New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-01-14
PRICE THREE CENTS.
VIRGINIA ELECTIONS.
A DEMOCRATIC REFORM MOVEMENT.
REcoIL AGAINST ELECTION FRAUDs-THE Auu.
TRALIAN SYSTEM PERvERTED-A CHANCE
TO CLEAN UP WANTED.

Richmond Va. Jan. "a United States Sena.
tor was chosen by the General Assembly year
ago as the successor OF Senator Hunton, and
nine Democratic members Of Congress were elect
ed in Virginia in November These are matters Of
record in political amanacs. II there were any,
thing in Virginia which could be accurately de-
scrbed as honest and responsible representative
government. these facts would reveal the real
trend OF public opinion; but under existing con-
ditions they have little significance. The most
important fact In Virginia politics to-day is the
evidence Of aroused public conscience on the
immortality of election frauds which Is to be found
in the files Of leading Democratic journal of this
town. and In the nversation of influential men
OF It's party. 1t Is a sign that moral forces have
been brought to bear within the Democratic party
for the redemption Of the State from political
rascality The public demand for honest cleo
tions has already resulted in a call for a meeting
in Richmond Of representatives OF all parties In
the State. This meeting will be held on January
p and may lead to important results.
The election of Thomas S. Martin over General
Lee as United States Senator was not an act that
represented the will OF the Democratic party, or
OF the people Of the State. The choice Of a rail-
way attorney having only local reputation over
one Of the best known and most popular Demo-
Gratis in the State gave Virginans of any sensi.
bility a shock from which they have hardly yet
recovered. The men who voted for him repre-
sented not their constituencies. but the railway
corporations contributing to the election expenses
OF the party. While General Lees friends were
confident Of his success and unsuspcious OF polti.
cal intrigue, Mr. Martin had conducted a still
hunt for the nomination. The money of the cor
porations had been distributed among candidates
for the Legislature to defray their election ex-
penses. A majority OF them voted for the corpora
ton attorney. and thereby grossly misrepresent-
ed their const ;uencles 1t triumph for the
railways and also public scandal against which
the consciences of all high minded Virginians re-
volted.
The election OF nine Democratic Congressman
in year when the Republicans made most re-
markable series Of gains in other Southern States
anomaly easily explained to have
little importance A Republican was elected In
one Of the ten districts. and there were shrink
ages In most Of the Democratic majorties; but
Virginia on the face OF the returns was loyal to
the party faith and not breaking away from II
like other Southern States. This would have
meant much in ordinary circumstances, for Vlr-
gna not only in the civil war. but from Revolu-
tionary times. has always exercised commanding
influence in the South. II meant nothing in this
instance. Elections in Virginia have ceased TO
be representative In their results. They are
honeycombed with fraud. contaminated with trick
cry debauched with corruption. a scandal and
a reproach upon the honorable fame Of the no
BILE old commonwealth.
Now this Is not a stale. partisan charge based
upon Republican testimony and almanac calcula-
tions Of the white and the black vote in Con-
gressional districts Mahonsm past or present
has nothing to do with it, 1t is corroborated BY
unimpeachable Democratic evidence Of the corr
ruption and rascality OF elections in Virginia.
When a Republican asserts that elections in
South Carolina have not been honestly conduct
ed Ii is unnecessary to make a comparison OF
statistics and 10 demonstrate arithmetically the
efacement or reversal OF the black vote. II -
enough to cite passages from Governor Tillman's
messages charging his opponents with establish
ing an organized system Of election fraud and
then to confirm II with the Bourbon or Conserva-
tive outcres against cheating by wholesale on
the part OF the Tillmanites who have control OF
the machinery. In the same way 1t is practicable
to prove allegations OF rascalty in Virginia by
Democratic testimony without reference to Re-
publican accusations. That course Is the one
which prefer to follow, although have talked
with Republican leaders and know how strong
case they have.
nished in the exposure of ballot-box stuffing In
Henrico County. Smihers Store precinct had
given Cleveland majority of l9l in 1854. Lee
majority OF l73 in 1885, and Cleveland majority
of III in 1885, hut In the last State election OFer-
rail- carried il by a majority OF 49S. This sudden
increase was inexplcabe except on the theory
that 300 fraudulent votes had been cast The re-
turns were prirpa facle evidence OF bailot-box
stufHng: but THE Richmond Times" not salts
fled with general inferences, made a coNDlete
exposure of the fraud The plan OF opers}ons
was simple There was registration bo\ with
I 200 names-llving and dead, resident and nom
resident. The law required a poll list of voters
to be made up as they cast their ballots. and the
number of votes counted would naturally cor
respond with the number of names on the list
on the night before the election the officials Tor
this prec,nct took the blank pages OF the
poll list left the first 100 numbers vacant ana
then beginning vita the lOlst number wrote IN
from the registration book between 2Oo ana Soo
names selecting them from non-residents' the
dead or others who would not appear AT the poiis.
The names were copied in the order OF recoru Oh
the registration book. and were arranged 10 d
large extent alphabetically. Three hundred BAL
lots corresponding 10 this fraudulent list were
eung into the box. On election morning 100 vot-
ers cast their ballots and their names we've en-
tered on the poll list Then the ofliciais turned
over the padded pages ard continued the RECORD
y, voters, names. The Richmond Times proved
,s ase bv printing the poll list and the registra
tion list side by side, and thereby demonstrating
Tho fraudulent character OF the election. There
were 200 men who had not voted and many OF
whom were either non-residents or occupying
graves In the cemetery. recorded as voting In
alpha betical order and precisely as their names
were arranged In the registration book. The
exposure was complete and It involved the con-
viction OF three judges Of election and two clerks.
after they had pleaded guilty. The frauds exc
posed In this precinct explained how coun-
ty naturally Republican had been carried oy tns
Democrats, and what had been going on all over
dar ho directinn OF the ring Whlcn