The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-03-17
THEspARrY OF THE BALLOT.


were extensively quoted in the Pilot OF !
Sunday. AS tersely stated by Mr..
Myers. abiding to the fight made by the
Democratic Associa tion-"THG VITAL
ISSUE INVOLVED HAS BEEN AND
is THE PURITY OF THE BALLOT"
III was not only the Issue In regard to the
appointment by the General Assembly
of an electoral board that would give
ofall citizens, that there would
he absolute fairness and honesty in the
elections, but also in It's demand for the
enactment OF the legalized primary law
that would secure to the electors of any
party absolute fairness In the expression
Of the voters choice for the nominees OF
the party ticket. When in Its issue of
March 18th, abiding to the Dem.
ecratic primary and the COM
ments of b" the correspondent
OF the Landmark, the Vlrginlan remark.
ed that these Democrats uhe Reform
Democrats) fought for the adop-
ton OF the legalizcd primary,
and that they will have "al
that any Democratic elector could
ask. or expect, or want, when they
express their choice for candidates AT
THAT ELECTION, It did not conceive
that this expression would be miscon-
strued as referring to any other purpose
than that they would have an absolutely
fair expression of their choice I'm IN,
make up of u Democratic ticket. and
1t Is surprised that any other inlerprcta-
tion could have been given It's uttcrunce
mere should be absolutely as fair an
expression Of the elector in his choice
OF the nominee of the ticket, as there
should be In the choice OF the voter
for the election of officials in a general
| election. 1t was with this object in
view, and to test the sincerity of ahe
Prohibition party. as to its antagnoism
against rings. and the methods of party
rings in the nomination OF ticket.
that The Eirginlan put It's pertient
query of March 18th:
"Will the voters who constitute the
| prohibition Party OF Norfolk have an
| OPPORTUNITY of expressing their choice
! Tor candidates for the general offices
and the Council ticket In the coming
municipal election? WIN they have a
straight primary election 10 select such
1
| date for Office and no holder of oflica
ana no member of the Prohibition Exc
cutive Committee Will have any official
| connection with? If not. how will they
nominate? VIII Ring of n few chosen
| leaders OF the Prohibition Pacty name
:h= ticket divide tho Offices selec. the
Eominees fer Counclmcn? Surely this
high minded. this God-fsaring, this
| freedon-lovp ana SInc;ity-o OF tha-b
lot party should not hesitate 10 give a
high eSemplifcation OF TIL, faith that
is In Ii. If its nominations are
10 be the creation of Il few office hold
ers and ottice-seekcss. the SOONER the
Pilot ceases to prate about Democratic
Rings the better
| The query of The Virginian remained
unanswered for days-until last We'd
nesday-as before stated by The Viz
g!nian when the Pilot nearcd n reply
| by the remarkable statement, that WE
DO NOT KNOW" and I'VE ARE NOT
ANXIOUS TO KNOW HOW THE
| PROHIBITIONS EFORM ORGANl-
ZATION WILL DETERMINE THAT
IT'S PARTY SHALL NOMINATE IT'S
CANDIDATES. bu: the Editor. In salf-
defense, by reason OF being compelled
TO make the remarkable confession
! quoted, oIlerWaHuS Sta.(IU tnat any
method will do tina. is Open AND
| ABOVE BOARD" and he thus commits
his party to make nominations in
| manner that will be- OPEN. that Will be
| ABOVE BOARD, and Il now remains
to be seen how open ana above boa!d
th;se nominations will be- AS Mr..
Myers has asserted in his letter to the
| Ledger: The vital ISSUE involved is
this PURITY OF THE BALLOT" VIII
| there be Il purity of the ballot In the
choice of the electors of the Prohibition
party Of candidates for the party in
the coming municipal contest. or will
the ticket be the Creation OF Sancti-
fled Band of Rings,e:s. who will as
plete dictator of the occasion" "The
Secre: Council" or Star Chamber"
leaving off and putting on the ticket
such candidates fer the elective offices
and for Councils as /; may determine. |
the result of "Sscre: Manipulations"
on the part OF little special machire?"
The Frg!nian has never failed to
plainly, frankly and promptly answer
the queries of the Pilot. In quoting |
the extracts from Mr.. Barton Myers !
letter, It asks: What does our esteemed |
contemporary think OF all that?" The |
Ter tato ttl t- oil ..t.-