New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-08-09
ELECTORAL REFORM IN VIRGINIA..

ELECTORAL REFORM IN VIRGINIA.
The sentiment in favor Of radical reform OF
the election laws Of Virginia appears to be grow
ing In strength and volume, and 1t does not seem
to be confined to any political party. Respect
able and patriotic citizens of that State who nave
been and still are members Of the Democratic
party have become weary and disguised on ac-
count OF the frauds and irregularities that have
been practised under cover of partisan Election
law as well as in violation of all law Last years
elections clearly demonstrated two things
| First, that the law was failure even when
honestly and fairly executed, and, second, that
II could be. and was. used by overzealous, I'M
scr,pulous and dishonest partisans not only to
nufy the will of voter who from any cause
was unable TO mark his own ballot. but 10 count
his vote on the other side Whether or not such
was the intent of the men who framed ana 'iic
party which enacted the law these were the re-
su,ts which elected the severest criticism ana
provoked the most unsparing denunciation OF
thousands Of members Of the party which was
rcsnonsbe for its enactment. as well as OF all It's
opponents The evidence was Overwhelming
that IN many counties-in fact. throughout
several Of the Congress districts-the most gar
inc frauds were committed under the cover OF
| ,h;s low Tn those counties and districts tho
| w.
Congress elections of 1894 were worse thah
force and # was small wonder that the decent
self-respecting and law-abiding citizens Oh VI"
u;n,o ;rrosnective Of party, became Disguised as
we'll as indignant.
S,noo that time nrominent and influential mem
hers ~ the several organized political parties IN
,ha, state have been studying the subject OF
electoral reform. and seeking to discover GROUND
dc Of foir
t,ons could rally and stand together. numper
Of them recently held conference at WHICH :"
draft of \ bill fol- new Election law was SUD-
mitted, discussed and in its generai features "p
nrovcd nv all who were present 1t Is understood
that this will be platform upon when all .he
friends Of electoral reform in Virginia will unite
and which they propose to MAKE the ieau'ns '''"e
Of the next campaign In other words, they do
M. moan 70 content themselves with an enuncia-
ton Of theories and principles or display OF
outter,ng eeneralities. but to advocate and sup
port well-defned propositions and specific pro-
visions.
The measure they propose seeks to accomplish
two things. First, to guard against frauds IN
the registration of voters and the counting ana
returns of the ballots cast and. second 10 pro
feet the voter who for any reason is unable prop
tbe creation of an electoral board for each city
and comfy. to be appointed by the Judge Of the
county or municipal court said board to con-
s;s, If tbree persons-one to be taken from
each Of the three principal political parties, and
each member TO be chosen by the Judge from
among two or more electors recommended to
him by the chairman of the city or county com
mittee Of each party respectively. The electoral
&11r N
nrecinct rs a board Of registrars, and also three
Judges Of election. the members OF these poarus
70 ho chosen from the three principal political
parties in the same manner that the elecuoh
board Is selected by the county or municipai
Judge The clerks OF these two boards must
also be electors of the precinct ana De CHOSEN
from among the members OF the political party
which is in a minority. Each pohtlcal party
running candidates for office at any elecnoh
shall also have the right to appoint one of its
members as o supervisor AT each precinct WHO
shall be admitted to the polling-place when the
Judges Of election enter the same, ana tnere I'll
ioy the right to overlook everything that Is done
until the polls are closed, the votes counted ana
tho result ublicly announced The ballots used
are to be prepared, printed and furnished by
sworn officials Each ballot Is to contain IN
separate columns the names OF the cdhuiua'es vi
each party respectively, and also a column FOR
the names Of Independent" candidates, each
column to be headed with the name OF the
party to which the candidates belong and also
to be distinguished by party device-a star, an
eagle and so on, beneath which is to be circle
one and one-half inches in diameter. An y made
by the voter In one Of these circles denotes that
he votes the straight ticket underneath 1t
Provision is also made for the scratching OF tho
name of any candidate and the substitution OF
the name Of another candidate Whenever an
elector requires help to prepare his ballot he has
the right to call on either Of the supervisors fol-
such aid
These are the salient features of the measure
which the friends Of election and ballot reform
in Virginia propose to make the leading issue
in the next campaign. 1t appears to be ont
upon which all virginians irrespective OF party
who believe in and favor fair expression O.
the peoples will at the polls-and we would b.
/, sorry to believe that they are not very larg'
majority of the people Of that great State-cal
unite and which they can heartily support