Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-10-20
The Trsp Laid for u.


Tho "honest elections" bill IL q trap
laid for credulous Democrats. He VINO
bolts the Democratic party and goes over
to the opposition on this issue. as much
as says: 81 want the elections ma
chlncry taken out Of the hands OF the
Democrats and put into the hands or the
allied opposition"
II the coalition which was formed at the
Petersburg conference, under the ieaoer-
ship OF General Malone, could be sue
cessful In the coming election. they wouio
pass an elections bill that would put the
Democrats in a minority upon every eiec-
tions board in Virginia.
This trick bill provides for the appoint
ment OF election officers to represent each
party--sald officers to be nominated 20
the county Judge by the county cop
mjttee of each party; one representative
for each party. Thus. at eaca precinct
the Democrats would have one judge
the Republicans one; the Populsts one
and the ProhIbitionists one. on the sur
face this seems TO be fair arrange
ment: but. In reality. II Is not, because
all the other parties are banded together
in a coalition against the Democrats
In other words, II the dishonest cleo
tons bill were to become a law. the DEM
ocrats would be out-voted three 10 one
on every election board. The polls every
where would be under the domination or
our enemies. r..:
Are Democrats going to consent TO any
such arrangement as this? We hope not;
hut. II they should lose their senses and
do so, they shall not have 1t to say That
they knew not what they were doing.
We intend to continue to expose the pious
fraud OF the onest-Elections" party
from this time on. We are doing all that we
can to induce our speakers TO read ana
digest the bill. and then 60 forth among
the people to denounce 1t. Yes: 1t ought
TO be loudly and persistently denounced
everywhere; denounced as a sham and &
fraud; denounced because 1t is not only
not "non-partisan." but because 1t Is
one Of the most viciously partisan bills
that were ever framed.
All but, say many OF our good. amiable,
and confding people. "the honest-elec-
tons fellows have no earthly chance OF
beating us In this contest" True. II
we do our duty. Not true, if we are
caught mapping. 1t was overconfdence
and Indifference that brought us TO grief
in the lamentable campaign of 1872
And the same things worked to our un-
doing and TO the triumph OF the enemy
In the congressional elections In this
State in 1856
We are inyncible when aroused; but
when the stupor of indifference falls upon
us we are clay In the hands OF the pot
ter.
In the great majority Of counties our
party is well organized, well led, en-
thusiastic, and defiant; but here ana
there there are counties where we are
not displaying much energy and where
public speaking and Organization both
are needed.
1t rests with the county committees TO
say who shall be invited TO speak In their
counties. The State Committee stands
ready to send out speakers wherever
they are asked for when In their power
All that we ask Of our speakers 10 that
they will carry this "honest-elections"
war into the heart Of Africa, and tho
roughly expose the trickery OF the So
called "hones:-elections' bill. Wherever
this IL done, well done. we shall see the
ranks OF the coalitionists breaking
and their leaders retiring from the field
IN disgust.
So, clearly, II is our duty to familiarize
ourselves with the Administrations
bill When our voters understand that
this bill means to put the Democrats on
election boards in a minority OF one
to three they will need nothing more
10 convince them that ii is "a dangerous
| measure, emanating from dangerous men,
| whose acquaintance they would better
cut forthwith.