Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-02-04
WILTON ELECTION LAW INDICATED.
PARTISAN ATTACKS on VIRGINIA
r,RRIED WITHOUT DIFFICULTY.
REPUBLICAN INCONSISTENCY.
validity of the Election Law, Main
tanned i'm Former Cases. Denied a.,
the Present one-RadicaIs "Gnav
q IlIc."

merits or demrits Of any case but nh
only seek party advantage. changed their
method OF attack. Heretofore in tho
contested-election cases of Thorp against
NrKenncy. and Yost against Tucker
trr-e rartisans have maintained the va
I5ity Of the Walton election law. and
claimed the election OF Thorp and yost
urder IT, To-day. in the contested-elec.
tion case OF Cornett against Swanson
they reversed their position. and assert
al that the Walton law was unconstitu-
tioual and that no valid election couId
ne held under II.
Dr Thomas. OF Michigan. a narrow and
vindctive Republican partisan. who
voted in the Thorp and Yost cases that
the Virginia election law was constitu-
tonal to-day abandoned that position.
and claimed that no valid election could
De held under II. His Inconsistent and
contradictory positions were forcibly pre-
scnted by Representatives Jones Demo
craO. of Virginia; Jenkins Republican,.
Of Wisconsin. and Mccall Republican,.
OF Massachusetts-the last-named being
the chairman Of the Elections Commit
tee. These three gentlemen made elo-
luent and forcible speeches. which Gre
ated a profound impression in the
House.
The efforts Of the opposition to Mr..
Swanson TO show that the Walton law
was constitutional, in the Petersburg
md Staunton districts but unconstitu-
ional in the Danville District were lu-
iicrous and destroyed the last bit of
confidence entertained by the House in
the fairness and justice Of partisans of
the Thomas stripe.
ONLY p VOTES FOR CORNETT.
In a House of about S65 embers. with
a Republican majority of over 40 only
n votes were recorded against the va
hdty of the Walton election law This
IS a great victory for the people Of Vir-
ginia against the slanderers who have
noisily aspersed her fair name.
There was never any question of the
retention of the seat TO which he was
elected. by Mr. Swanson. both on account
Of the merits OF his case and his in
dividual popularity. on both the Repub-
lican and Democratic side Of the House
The vote. however. was very gratifying.
as evincing the high esteem in which
Mr.. Swanson is held, and also sustain
ing so Overwhelmingly the constitution
Atty of the Walton law
Great credit is due Representative Jones
for the remarkable ability with which
he has managed the Virginia contested
election cases both in committee and in
The House; while Representatives Nc
-ail of Massachusetts; Jenkins, of Wis
c0nsn. and Codding. of Pennsylvania,
Repubhcansl who served upon the COM
mittee and who vindicated Virginia from
the foul assaults made upon her. have
bv their conduct in these cases, added
considerably 10 their reputation as 90
Quent speakers. learned lawyers, and
men of high-minded impartiality.
COMMITTEE REPORT.
Committee on Elections No report
a that Mr.. Swanson was entitled TO
hold his seat; the minority-Messrs.
Thomas Walker. and Overstreet-held
that neither Cornett nor Swanson was
entitled TO the seat. Briefly stating the
case Mr. Mccall Republican,. of
Massachusetts,. chairman of the commit
tee said that Mr.. Swanson received the
certificate Of election upon a return.
giving him a majority Of 2.3O0 votes. If
every precinct concerning the vote OF
which any testimony whatever was
presented TO the committee were thrown
out OF the count, Mr. Swanson would
still have 1900 majority. There was alb |
s0lutely no arithmetic known to intel
Igent men by which "A different result !
could be reached The gsound upon
which the minority based their views,
was that the election law OF Virginia |
was unconstitutional. and that. there |
FORE no valid election was held. As TO !
this, ne desired only 10 say that if the |
contention were true the House had |
violated the Constitution in two other |
contests TO seat members elected under |
the same law. and that all the members |
of the Virginia delegation held their seats |
. by virtue of the operation of that law.
Mr. Jones DemocraD. of Virginia. |
made an elaborate argument in support |
Of the committees report. Referring 10 |
the election law, he said ii had been |
declared TO be constitutional by the |
unanimous decision of the Supreme |
Court Of the state. And the committee !
had concluded that If all the provisions |
OF the law attacked by the contestants !
were invalid or unconstitutional there |
sin remained undisturbed and unaffect- |
cd enough of the law to make the cleo |
tOn perfectly valid.
Mr. Jones then went into the matter |
OF the votes in dispute. setting forth the |
Details. and claimed. In confirmation of |
Mr.. McCaus statement. that the rejec- |
ton OF all the votes attacked by the con- |
.estant would still leave to Mr. Swanson |
over 1900 majority
VIEWS OF THE MINORITY.
Mr.. Thomas Repubucan). of Michigan.
presented the views of the minority He
said that four questions arose in the
consideration OF the case.
/ Sunciency Of the notice of contest.
. The right of the House 10 inquire
into the validity .of the election laws of
Virginia.
3. The constitutonality Of the Walton
law.
T. The effect Of the operation of that
law upon our system Of popular govern
rnent.
lie devoted most Of his time 10 the two !
latter propositions. An analysis OF the |
Yralton law was given TO Mr. Thomas.
from which he declared the law TO be a
diversion Of the Australian ballot sys- |
tln
SIR. Thomas asserted that the case in |
which the Supreme Court Of Virginia had |
decided the law 10 be constitutional. was |
c0lluslve proceeding, and by the adms- /
sion OF the court itself the constitu- |
torallty Of the law was imniaterial to 1
the determinatlon Of the question sub
iotie1 10 1.-two reasons which made the /
judgment as TO the cOnstitutionality Of |
she law OF no binding force or effect
ln conclusion. Mr. Thomas saii II /
champion to-day the cause OF 100 900 Vir- |
gna voters bound hand and foot IN polii- |
Cal bondage. with no outlook or hope for |
the future. III my contention shall fail. /
fepublcan form OF government will |
cease 10 exist In Virginia. II mode OF
election can be contrived that VIII em-
barrass and disqualify one class of voters,
Then IL Is possible for some mode OF cleo
lion 70 be devised that VIII dis
qualify any class 10 whom the Constitu-
ton has extended the right of suffrage.
1T Il well that this contest should take
Place on Virginia soil. Here, where the
hrst English settlement in America was
planted: here where Henry sounded
The first notes OF liberty; here. where
sfA.. .f