The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-01-22
NEW ELECTION BILLS.
rEssRs. NfSON, mar. IND sfJBDs
PRESENT MEASURES
To the Conn ittcc on Privileges and E'ec-
tlons-EIr. Hays Bill Further Con-
sidered Earnest Speeches Made.

The Senate Committee on Privileges
and Elections yesterday continued the
consideration Of Senator Hays bill, and
then proceeded 10 examine the bills In
PRODUCED by Senators Mason, Hale, and
Stubs. relating TO change In the cleo
ton laws Senator Mason explained all
the provisions OF his bill. and showed
to the committee that IL was absolutely
fair. and he believed such a bill. Il en-
acted into a law, would quiet the unrest
and dissatisfaction now existing under
the present conditions. lie admitted there
was a division in the Democratic party
as to the present law, as d Democrat
he was more than anxious 10 see this
division healed He did not approve OF
Senator Hale's bill because II retained the
Dlanket-ballOt system IN county e4ecuYhs,
and he was satisfied this feature Mout
give the greatest dissattacuon d. sucn
/ elections. when the dozens OF candidates
not nominated would an pc srptyeo in
one column under the word INDEPENDENTS
and the voters could never ma TEEN.
IL would Work a hardship
He opuoscd some features OF senator
/ Hays blu because he did not think mere
was sufficient provision for the pfotec.lVh
/ OF the man who could not read lie point
/ ed 10 The fact that his btu nad carefully
I guarded all the rights OF the man "ho
| could not, on account of eoucauonal ms
/ advantage, prepare nis own ballot aud
/ when such "A mans ballot was pre- pared
/ by the judge OF election Dee was Iortlauth
| under heavy penalties from liyuigiug for
whom the voter had cast his ballot.
JUDICIARY ~ POLITICS.
In abiding To putting the appointment
/ of the electoral boards in the hands on me
/ do anything TO quiet this ni5 tlsiacliou
/ and complaint against the eiccuou law.
/ III passing q bin OF this sort VIII ten9
TO DO this j shall vote for ~. bye VIII
/ do so with many misEiNinga. tMlt 'hr
/ judiciary should be removed as ldt as
/ possible from the arena 81 pOliict VI hhr
DO is true me Judges na9 'iii9 ro" ,,,le9
| a hummer or years, SIM Do WIS lentn
| away from them because tals Ola otale
/ came 10 the conclusion mat lne courts
/ must be beyond political influences anu
/ out OF a political atmosphere rms har
I been tho ancient ana tme-honoIeu RUG
/ fn Virginia from her early history 40
/ the present day. and as general piluci-
/ plo n was tine foundation of tne N.ii'.
/ ana intea.itv of Virginia Judges such
I law in zine would. ass b. dia before
] bring partisan complaint against lne
/ Judges We would hy force OF cltc-lD-
| stances make them gIrtisan- hoWeFeii
7 repeat. ii such a BIN VIII quiet diasatls-
faction, / viii surrender my scrupiei ann
/ follow the lead of wiser men. There may
have been, but during my canvass ! near.
| no complaint about tlr electoral poaias+
They are in my county honorable men.
Senator Stuubs na.i1s introduced
/ bin TO give Che opposition tr-feafi "a iph
ON The electoral board. Mr. Mason salp ne
/ would vote for d.. and certainly ne GO, -ih
| not 60 wrong Zoo this respect ln ioHoNins
the lead of such Democrat as ME
/ Stubbs.
Senator stuhhs presented 20 the COM
| ,0ittco three measures, one providing tuat
/ me- oDDOstfion shall Doe allowed represent
! tation on the electoral boards in the pro
/ norton of one 10 two. another gro'lu-
I ing for the appointment or eieciotai
boards by the county courts ana ine
| third fOrbidd.uE constables from Boihs
/ into the booths win voters except u.vl
| the suCCial request or -uch Nolti@-
IN presenting his bills. Alr. Stubts maze
an earnest speech BOO exrafcttion on
them. prefacing his remarks Dy the STATE
| mcnt that Doe was unc-con-ldpIe ana q
Walton-law man.
MIR. HALE'S BILL.
Afr. Hale presented the claims OF his
! bin BOO am earnest speech. He -ald-
.Alr. Chairman and Gentlemen of me
Committee shall ask the attention of
| your committee tor only Anew nome nlr.
/ i sgin say 10 the senator from Appomal T.
| tON who has faceuousiy referred 10 hs
| election bin ass a book. tlal Z regret ine
necessity of such a. voluminOus bin. but
! nothing short OF 20 VIII meet the 'met
! gency and popular demand OF tne people
Of the state, which mas been plol5Nl
/ about by the present vicious and lnlqui-
books. ] shall ondeavor in as concise ano
brief manner as possible % present
some views IN support OK the nhi when
b. now before your honorable committee
and shall have fully accomplished my
/ purpose If / arm able 90 impress upon
members of this committee the iar-
/ reaching consequences which may follow
/ their action, and quicken their sense o
/ appreciation % the grave respOnsibhite
| which now rests upon them. In ml
humble Judgment. Ar. Chairman AN.
! gentlemen Of the committee, the vote
OF the General Assembly of Nirgni
upon This question O., fair elections will
/ bring upon them veal or woe beyond th'
! power of language 20 describe or imagina
ton % conceive. There is but one ban
/ rier which prevents Virginia to-day
from having perfectly fair. honest an
Ion-parushn election law upon IFS stat
ute-oo0ks, and that rs party worship an
party icCiaTfy-pursu 10 that demon
lizlng and corruptng idea that the ZEN
lustines the means. which. / regret %
say, Us too prevalent among our polt
5 clans.
such methods are eminontly dem0ralz
ing and bring about the party lash
/ The bitterness and Injustice o. part
worship ls proFerhial, and its want q
reason s. astounding. Men who are cO.
and consiierate on all other subjects al
frequently as party parlisans the mo.
violent and unreasonable IL seems. Ml
70 Chain man, Ike species OF religious &.
% - oism, and prescrihes with tho sam
- biRtry AN who will not or cannot cor
S scientiousiy act orr think with them.
.. prescfibes principles and these princlpl,
u must Doe Oleycd 10y ali who belong 90 N
3 organization, without reservation or me.
b qualification. and these opinions ar
d.; through party necessity, not unfrcquen
L Dr. iamftcally antagOnistic 10 the
~ former creed. II is impossible 20 tamil
/, ariZe the conscience with p)lltical di
!. honesty without taiutlu- the moral ma
in all matters pertaining 20 tls ever
Gay life once break down that ba
riar which separates right from WrOn
l. that success may come of 81, and so SUR
h. ly do you sweep away every vest.gc
-, restraint b. immoral and dishonest con
. duct.
~ SYSTEM RADICALLY WRONG.
D.. "Mr Chairman / presented the hi
n 70 which / invite your attention. l'
" without nature thought. and batpe
for 70 at your hands considerably
cOrresp0ndiugiy earnest ln all ol iis 81
-- tails. Z have been guided nN the GOWN
ton that here is some radical wrong
h, our election system. that the wrong ca
J. in a way be- adjusted hy putting
. members O. the electoral boards o.
right men in tine right place. and lrl
- such remedial steps are taken we c1'
70 nor point with pride altogether f-fi
fable TO the standing OF our grand o
mother State. Let not Virginia be- d
d the proud ch9riet or honor that grace
n her noble brow Doc Blasted Icy breath
pr -coru from any or hor sister states. :
So rho was first in the thirteen colonies.
.e NAV she always We me hfsl 10 reco'ili
n. that ever the truth is urptrmofl 1921
Z Justice shall De done. ] do not want ev
70, To zee for any reason. political or otne
m wise one stain Un0n the proud cscutcu'
D. OF my native State. II there IS wa
10 wipe out any hlot tnat deiaces "a