The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-01-29
GOVERNOR O'TEERALL on THE
ELECTION LAW.

Governor OForralrs administration has
undoubtedly been. on the whole, most
satisfactory to the people Of Virginia.
We regret therefore. that he should take
the position that he does in reference 10
amending our election laws. lie has
been in Washington for several days and
newspaper correspondent represents
him as saying there that "the existing
statute'-the Walton law-"which he con-
sidered a very good ono, would not be
radically changed. The main objection
to the constable feature he considered
very poor one Heretofore illierate
people had TO trust some irresponsible
person TO make out their tickets. Why
could they not now trust 4 sworn officer
Of the Commonwealth 4 change Of
this feature would mean that the sworn
oonstables were not TO be trusted. which
would be an assumption wholly unwar-
ranted by previous experience with The
Walton law"
This is quite in line with what the
Governor said. in his message TO the
present Legislature. and we have no
doubt. therefore. that IL correctly repre-
sents what he actually said in Washing
ton. The argument that illiterate peo-
pie ought TO trust the constable-a sworn
ofIicer-since they are compelled TO trust
some one. IS perhaps. specious but it
has nothing but the form and semblance
Of an argument, and none of the sub
stance Of one at all. Before the prOvis-
ion for the special constable, The illt-
crate voter got friend I'm whom he
had confidence TO mark his ballot for
him. and he voted II with just as much
confidence as If he had been able to read
and had marked St for himself. But how
can the illiterate voter Of one party be
expected to trust constable Of the
opposing party. of whom he may have
been told, and with only too much rea-
son for il. that he was selected for con-
stable because no was believed 10 be
capable OF playing a trick upon the il
literate voter OF the party opposed TO
him? II is not in human nature that
illiterate voters of the party out Of power
should trust to such an officer and TO
force him on tho voters is therefore. 10
deprive them. to certain extent. of
their free agency. 10 is 10 offer them
the alternative Of not voting or of voting
under conditions which excite their
reasonable apprehensions that their-votes
will be made TO count in the direction
opposed exactly TO what they wish We
say, therefore. that the argument
which would claim that such
system gives ,he Ulierato voter Of the
party out Of power an that ne can rca-
sonably demand. ignores the best-known
and most fixed impulses and convictions
Of the human mind. and offers stone
~hoh a hungry man asks for bread.
We think the Governor crrs In so COM
rlaccnuy assuming that the working Of
the Walton law has so far furnished no
ground for complaint OF the special con-
stable. Our Information is just the re-
verse Of this. We have heard COM
plant after complaint Of him. 4 lead
ng citizen Of Virginia told as "A few
Says back that in his part Of tho country
there was serious danger Of bodily vio-
.cnce'to the special constables an the next
Election. We have heard the same sort
of thing from other parts of the State.
IL j. idle TO say the special constablcs
give satisfaction. They may satisfy the
politicians. but they do not satisfy the
people. and. sooner or later. We predict
That there Is going % be prodigious |
,pheaval against them.