Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-10-24
THE LAW, LET 1T DE ENFORCED.


The corporation employees of Virginia
may rely. upon It that the law win pro-
tect them in their right to vote for Bryan
and TO keep secret how they have voted
our law guarantees secret ballot
moreover. it provides a penalty against
all who attempt TO coerce, intimidate'
hinder. or tamper with voters. The af-
adavit conspiracy is so glaringly in de-
1apce of this statute that we venture
nothing in saying it will not be per-
United. and that those who attempt to
work Il will be visited with the fun penal
" Of the law.
Virginians would be unworthy OF the
name they bear. and would shirk great
duty TO humble citizens. if, with Justice
right. and law on their side, they stood
suu and saw the workingman voted, not
as he wishes to vote, but as cor
porations having their headquarters in
New York wish 10 have him voted.
our people are not going to stand any
thing like that No, indeed. They are
no, yet ready to surrender their liberties.
They arc going to demand that the law
shall be enforced, and If it is enforced
and we know that it will be-the mon
strous conspiracy recently formed to
mako corporation employees vote for Nc
Klnley. or perjure themselves, VIII he
speedily dissolved-or the conspirators
will be landed in the jails of this Com
monwealth.
The plan OF our enemy is to have on
November Sd committee Of three coali-
tionists at each voting precinct to put
all voters upon oath as to how they
have voted. OF course. the average man,
who Is not beholden to a corporation, will
ignofe this committee entirely, and pass
n BY. But It Is expected that the Cor
poration employee will be afraid 20 re-
fuse TO give his affidavit May be ne
will; may be he will not. But the law
will step In. and say to those who wish
% violate the secrecy of the ballot stop,
or YOU will be stoppedr' The men who
thus propose TO corner the workingmen
do.btless know not Of the existence of
mo law following. This law meets the
case entirely. and will AFFORD the com
rletcst security to every employee OF
CORPORATION who wishes to vote tho
ROUGHLY secret ballot for Bryan and Sc
wall. We give It here and now. so that
TIE conspirators may he warned in time,
and may give up their nefarious project,
ana so escape the punishment which
otherwise is quite sure to be visited upon
them. Here IL IS:
An Act in Rotation TO the Preservation
~ order at the Polls. Approved March
8. 1880:
]. BE II enacted, by the General AS
sembly OF Virginia, That The judges OF
election. II II shall appear that voters are
being intimidated or coerced from any
source IN the exercise OF their suffrage
4 by bystandcrs about the poling-place,
or that voters are being hindcred or tam
pered with n any way so as 10 prevent
tho casting Of secret ballot may order
such person or persons 50 engaged in
intimidating coercing. hindcring, or tam
perlng with voters, to cease such action;
and II such person or persons 80 engaged
do not forthwith desist the Judges OF
election, or a majority Of them may order
the arrest OF such person or persons.
by constable or any other person au-
thorized by law 70 make arrests. and con-
fine him or them In the county or city
: fall. az the case may be, not exceeding
twenty-four hours; and such person or
psJsoDs may be summoned by due pro-