The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-08-21
FOR HONEST ELECTIONS.
THE PEOPLE or MEChLENBCRG
sPEIK THEIR MINDS.
They Regard This Question rs the Para
bers Of the Next Legislature.

IOf II lVNs ' ~ aus. So lf'Nt tsAts
Yesterday being court day. the meeting
called fcr the purpose Of taking steps
la the interest of honest elections
throughout the state was called 10 order
by T. \. Eppes, Esq. as chairman, and
Jordan Il. Wells, Esq, was requested 10
act as secretary.
4 committee OF five was appointed TO
draw up resolutions, who re-grted the
following, which was adopted, and the
following papers requested 10 pubhsh.
Richmond Times ana county papers oI
MecklenDurg.
PREAMBLE.
Whereas, under our form OF govern
ment the right TO vote Is the right upon
which every other. whether of lie, hmQ,
or property, Is dependent, ana the VIII
of q majority of the voters, as expressed
at elections held TO choose public officers
is, and ought 10 be- supreme, ana Whert-
as, under the present election law, the
will OF "a majority Of the electors mas
been time and again subverted by Iiaud-
ulent practices ana devices or election
officers I'm stufing ballOt-bOXes with false
ballots, making false returns, and re-
jectng honest returns, and in many in-
stances creatures of railroads and other
corporations and corrupt rings nave been
awarded certificates OF election, though
they received only minority of the votes
cast. ana whereas the present election
o
and perpotuatc corrupt rings, who con-
troll the selection of public officers, re-
gardless Of the VIII of the people. and
whereas the uotorlously corrupt. false,
and untrustWOrthy elections held under
the present law have sullied the lair
name Oi Virginia. menace the moral
character of our people, and If continued
NiIl inevitably result IN the destruction
OF our republican form Of government;
and whereas we earnestly desire TO have
enacted by the next General Assembly
an honest, fair. and non-partisan election
law SO framed as that every qualified
voter shall nave the right TO east one
vote for the candidate of his choice Tor
every Office 10 be filled by the vote Of
the people. and with such Safeguards
as Will insure that such vote shall be
counted and returned as cast; therefore.
be it
the REsoLUTIoNs.
Resolved (by the people Of Meckenburg
county, irrespective OF past or present
political views or affiliations. IN mass
meeting assembled. this 10Th day OF Au-
gust. $3.50. That We regard the enact
meut of am honest nOn-parftsan election
law as the paramount issue IN the neNt
election FOR members OF the Legislature.
that the present election law is totally
Inadequate 10 secure honest and ia.r
elections. being so framed as 10 shield
and encourage rather than detect and
punish frauds upon the ballOt-bOX: that
we VIII do all I'm our power 10 Eecure
the election Of a delegate 10 the next
General Assembly OF Virginia who viii
not become member of or be bound by
any caucus or any political party as 10
any matter affecting the passage of an
election law, but viii Join and abide by
the action or any nOn-partisan caucus
OF he members OF the LEGISLATURE who
maybe I'm favor of an honest. nOn-parti-
san election law; that for the purpose
Of securing a proper representative in
the next General Assembly. who will
do all I'm his power 10 secure the enact
mont Of such a law a convention ~
The people OF this county, Irrespective of
past or present political affiliations who
are I'm favor OF the election Of delegate
tO the next Legislature who will do all
.n his power TO secure a fair nOn-parti-
san election law, be, and the same IS
on the 9th day of September. 1890, for
the purpose of nominating suitable
candidate 10 represent this county I'm
the next General Assembly,
PRECINCT coMMfTrrrs.
That a committee Of three be appointed
10y the chairman OF this meeting for each
precinct in this county. whose duty II
shall be 10 elect a chairman. who shall
be county chairman Of the nOn-partisau
election law organization Of Mecklenburg
county. the said committee 10 have
charge of the canvass I'm their respective
precincts, and the county chairman 10
exercise general supervision over The
canvass ln the county. that two dele
gates from each OF the several precincts.
who are In sympathy with this move
mcnt, on the 9Th day of September ISgJ
10 attend the convention above called.
such delegates TO be empowered 20 cast
in SAID convention the total vote east az
their respective precincts at the last
o. ia |.r 200 b..