Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1895-08-03
THE HONEST ELECTION CON.
FERENCE

The "bonest election conference wss
called to order at Petersburg yesterday
morning by Chairman E. P. Buford
who announced that the committee an.
pointed to formulate non-partisap
election law was not ready to report
Then the conference took recess nm
til 2 o'clock. When the conference 70.
convened Gen. James G.. Field, chair.
man of the committee, offered the non
partisan bill, which was unanimously
adopted. The reading of the bill oc-
cupied about two hours. The bill abel.
ishes the constable feature. Itprovides
that the electoral board of three mem.
bers shall be appointed by the several
county or corporation judges, upon tho
recommendation Of the chairmen OF
the several political parties. The su.
pervisors, registrars, judges and clerks
of election are to be appointed by the
electoral board of the several counties
and cities upon the recommendation of
the several chairmen Of the different
political parties.
The election ticket, are to be plinted
and furnished by the State, under the
supervision of the electoral boards, six
copies of which are to bo sent to the
county and city chairmen of each DO
litical party, and one copy is to be post
ed at each polling precinct in public
place accessible to the electors.
Each political party is represented
on the ballot by an emblem or design,
thus conforming to the true Australian
ballot system. Checks or guards are
provided in the law which, it is claim
ed, will prevent fraud or bribery or, at
least, reduce both to minimum. Un.
der its provision it is claimed one poll
tical party has no advantage over any
other party, The law is comprehen-
sive and makes about twelve thousand
words.
The following plan of organization
for the conduct OF the canvass in behalf
of the non-partisan honest election law
was adopted by the conference:
First-There will be four persons,
Col. j. r. Miller, E. p. Buford. w. T.
Simpson and General James A. Walker,
who shall be the State steering commit
tee, charged with all matters pertain
ing to the conduct of the canvass,
and expressly with power to de-
eide and designate, in case of
controversy, who is the candidate
whom the friends of the law ought to support,
and that such candidates, including those
where there is no such controversy, are suit
ably pledged to the proper support of the
same, and the said committee is charged ex-
pressly with the duty of designating person
in any county or corporation of the State not
named by this conference who shall be charg-
ed with The supreme control and conduct OF
the canvass in any such county or corporation.
Second-The persons named by this confer
ence and who may be named, as provided in
the preceding section of this plan of organiza-
ton, shall be charged with the organization
Of their respective counties and corporations
and the immediate conduct of the canvas
therein unless or until relieved of duty by an
improvised county or corporation organizations
by the friends of the proposed law adopted by
this conference, and in the event of such or
ganizstion the same shall be promptly re-
ported to the State steering committee.
General James G. Field offered the follow
ing resolution, which was unanimously adopt
ed
Whereas the corrupt use of money to in
fuence our elections is widespread and has be-
come alarming and tends to demorslize the
people and degrade the public service; there
fore be it *,
Resolved. That we urge upon the people
and the Legislature of the state the enact
ment and enforcement of the necessary laws
against bribery and other corrupt use Of
money in elections"
After the adoption of this resolution the
conference adjourned.