The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-10-29
THE ELECTION Law.
II Does Not Warrant Judges in interfering
with Affidavit Takers.

rh. Petersburg Inde1-Appeal says:
u would be a very strained construc-
zion. ~ the act. approved March o, 1896
70 say that the voluntary ahoa'l' %
voters made to aid in the detection anu
exnosure of fraud against the paAo'-"oN,
constituted intimidation or ccerciol. HNu
empowered judges to arrest pels 'Na. ~,
tdmitting that the act Is SUBSCRIPTIONS Va
this strained construction, ana noS" -
fer on the judges this extraordinary am
tvrannical power, IL will be noted ln"e IL
does so only within limitation AH' VI
fence must be committed D. D! -Sla"rV-'
about the po1ing place. N"as
about the polling place mean iio
Parker law. approved March t. lNs9, secuon
70 saws: Except as hereinafter provided
for save the Judges of election ana CLERKS
no nerson other than the elector Offering
20 vote shall be within 40 feet OF the ballot
bo." Section IS SAYS at shall not
he lawful upon the day of election LOT
persons 10 cOngregate ana crowd upon
the public highway within one hunuteu
feet OF any OF the voting places ne
latter section clearly applies only 10 hlsh-
vavs. and not 10 houses within the pre-
scribed limit. wherein voters may peace
ably assemble and voluntarily make am
davft of how they voted without rear or
mo1estation from any quarter. There IS
no construction of the law. strained or
otherwise. that warrants judges IN inter-
fering with tally-keepers ana aihdaVit-
takers beyond the one hundred feet limit
from the polling place. ana any eieciioh
Judge who undertakes any such Interior
ence not only furnishes prima facie EVIL
dence Of his intention TO commit fraud.
10
Of the rights and liberties Of citizens az
his personal peril We do not believe that
there is any judge or jury in the state. no
matter how much blinded by PARTISAN
ship or prejudice, that will sustain an
election judge in extending his jurisdic-
ton beyond the limits Of about the
polling place" the uttermost extent OF
which IS radius OF one hundred feet on
the highway.
Now. If It Is not the intention Of cleo
ton Judges to tamper with the ballot-box
why should they object 10 the keeping OF
a tally Of voters or TO any other method
Of verifying the accuracy Of the count OF
the ballots? They must know that they
are under public suspicion Of having
purpose TO commit fraud, and as honest
men they ought 20 court and covet every
means TO vindicate themselves from an
aspersion so foul ana dishOnoring not only
to themselves, but 10 their wives and
children also. High-minded and honor
able men have in the past demanded in
vesticatioh and trial for much less cause,
because they were conscious Of innocence.
and felt that A proper respect for the
opinions OF their friends and the public
required such a vindication Surely 1t is
not saving too much when II is claimed
that these feelings are not too high for
a man who holds the important and re-
snonsible trust Of Judge of election. which
involves the most sac~d right Of citi-
zenship.
We do not believe that the judges NJ
election In Petersburg will be foolsh
enough TO attempt. in the face or me
overwhelming odds against him, 10 de-
clare the vote OF this city for Mr.. Bryan
Thev know that nearly ~ per cent. or
the white voters are against the chicago
nominee. and that practically all the
negroes are. WHY. then. should they en-
courage suspicion against themselves by
interfering with citizens who are exer-
cising IN a legal ana peaceahle manner
an in1ubitable RIGHT 20 ascertain whether
or not the votes they have cast have
been honestly counted? We do not believe
that they will do such foolish and
criminal thing.