The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-03-15


ceding such election to cause 10 D.
printed"
These ballots shall contain the names
OF all candidates complying Win 'ae
provisions az above required, pIih'eu ~
black Ink. Immediately below the o,nse
for which they have so announced tnelr
candidacy" but confers no further Ut
other powers.
ind experienced judges and able law
yers differ as to how the vote upon the
proposed amendment to the tohst u'io"
shall be taken. and the right OF lne
electoral board TO print upon the Na'-
ton ballot" the words following VIZ
For the amendment 10 the 'oils''t"-
tion.' Against the amendment 10 inc
Constitution" Upon careful cohslaera-
ton think ii safest ana pest %nu a. a.
wise that the ballot prepared by the
o1ectoral boards shall conform strictly 10
the requirements OF Section ." OF the
new law. and contain only the ofhces
voted for and names Of candidates.
Further. that the voter provide his own
ballot. on the constitutional amendment
and that these ballots shall be placed ia
a separate balloi-box prepared for mat
purpose. Very truly yours,
Il. TAYLOR SCOTT.
Attoney-General.
on the 4th day Of February, 1885, he
gave the following opinion TO Mr. II.
II. Spencer, Of Buckingham county
Richmond. Va. Feb. 4. 1885.
Mr.. Il. II. Spencer, Buckingham {. H.
Va:
Dear Sir: In reply to the questions con-
tanned i'm your letter Of the 18th Of Jan
uary past. / have 10 say
First. County electoral boards must
prepare the ballot for the spring elec-
lions. There can be but ONE ballot anu
upon Il the names OF all Candidates LOT
county and district officers. O. &: LIKE
the uapere herein sent you. CTbe paper
referred 10 here was pinned TO the let
Ter. and showed only the form OF pdHo|'
The tickets should be distributed IN con
forrnity with the requirements 7co tioi'
2" of the Statutes (Acts l65S-9i' page
S60. 49,
Socond The duties imposed upon the
sroc,aI constable by Section 10 are
difficult TO define in words. lie Is uHoe,
ALLEGATION TO help the two classes Vi
voters namely: a. Those physically ana
educatiouallv unable to vote. q ne
blind. He must assist both. foI me
hind voter the constable prepares tle
ballot. At the request OF the voter III ,ne
booth pbysicaIly or educat.onally unable
TO vote. the tHfAAdA 'N''''
reading 10 him the names ana OFFICES oH
Tho ballot. ard by pointing out to nm
Ube voter the name or names ne may
r,ish 10 strike out. or otherwise ana MN
I'm nreparing his ballot. meaning, as
read and understand these words rem
der such additional aid as the voter asks
from the constable.
Very respectfully,
r. TAYLOR SCOTT
Now we thought that If there could be
only ONE ballot for "A precinct that 1t
meant one piece of paper duplicated ana
re-durlicated to twice the NUMBER OF
voters at the precinct. as required by the
Walton law. We thought it meant that
each niece Of paper should have on II
exactly what every other piece had on
II and located just as those things were
located on the other piece. In o'her
words. we thought that each ballot should
be an exact reprint of every other bal
lot
The Attorney-Gencral may be right IN
his construction Of the law. though We
do not think he is. for we are utterly
unable to understand how three or more
ballots each of which differs from the
others. can constitute one ballot.
However. while we do not agree with
the Attorney-Generals construction oil
the law. our whole contention has been
that it was a most discreditable trick, and
we are Just as much of that opinion even
if il be lawful, as we would be if it were
unlawful.
Assuming that the Attorney-Generafs
oninion of the Walton law is correct
we have the melancholy spectacle OF ira
state itself solemnly providing 10 deceive
her own voters. The Walton law is worse
than we mad supposed.