Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-02-16

am an advocate OF an honest eiecton Jaw
and in advocating that measure @
forgetful OF party. fofgstfui OF sen =
mas been said. and we'll said, that the
ballot In the hands OF citizen Is the
hadus Of his Sovereignty. Rob him OF
that ana you make him a slave.
I'VE don't mean to Fay, or at least
don't. speaking for myself" Mfr. McCune
continued, that the authors OF this
Walton law meant 70 cheat or defraud
the people, for Mr.. Walton Is TOO n'gh-
toned a gentleman to stoop to anything
OF that kind Whether II was his intent
or not. tie fact nevertheless remains the
same, the statute books OF any State has
never been d.sgraced by more Infamous
law. The author Of the Walton law him.
self said that the Walton law was an ex-
pertinent and that the Legislature would
from time to time amend II so that II
would meet the wants of the people.
II this s ate Is Democratic. let the Demo-
cratic party rule II. and. on the other
hand. II II Is Republican. say let the
Republicans rule d."
In concluding. Mr.. McCune said: IT
strikes me that the honorable senators
In the majority here should forget their
party affiliations. not their principles. i
don't ask them to do that. but for
Heavens sake. In the passing Of law
that should direct and teach our peopl;
party affiliations, and give Just what
the people Of Virginia have always want
ed-an honest election law"
Mr.. Parr Republican), OF Patrick, then
addressed the Senate. He said he had
not as yet had an opportunity to ex-
anime the bill, which they were trying
to railroad through. II 1t met his Views
he would vote for II; IL not. against IT.
He wanted to say, however, that II was
more favorable than he had expected to
get from the majority.
PITCHES INTO FLANAGAN.
Mr.. Stubs was the next speaker. He
devoted himself almost exclusively TO
the speech delivered in the Senate on
Friday by Mr.. Flanagan, and expressed
the opinion that the Senator fiom Pow
hatan had transcribed decency. II would
TO Cod" said Mr.. Stubs, that the Sena-
tor from Powhatan were In his seat to-
day. / would heap upon him Democratic
fire."
In his speech OF Friday Mr.. Flanagan
alluded to the frauds at Smlther's Pre-
cinct. and characterized all who cheat
at elections as the William Wilson's OF
Virginia alluding to the trusty janitor
OF the Senate who was implicated in the
affairs at Smither's Precinct. Mr.. Stubs
in his speech. scored Mr.. Flanagan with
bitter, cutting words for his unmanly at
tack upon defenceless man, who was
not guilty of the charge made against
him, but had been unfortunate.
Mr.. Stubs was followed by Mr.. Flood,
who explained that though the bill had
not bSen perfectly satisfactory to him he
would stand by his brother Democrats
and support the measure. In the course
of his extended speech Mr.. Flood criti-
III
the history OF the two parties for some
years back He said he believed in the
fairness and honesty Of the Walton. law.
but he knew 1t was criticised. and for that
reason he was willing TO support the new
bill.
COULD NOT VOTE FOR IT.
Mr.. Boykin followed Mr.. Fool. He said
II was a sad day for him when ne had
to put himself on record as opposed to the
new law; but he believed It would Repub-
licanize his section, and he would be
obliged to vote against 1t. He gloried
In the fact, he said. that he had been one
of those who had cast a vote for the
Walton law. He had voted for 1t. and
It's operations in his county had exceeded
his expectations. He had never heard
OF fraud in his section: the Walton law
practically gave the negroes the right of
been afraid to vote the Democratic ticket.
In justice to his party. he was obliged to
say that ne regretted that the wisdom
Of the Democratic senators saw fit to
advocate a Jaw which gave every one a
chance to know how every one else voted.
for by noticing which judge was applied
to by a voter his vote could be known
without difficulty. In closing. Mr.. Boykin
said he was sorry that he was the only
Democratic senator who could neither ad-
vocate the measure with his voice nor
support II by his vote.
Mr.. Turnbull, of Lunenburg. followed
Mr.. Bcykin in a lengthy speech. en-
dorsing the sentiments of that gentle
man. He said however. that In the
interests Of harmony and for the good
OF the people of the State he would cast
his vote for the measure agreed upon
by the caucus.
Mr.. Mason. OF King George. next took
the floor. and made short, but able.
speech In favor of the proposed law in
the interests Of harmony. 1t did not
meet his views In every respect, he said.
but would receive his vote.
THE CLOSING SPEECH.
Mr.. Little, OF Fredericksburg, closed
the debate In an able. clear. and en-
phatic speech, explaining the difficulties
under which the Democrats had labored
in framing the bill under discussion. The
bin, he said, was necessity. They
had found II absolutely necessary to hold
a caucus and discuss the matter calm
ly. The result had been the bill under
discussion He defended the Walton
law, saying he did not believe II had
been framed with any dishonest purpose.
Ii had never, he said. been complained
Of in his section, and had tended to bring
harmony and order to the Democratic
party.
At the conclusion Of Mr.. Little's ai-
dress the substitute was adopted. and
ordered to It's ergrcssment and third
reading, only Messrs. Clayton. Hale. Kee-
zell, McCune. and Parr voting against It,
THE BILL PASSED.
Upon motion OF Mr. Little. the rules
we're suspended, and the bin was passed
by the following vote:
Ayes-Messrs. Boykin. Buchanan, Gle
nent. Echols. Fairfax. Flood. Green,
Hay, Jackson. f.. ii. Jones. Jordan
Kane. LeCato. Little, Iovenstein. Low
ry Mason, Maynard. Norris Mushbach
Sands. Southall st. Clair Stubs.
Turnbull, wickham. Williams. and With
ers--2S
Noes-Messrs. Clayton. Mccune. and
Parr.
iuc lOuOWiHB ptifS were anHOunccus
Messrs. Hale and Barnes, G.. w. Jackson
and McIlwaine, Brown and Flanagan.
At the request OF Mr.. Hale the Hay
Coles election bill was then taken up. in
order that recorded vote might be taken
upon IT, The bill was defeated, only
Messrs. Clayton, @. W. Jackson, Hale,
Parr. ard McCtine voting aye.
RICHMOND WATER COMPANY.
Mr.. Fairfax introduced bill TO moor
porate the Richmond Water Company,
with the following corporators: w. c.
Andrews. @. c. 81. John. w. +.
Weiss. and C C. Cpham all Of New
York city: and A. L. Adamson. Ware b.
Gay. and W d. cardwell. OF Virginia
The capital stock of the company shall
not be less than $4,000 nor more than
&; 600 0fO