Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-10-20
A Queer Campaign.
lStannton NindicatorO


The present political campaign in Nir-
elnla IS. to say the least a rather queer
one. There IS no complaint to make
about the government Of the state Inc
laws have been enforced and the Demo-
cratic Governor has put Virginia on re-
cord against lynch law more conspicu-
ously than she has ever been in her MS
tory. Property has been protected-the
Democratic Governor has put Virginia
on record in behalf of the protection or
al property within her limits, and all
foreign investments within her borders.
more cOnspicuously than she has ever
been in her history. lie has done both
at any cost. and to-day there does not Il
state in the Union stand higher for her
position against all disturbances threat
cning either life or property.
The charities Of the State have been
amplv provided for, and the old Virginia
soldiers taken care Of TO the best OF the
commemorative ability. Peace has reign
"a within our borders, and our State mas
had her fun share OF the returning pros
perlty of good times. The taxation has not
been increased. and the money or those
who have earned IL has been LETT IN thelr
pockets. For the first time In her history
there has been general cooperative
movement looking 10 her Improvement
by good roads. that first item Of necessity
to the farmers.
On this quiet and attractive field there
has APPEARED a new movement to get pos
session of the legislative power OF the
state. for the ostensible purpose Of max
ing a change in the election laws. The
movement took fo!m az Petersburg under
the guidance of the late General Malone
in Il gathering of Republicans. Popuiists,
and Prohbitionists. Under similar
guidance il has been encouraged in
large number of counties In the state
Under the pretence OF being WILING 10
take anybody az a candidate who favored
honest elections" II has in Republican
counties taken a Republican. in Prohibi-
ton counties Il Prohibitionist. and In
Popullst counties q POpulLst-but never
Democrat in any county, thus showing
the partisan character OF the movement
The election law sought 10 be supplanted
Is the Walton law. 1t is the frst law
Virginia eyer had at which vote-huyins
and selling was effectually stopped II
is the first law Virginia ever had under
which the heelers and FOUNDERS Wrfe
Kent away from the voting booth; where
tho voter was not bought. the ticket
rlaced in his hand with n heller following
him up 10 see that he put it In the box.
II IS the first law Virginia ever had under
which there was 10 disorder al the p0iiS.
and il Is the first under which q voter
could east an absolutely secret ballot.
II is proposed TO change this law on the
pretencc that there IS cheating under IL.
Many illiterate voters iost their votes
largely because there was an organized
effort by the Republicans through the
State to induce them not TO trust the
election officer, but 10 try and vote ~
themselves. II We take the character OF
the constables at large by those appointed
I'm this section Of the State. il would
| have been impossible 10 find body oi
! men less likely TO fa.l ehort in their duty
! through corrupt intention.
/ But the Petersburg election law mas
/ motive far beyond any "honest-election
| idea. 1t is simply TO restore to the Repuo
lean party OF Virginia the rens viii
/ which IL can successfully drive the negro
! voter. and which the Walton law snatchel
4 from Its hands. II Is impossible FOR II Il
| follow the negro up now. 1t Is Impossible
! under the new law TO IND out how, any
more than the white man. the negro vote:
| and applv to him the church aud socla
| prescription which has been so nberallS
! dealt out TO him in the past TO hold nm tC
the rack. The negro who Is able 10 vote
| at all or who Will apply 10 the eleetioi
| officer 70 assist him. Is as free and indie
! nendent q voter as the white man, ant
| he knows II.
The Petersburg bill. with its two o.
| three or four officers TO assist the voter
nuts the whip back in the hands OF th'
| Republican party. The West Nirsinis
! law has two elec......- ~:..S:.s or dhIeren
| parties to assist the illiterates. How wa
! that worked to defeat Hon. w. l.. Wilsoi
| I'm his district? Before election-day Tn
| runners OF the Republican party wen
! around in the district and bargained VIII
the voter He was 10 be paid after n
voted. A list OF those bargained VIII
| in advance was furnished the RepuoIlcai
| officer OF election. whose duty was 10 az
,ist the 'illiteraie." and If the voter cam
to time and voted right his name wa
| checked off on the list. and he recelVe'
! his money. We received from Yves
| Xireinian this history OF how the honest
! election" bill Of that State. which is yer,
| similar TO the bill prepared III TINS STATE
| is worked by those who buy votes.
The intelligent white men of this Stat'
ought TO be fully informed Of what thl:
honest election" movement Is. II i
simply this proposition from the Republi
can party--we have party known as tn'
Republican party. 1t is not like the Re
| pOnlcJn party Oh OHlO, UT Il cnlss Nv anna
or Ill!nois-it Is composed of 4 large bed,
OF illiterate regroes who don't know how
to vote. 1t is true they are not fit Z
vote, and that they don't know anything
about the public questions at Issue, an'
they won't know anything more abou
them after they vote than they did be
fore; il Is true that when they vote the.
XIII an intelligent white mans vote OIL
the opposite side: il is true they couldn'
vote under the Walton law, and we wan
things changed so they can vote: will
the negro vote in this State We can coun
for something. without II We don
amount TO much. So we want anothe
and different law. under which they cal
vote. and under which we can know
where the dollar or two we give them II
! election times has gone.
How many Democrats in the State ar
willing TO agree TO this extraordinary pro
position from o minority 10 majority
II there are any 1t will indeed surpris
US more than anything in this queeres
OF queer campaigns.