
Mount Vinco Post-Otfice. Buckingham
| Va