The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-10-16
PORT OF WEST POINT. OCT H. 1e9i
ARRIVED
The Press of Virginia Waking tp to tn
Necessity OF HaVi Fair t4rctions.

The Press of Virginia Waking Up To the
Necessity oi HaVi = Fair Li"ctions.
That the sentiment in Virginia in favor
Of honest elections is growing every day
is attestod ia many ways. notably by
the outspogcn denunciation of such prac-
tices by the newspapers Of the state.
The Alexandra Times says:
This is exactly what the honest people
Of Virginia regardless of party are going
TO demand in the coming election. The
people of this district are TO be consrat-
ulated on the regularity OF their cleo
tons, but there are other districts in ths
State where the grossest irregularities are
committed. as is proven i'm the record VI
Thorpe vs.. Mckinney.
1T is remarkable in the great fight that
the Richmond Times IS making for honest
elections and the innumerable spats be-
tween this paper and the Dispatch. Tbs
Dispatch has so far studiousiy refrained
from commenting on the FOREGOING rec
ord. Can il be that the Dispatch is
utterly ignorant Of such contest having
ever occurred or does IL mean tacitly 10
admit that Mr.. Thorpe was py fraud
not permittod 20 take his seat in Con-
gress in the beginning and without
contest. we would Ike 70 know exactly
the Dispatchs position regarding tnis
transaction. There is one thing quite
certain. II Mr.. VIM. a. Jones. Congress
man from the First District had known.
or II he could have discovered any good
reason yyhv the contestce should have re-
toined his seat he would not have failed
20 have embodied his reasons in a minor
itv report. something he failed 70 DO. Mr.
Iouee is too astute "a lawyer ana TOO 7iIi'1
a marty man TO permit the shadow or %
chow for his side 20 escape him. ann li-
This case no charge of the conie-lof was
negatived 10y him.
81 makes no difference where suca
IRREGULARITIES 300 this state may OCCUR
# IS the duty of the press. OF all VINO "'1
elections is growing rapidly ln muse
eminent. TO call attention TO IL "H. ~
condemn IL jon no uncertain laN5ua-t' ~
life of our government, state anu va
tional. depends upon the integrity %. il.
soyereicns and 10 copntenance ioDo'' "-
the polls IS 10 be- an apeltoI lll ,i'
struction Of our present lnsulu''o''
Tho DanviHe Register SAYS
.srro o-r9tifving information comes from
all narts Of Virginia that the p'''-i
az ~ an narties are in hearty SYM
,.stbv with the movement 10 insure
S,fr election this year and 10 future
vears. our information is that me SEN
,,nant in favor OF honest metnous J"
elections is growing rapidly I'D lhoae 91~
,iors where heretofore there has neeH
most suspicion OF questionable netnou7.
This shows that those who IN the past
t..,.,ir.d by crookedness at the ballot
HOY realize the fact that u such melhoc9
were ever justihabie. that time mas nap
nilv passed. and they further realize tne
necessity for wiping from Virginia s.
name a stigma that has already been
allowed 10 stand TOO Ions.
The Richmond correspondent OF the
Baltimore sun says:
"Afore than two months ago the sun
related what was then said 10 De-
plan which the anti-Bryan people We're
believed to entertain Tor paying the
election judges TO perform their duties
faithfully ia the coming election. This
tax has been revived in the past few
weeks.
THE idea was that by the proper use
Of money. the judges ln the black belts
would not permit party influence 10 pre-
vent them from seeing that the law
WAS rigidly enforced IN the conduct OF
the election. There was nothing par
ticularly novel about this suggestion. IL
has ofen been discussed by the opponents
OF the Democracy IN other contests. In
the gubernatorial campaign OF lss3 the
Populist managers talked OF the policy of
adopting this idea. but not having any
thing like the campaign fund with which
the sound-money men are favored, Il
was quickly abandoned.
THE appointment and retention OF the
judges OF election are within the control
OF the county and city electoral boards.
In Jackson ward. In this city, the election
judges have been known TO be changed
between daylight and shutdown preceding
an election. This though. was done
when the now most conspicuous ANTE
Bryan leaders were in charge Of inc
conduct Of affairs ia that big negrO
ward. Such a thing could not possibly
prevail out there now under this era
OF reform"