The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-08-27

,,Nvr GOING SUBMIT ~ 49,
-. ,n-ee wears ago we discovered
una, we aid not know before 'H@' ~
~,,,,,.r Of the counties OF Virginia 'ne
..o.s had become systematically
.....,,,.,o-. and gave no expression what
over ~ the Will OF the voters. i1'
.os,,,. were. in other words not "i'''~
49,. o,ectors expressed desire thao
80. s,onio be. but VIVA, should be de-
,erninea by a few expert manipuia'0's
n, na,lots and ballot-boHss at the emu
OF the election.
Va announced our discover aiin
$50, >, me exposure we made at
sm,rner.. precinct that It was true ana
wa have called public attention to the
tact from time 10 time since.
.rne exposlre made an impression upon
mo minds OF some. but fell dead upon
the ears Of others.
we want TO tell an now. however
mat me thing has grown TO proportions
which far exceed anything we ever dream
"a o.. and which makes # just as i'm
posslbe for the people or Virginia IN
the aggregate TO make an expression
or their will upon any question MS II Is
Tor n pullman car 10 run when West
ingnouse air-broke ras fastened It's grip
upon the wheels.
PeopIe or virginia. arouse yourselves
and learn the fact that an elaborate and
carefully constructed machine has been
FASTENED upon you, which works with the
precision and certainly OF guillotine
and which 90 absolutely enslaves You 10
80 bohests as tool ever yet worked under
me influence Of its dominating force.
me machine IS a simple one II Is
tb,s. Every county and city has an
Electoral Board consisting Of three in
otviduals These have absolute mastery
over the machinery Of the elections and
tney are all partisans OF one party. they
mold their meetings in secret and they
are accountable 10 no one. They appoint
the registrars and judges OF election. ana
they can remove any or all Of them
upon a minutes notice at any timeA
The law requires that the three judges
or election shall consist Of members Of
oinorent political parties, two Of one
party ana one OF the other. They appoint
TWO Democrat, judges who are without
conscience and Il nominal Republican,
who NAV be a stupid negro, who VIII
90 ANYTHING for fye-doilar note. IneSe
three persons then manipulate the bal
,oi-nox and pon-lst and make them
snow such q return as is desired. with
ont regard to the votes that have been
cast.
we ten YOU. people OF virginia that
IN many counties where there is large
nero vote II mas become just as much
n certainty that the elections Will De
conducted upon this basis rs that the
cav OF election comes. We have known
Tor long time that this was done in
a number OF counties but. until re-
Gently we had no idea OF the extent 10
which fhe thing has spread. But recently
we have been given view OF its extent
mat simply appalled, us. This machine
can be made 10 overcome any majority
Whatever that the people Of Virginia may
rsanv vote upon any question. Any ciu-
zen in an, one OF the negro counties
where the thing exists can find out the
truth OF what we say by taking the
trouble 10 make an investigation. What
are we TO do about this? Are we going
10 SIT supinely down and allow the COM
ing election TO be determined by the
number of false ballots that corrupt cleo
ZION officers choose TO stuff into the
ballot boxes?
truly. II is an attractive outlook that
or having Populism dashed with Anarchy
fastened upon US by ballot-boxes filled
win false and fraudulent ballots.
II we could only see such worthy and
honest conduct on the part Of electoral
boards throughout the State as we have
recently seen in Richmond. such re-
proaches as our elections now merit
would be removed.
The question arises irresisubly. What
IS the good Of white men voting in the
valley OF anywhere else In Virginia, IL
tneir votes are to be unbalanced by en-
trcly fictitious votes in the black belt?