Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-10-25
THE Law, LET II M ENFoRCI

THE LAW LET IT TIE ENFORCED.
Tho corporation employees OF Virginia
may rely upon It tha; the law will pro-
tect them IN their risht 20 vote for Bryan
ard TO keep secret h.a they have voted.
Our law guarantees secret ballot;
moreover. # provides a penalty against
all who attempt to coerce. mumidate
hinder, or tamper with voters. The az
faavit conspiracy IS so glarinsly in de-
fsnce Of tais statute that We venture
nothing IN saying it viii not he per
mitted. and THAT those who attempt TO
"worl. ii" will 1e visited with the full
penalty Of the law.
virsinisns would be unworthy q the
name they bear. and would shIrk a great
duty 10 humble citizens. 81. with justice,
right. and law on their side. they STOOD
stll ana SAYS tie workinguan voted, not
as he wishes TO vote but as cor
porations having their headquarters ia
New York wish TO have him voted.
ou people are not going 10 stand any
thing Ike .aaL So indeed. They are
not ye, ready 70 surrender tnelT liberties.
They are going to demand that the law
SHAH be enforced. and (. 1t is enforced
and We know that It viii be-the mon
strous conspiracy recently formed 20
make corporation employees vote for Nc
Klnley. or periure themselves VIII TO
speedily Gissolved--Or tbs conspirators
VIII be landed in the 1ans OF this Com
monwealth.
The plan Of our enemy is to have on
November 90 a committee Of three coali-
tion,sis at each voting precinct 10 put
ell voters upon oath as 10 how they
have voted OF course. the average man,
who IS not beholden 10 a corporation, viii
ignore this COMMITTEES entirely. and pass
II by. But Il is expected that the cor
porauon employee viii be afraid 20 re-
fuse 20 give his affidavit. May be no
will; NAV be ne viii not. But the law
will step in. and say to those who wish
go violate the secrecy Of the ballot, stop,
or you viii 30 STOPPED" The men who
thus propose to corner the worklngmen
doubtless know not Of the existence Of
the law following. This law meets the
case entirely. and win afford the com
pletest security 10 every employee Of a
corporation who wishes 10 vote tho
roughly secret ballot for Bryan and Sc
wall. We give IT here and now, so that
tho consp!rators may be warned IN time
and may give up their nefarous project.
md 50 escape tho punishment which
otherwise IS quite sure to be visited upon
them. Here IL IS:
An Act in Relation 10 the Preservation
OF order az the Polls. Approved March
s. 1890:
BE IL enacted by The General As
sembly Of Virginia. That the judges Of
election, II il shall appear that voters are
being iutmli2ted OF cOerced from any
source IN The exercise OF their suffrage
by bystanders about the pollingplace,
or that voters are being hindered or tam
ps-ed with IN any way 80 a 10 prevent
III casting of secret ballot may order
such person or persons so engaged in
intimidatins coerciue. hlnderlng, OF tam
perinH with voters 10 cease such action.
and. II such person or persons so engaged
d. not forthwith desist ths Judges OF
election or a majority OF them. may order
tho arrest Of such person or persons.
by a constable or any other person au-
thorizei by law TO make arrests. ana con-
fine him OF them In the county or city
Sail. as the case may be. not exceeding
twenty four hours; and such person or
persons may be summoned by due pro-
cess OF Laws before the next term OF the
county OF corporation court having
Jurisd .ction, as tho case may be. and.
upon the production OF evidence proving
his or their guilt, shall be fined IN a sum
not less than ono hundred dollars nor
moro than Eve hundred dollars