The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-02-18

call on ono Of the judges for assistance.
who IS sworn TO secrecy The ballots are
TO be uniform. plain and Ineligible. An
agreement as TO the use OF party columns
with omblcms could not be reached.
This Is a move in the right direction.
but before 1t could be made some very
plain talking had to be INDUCED In by
Democrats from the white counties who
announced their determination 20 get
rid Of the constable.
The bin Will so through the Senate with
llttle opposition. When IL reaches the
House IL stands n good chance Of being
amended so as 10 Introduce party columns
and party emblems. There Is a good
working majority in both Houses of the
General Assembly in favor Of fair changes
in the Walton law to make 1t conform
moro closely to the genuine Australian
ballot This fact may be asserted without
fear Of contradiction Staunton News.
II would seem from the action OF the
legislature that there is only one thing
that will convince the Democratic mem
bers Of that body that the people are ue-
termincd 10 have new election-ia",
and that is the Overwhelming deieat OF
the Democratic party. The action Of the
elections committee IN reporting the nay
bill adversely and presenting the one pre-
pared by the committee. IN when they
retain all the Objectionable features OF the
present law, and make Il muddic OF inc
whole business. should be condemned 10y
every member Of tho Legislature. The
bin presented by the above committee IS
a regular farce. hTe bill provides that
where there are no party nominations the
Old law (AndersOn-M Mccormick shall ap-
ply. For instance, If you should happen
TO be in Russell county on the morning OF
an election day. and two or more parties
had candidates in the field. You would see
tho Walton law in operation, and II you
intended voting I'm Tazewch where there
was q free scrimmage for the oilces 10
be filed, you would vote under announcer
law. IT must have been an inventive
genius who conceived such an idea, ana
had the courage 10 ask sane men 10 sup
mort such q measure. What We want Is
o fair and honest clecti0n-iaW. ia"
that will aDplv TO an elections held 10 the
state. and such law the people are "e
termincd TO have We would advise those
who have II i'm their power 20 do what
they can looking O. that end-ChAch VAL
ley News.
IN a caucus Of the Democratic senators
Thursday evening last. a proposed meas
ure amending the Walton law was adopt
ell and viii probably become e law and be
known as the election law of 1896 The
amendment simply abOllshes tho constable
feature Of the present law and allows the
voter 20 select any judge 10 mark his ball
lot. II this is ali We are 10 have IN the
way OF reform, the members of the pres
ent Legislature win prove themselves a
set Of trihers. Indeed. IL Is worse than
trihing with a great public interest and
popular right. The Walton amendments
were engralted upon the Anderson
Cormick law in response 20 a popular de-
rnand for reform. The amendment did
not alter the original law further than 10
add some very obnozious features % fl,
making il worse rather than better. IT
took the appointment OF election Judges
from tho courts and placed 10 in the hands
Of 70 PARTISAN board OF oficc-seekers and
onice-hOlders. but 10 did not purify the
ballot-boN nor throw open The doors 10 a
public canvass OF the vote. Instead Of ap-
peasine tho clamOr for reform. these
amendments made 10 more inslstent. How
does tine Legislature propose TO meet this
demand? By wiping ont the Objectionable
features known "a the Walton amend
mcnts and admitting 70 r~e canvass OF the
vote actual representatives OF lHe 'iii"-
rem parties2 O. no. That would pretty
enectua'iy prevent fraud. Instead. Sc IS
proposed TO repeal the least Objectionable
OF the Walton amendments and TO leave in
the law all tho material possibilities Of
fraud. The voters Of the State ask for
bread. and they are given a stone.
Away with such II mockcry OF reform
No one expects am honest election law
from this Legislature, and no one VIII be
disappointed.-Peter lndoX-AppeaL
Tho Legislature Of Virginia. as YET. have
done nothing en- the way Of enactng a
lust and fair election law, and now at
This late hour some Of the members of this
august body speak Of modifying the law
some by having the ballots printed ~
Main roman type, and 20 make thom uni
form I'm every county This viii not
I'm any way add 20 the popularity OF the
Walton law. as our people here want
law Just and fair 70 all, and until a
law is enacted under which no fraud
can be harbored our people VIII not nc
satisfied and contented.
We predict that tho lone constaoie VIII
Get very lonely at the coming elections,
as numbers Of our best people have lost
ali interest IN the ballot-boX by the opera
tion of the so-called Walton election law.