The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-10-02

ors. Review OF Reviews for October.
AN OPEN LETTER TO THE VOTERS
OF THIS LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT
Roanoke. Va, Sept 10th, 1897.
Fellow Citizens;--In soliciting your
votes as candidate for seat in the
should know what line of action will
mark my service in that body; aud l here
in indicate the same, to which respect
fully ask your careful attention.
THE ELECTION LAWS.
Our present election laws are capable
OF most fraudulent manipulation A
law must be enacted so clear, so simple
and easy of construction that the most
illiterate can cast his ballot with perfect
confidence in it's legality.
CORPORATIONS.
The corporation must not be permitted
to tlespass on the rights of the citizen;
neither must the citizen rbitlnrily in
terfere with a lawful administration Of
corporate affairs.
BUILDING AND LOAN ASSOCIA-
TIONS.
Our laws should be so amended, new
ones enacted and old ones repealed, that
such associations can be compelled to ad-
minister their affairs according to the
letter and spirit of the, ancient laws of the
commonwealth, and where practicable,
they should be required TO restore the i'll
gotten gains Accumulated by illegal
methods.
THE FARMER
The farmers of our State have deserved
more and obtained less from the paternal
hand of the State than any other class.
Isolated, unorganized and unsophistica-
ted, they are the easy victims of the lies
of the army of harpies, great and small,
who prey on them without let or him
drance. 7 his has largely ensued from the
fact that they have been content to dele
gate persons to make their laws who had
no practical knowledge of their condition
or wants -often no substantial sympa-
thy with their Affections.
THE WAGE GARNER.
Political platforms have always been
profuse of promises In behalf of the la
bcrer. Franklin said, more than 100 years
ago, that promises do not butter par
ships" What the laborer wants is less
promises and more performances, less
tears and more potatoes Our Creator
intends that every man and woman who
wants to work shall have il; ard He in
tends that every man, woman and child
shall have.food and raiment. If gov
ernment does not max, such results pos
sible, it will be torn down and thu Town
into the graves of the nations that have
forgotten God.
FREE SCHOOLS.
The free school is the pillar of the tenn
pie of liberty. and must be protected by
the State. AS far rs possible its sphere
of usefulness must be extended, and the
benefciaries brought more closely within
the range of its influence
DIVORCE.
1t is a legislators duty TO inaugurate
measures looking to Uniform divorce
law to prevail in all the States of the
Union.
THE ELECTION OF UNITED STATES
SENATORS BY POPULAR VOTE.
The present method Of electing United
States Senators by State legislators is
antiQuated, I'M American and undemocra-
tic; and we should hasten to place that
tody in the same relation to the people
as the House of Representatives sub
ject to direct popular vote.
SALE OF DELINQUENT LANDS.
The last legislature enacted law
authorizing the sale af lands which had
been sold by the State for Delinquent
taxes. The law which authorizes such a
procedure should be annulled aC the
earliest day practicable.
GOOD ROADS.
A serious defect in the present road
law is found in the fact that it is too local
in its application. A general system OF
road laws is the only means to secure the
most desirable results. and n general law
should be enacted to meet the demand.
OUR CRIMINALS.
The present system of crowding our
penal criminals into u common peniten-
tiary without regard to age or degree of
offense is antique and barbaric. Progress
i've commonwealthsp pr ovide reformatories
for the discipline of young Offenders, and
our State should establish reformatorv
at some central point in the Southwest.
The foregoing are among the subjects
that should receive the attention of the
next legislature, aDd, if elected, 1 will
pledge that laws embracing each shall be
enacted, or million Virginians will
know the reason why.
Read this letter carefully and thought
fully; and then act the atriots part
Your Fellow Citizen,
D. c. MOOMAW.
DIR. KINGS NEW DISCOVERY FOR