The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-02-04
SWANSON is SEATED
hiause by Viva Voca Vote Declares Him
Congressman From the Fifth District,
VlbGlH|A ELECTION LAWS REVIEWED,
Z lti's"n. .oircnt:esscc, OF Denunnees ,he
4 Waiiur t.aw and intellectually l,cn-
ti"n aieiEiods fhroushou, the
Su"t,s-Ihn 1Eosssc Seats Swanson
IS hs IN Overwhelming wore.

"unt,s-'Shn 1Easlsc Seats Swanson
III IN Overwhelming yn,c.
Washington. Feb. 3.-O1ouse1 1-yhe
otScu ;SiGn or Ink. con tested election ease
OF George W. Cornct; rs Claude \
swanson. from the Fifth district Of Vir-
Sinia, occupied nearly the whole OF To-
"3%s session OF the House ana by an
NrE"heininG vote Mr.. Swanson's title
tosti!G seat was confirmed by the House.
me Committee on Elections NO. :; re-
ported that Swanson was entitled 10
mold his seat. The minority-Aleysrs.
Ihomas, Walker. and Oycrstrect-held
'hal neither Cornctt nor Swanson wa;
entitled tn the seat.
SW-ANSON'S CASE STATED.
Briehy stating the case, Nj. McC,all
thcpo, of Massachusetts. chairman Of
ne committees, said that Swanson re-
cclVed the certificate Of election upou a
return giving him 4 majority of 23OO
votes " every precinct conCC .ninG, The
vote OF which any testimony whatever
Was presented TO the committee were
thrown out Of the count, Mr. Swanson
Wonla sun have 1,500 majority There
was absolutely no arithmetic known 10
Intelligent men by which different re-
SUI: could be reached. The ground upon
winch the minority based their views
was that the election law Of Virginia
WAS unconstituional ana therefore, no
Fal!G election was held As to this, he
desired only to, say that the House had
Eo'ea III two other contests 10 seat mem :
hels elected under the same law. and
thdt al he members Of tile Virginia
delegation held their seats by virtue
Of inc opei t.nn uf that law
JONES ARGUES FOR SWANSON.
MI. Jones I)cm.), Of Virginia. made
an Ella boratc argument in SUPPORT OF
ne Committees 5 report. Referring TO he
election law he said it had been de-
"la!eu To be constitutional by the unani
nous decision Of the Supreme Court OF
||NMhy state and the committee had con-
GUIDED mat IL all the proisions or the Ia w
aitackcH BY the contestants We're Invalid
o" Unconstitutional there still remained
uhd!stUibed and unaffected enough of
the law 70 III q Ike the election perfectly
valid
Mt. Jones then went into the matter
Of the votes in dispute. setting forth The
de.ai!S. and claimed, in confirmation Of
Ar. McCa!fs tatement that the rcjrc-
ton oi all the votes attacked by the
contestant, Mr.. Swanson would sill
nave over !. 800 majority.
THE MINORITY REPORT.
Mr. Thomas Kcp.) OF Michigan. pre-
Sen;ed the views OF the minority. He
consideration uf the ease
J. Suiicicncy of the notice OF contest.
= Jhn right Of the House 10 inuuirc
into the validity OF The election law OF
Virginia.
>. The cons;iiuiionality Of the Walton
law.
t. The effect Of the operation OF that
law npon pur system ot popular govern
men..
lie devoted most Of his time to the
two latter propositions.
WALTON law ANALYZED.
An analysis of the Walton law was
given by Ar. Th0mas, from which he de-
cared the law - be 4 iIeiyel sion Of the
iustrliian ballot system. Mr. Thomus
asserted hat the clsn in which the SUI
preme Court nf Virginia has decided the
iaw 70 be constitutional was d collllsivu
proceeding, and by the admission OF
the court issrlf the cons ti:u,ionality Of
Inc law was !n!matrlial 10 the determi-
nation OF the questions submitted to it,
'wo reasons which made the Judgment
aS 10 the cchsti.uIonaity OF the law
ni no binding force or effect.
In conclusion. Mr. Thomas said:
u champion to-day the cause Of 100 900
Virginia voters. bound hand and foot III
political bondage, with no outlook or
hone Tor III" fu;ur". II ms contention
shat! fail. n republican form Of govern
lncnt VIII cease to exist in Virginia II
u mode Of election can Nc cDntr!Ved tina /
Will embarr2sS ana Gisuuaiify one class;
OF voters. then il IS possible 70. some
mode OF election 10 be devised that viii
disuualify any class u whom the con-
st!!uiion mas extended the right Of Sut-
frage.
y CONTEST on VIRGINIA SOIL.
1T is well that this contest should take
place on Virginia soil Here, where the
first English settlement in America was
n!inted; here where A Henry sounded
the nrSt notes OF liberty; here whe!e the
author of the Declaration OF Independ-
cnce lived and died: where Wa Shington
and Lee Were holn-thc former TO eX-
empilty love foi q n3tiOn ana the latter
love for a .State--it is We'll say, that on
the historic soil uf The Old Dominion
his new, novel and pOrtentous issue in
tie cause OF popular government should
be fought and settled pcrhap: .nn state
o. inferior rank would have ATTEMPTED
this master stroke OF Ingenuity 10 estab-
liSh the supremacy Of the minority, nor
Woulu ! directly or even by innucndo
disparage this minority. If IL We're pos
Sibic for mo 70 believe in the supremacy
Of any minority it would be IN the illus
t!iouS descendants Of The pioneers of civ
II liberty who have for centuries made
the banks Of the James. the Kappa ahan-
mock, the Shenandoah and the Potomac
sacred TO thesI. 10 Christianity, 10 libcr-
" and TO civilization. y secret ballot is
the palladium Of civil liberty. 1t gives
10 suffrage al once It's glory and power
Around it gathers the force and security