The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-05-25
JUDGE, or ELECTION SHOULD IN
SPEtT 1HL BALLOT.


The communication from Mr.. T.. =.
Buford. which we published Thursday
upon the duties Of the Judges Of election
to inspect the ballot of am imterate voter
after the constable has prepared fl, if the
voter asks that this Doe done. is, I'm our
judgment, a very sensible and sound con-
strucfion of the law governing The case.
II is not TO Doe forgotten that when the
Walton law was passed profound dissat-
isfaction existed all over the State with
regard TO lho way in which our elections
were conducted. There had been expo
sures of the most outrageous frauds and
the people distrusted the integrity OF their
elections. II was in response 20 this feel
ing that the Walton law was passed and
whatever We may think OF the individual
opinions Of members of the LEGISLATURE
all persons called upon for official action
In enforcing the new law are bound TO
assume that it was the intention OF the
Legislature TO improve our election meth
DDS. and TO secure honest and fair cleo
ticns as far as it should be possible 20 do
so. The law u.s. therefore, 10 bee enforced
with the distinct idea before the mind
Of every officer that il was enacted TO
suppress fraud and to secure perfectly
fair elections; and every officer should
willingly and earnestly lend himself to
the eager enforcement Of the law In this
spirit. The good name of our State has
come 10 rest under a dark shadow. Men
are beginning 10 say all over The land
that Nirginians are not what they We're
of old They say that in old time IT.
ginians might bc SO reused 10y imposition
and injustice that they would break out
of all bounds. and DO deeds of violence
when their blood was hot and their wrath
was famming, but that nothing could
make them sully their conscience and
honor boy a resort TO methods unworthy
OF a nan who walks openly in the day
before an men. conscious that he is With
out guile and can face the world.
Men are beginning to say that the
Virgnian is no longer this man. That
they are losing their pride i'm am open ma
ture. and have descended 20 trickery ana
deceit IN the conduct of their elections
Men Of Virginia are you willing TO have
the world renounce IT'S old admiration for
you. and to Doe classed with the
thimble-rigeers of the Bowery and the
sneak-thievos of Five Points?
We don't believe it, and We believe
that the inherent manhood OF our peoples
character is yet going TO assert itself
and drive all this blackness and iniamy
far 10 its rear.
The Walton law requires the Judges
of elections 10 "see that the provisions
Of this act are strictly carried out and
the Court of Appeals tells the officers of
election that 'it is the duty of The spe-
clal constable to render him Ohe voter
who is blind. or unable. by defective edu-
cation. TO read. every assistance asked Tor
and required by the elector. TO aid him
In preparing his ballot"
1t is therefore the sworn duty Of the
judges TO see that the constable IN
good faith. has rendered the voter every
assistance asked FOR. TO aid him in pre-
pairing his +anot." That is their sworn
duty. and that compels them 20 tell the
voter. II he shows them his ballot after
the constable has prepared It. whether
the constable has prepared 10 according
to the voters instruction or whether be
has not.
The only question in the case is. whether
the ballot. being secret ballot the voter
has a right to show IT, The decisions
are overwhelming on this point
In the famous contest between General
Bradley johnson and Colonel Knight fl
was insisted before the senate COM
mittee that the voter had no right 10 dis
close the way IN which he voted. but The
Senate committee composed OF the lead
ing lawyers In the body. held that he had
the right Senator Daniel was the chair
man Of that committee, and he delivered
is opinion. holding in that way.
We hope the Attorney-General win be
called upon for an opinion upon this
point.