The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-09-21

will open the campaign by q rousinu hig
meeting in the Exposition building on
the night of the 23d All of sthe candi-
dates nominated by the Roanoke conven-
tion will speak on this occasion. 1t was
in this structure the great Confederate
reunion of June, 1896, was held, and here
Bryan and Harrison addressed immense
audiences in last years campaign. The
building will seat and furnish comforta-
BILE standing room for probably twelve
thousand. a gathering of four or five
thousand, which is n great number of
people for this section, would appear to
very poor advantage in this great build
ing. The meeting will he notable one,
and will probably he the largest ever held
in this community, barring that which
was addressed ny Bryan last fall
Hon. j. Taylor Ellyson, who, bv way.
is one of the most forcible speakerssin the
State, will introduce the orators Of the
occasion. Major Hoge Tyler, the nomi-
nee for governor. is II pleasing and inter
esting speaker. Candidate Echols is we'll
known as n good talker. The best speaker
of the campaign, however, promises to be
Mr.. a. j. Montague, the candidate for
attorney general. He has already attain
ed considerable reputation in this line,
which was very much augmented by his
address Mt the Roanoke convention. Mr..
Montague is fearless, frank and effect
i've public speaker, who never fails to
impress his audiences that he means
what he says and advocates principles he
believes to he right.
The question of election reforms Will
be an important one in the Virginia cam
paigr. It cannot he kept out of the can
vass, even should it be attempted. This
might he accomplished if it were not to
be aYtated by any other party than those
opposing the Democratic nominees. The
trouble is, though. that some of the latter's
nominees for the legislature have already
indicated a determination to commit
themselves to changes in the present cleo
ton laws. They have been nominated
by their party with the knowledge that
they will favor such reforms 1t will lie
the policy OF the Republicans and their
allies not to oppose the election OF Demo
cratic candidates for the legislature
whom they know to be in favor Of giving
the people Of the State n new election
law. The difficulty which will present
itself to thf election reformers will be to
concentrate upon any particular plan for
accomplishing their object.
OF course, ali of the Democrats nomi
mated for the Legislature on au honest
election platform viii abide by the action
of the party caucus.
DR.. Winston, the recent president of
the Farmers Alliance of Virginia, who
has just been nominated to the house of
delegates by the Democrats Of Hanover,
is in favor of the enactm ent of law
which will prevent the possibility of any
dishonest elections. His people know his
views on this subject, ana knowing them
have chosen him to repr esent them in the
house. The doctor has gAen some
thought and attention to the question of
new law. He has not yet evolved n
plan which is perfectly satisfactory to
himself, but he is inclined to think that
some scheme which allows each political
party to select an official ballot reader
for the ilitcrate voters promises to best
accomplish the object sought. These
readers or special constahles, he thinks,
should disappointed by the county judge
upon the recommendation of the organi-
2 'tion OF each of the leading parties.
Should the Republican or Populist or
other anti Democratic official prove re-
creant to his duty and sell out .or other
wise act in collision with the enemies of
his party, the organization which APP
pointed him Would be responsible.
The same suggestion was made two
years sgo when the first Australian bal
lot law was amended by the present Par
kcr act. 1t was not thought to be feast
BILE to have so many cOnstables indeed,
Governor O'Ferrall in his message to the
Legislature on the subject OF improved
election laws, took ground against II null
tiplicitv Of constables. His argument
aud that of other Democratic leaders was
that IL the Republicans were allowed one
CT these officials it would have the effect
of placing the ignorant negro voters COM
p'etely under the domination of the party
whippers-in and practically prevent
these people from freely exercising the
right OF suffrage.
In the agitation of this election reform
the influence of sotie OF the leading Re-
publicans outside of the State is being
exerted This is manifested by the fact
that those who ave under this influence,
who have heretofore been the foremost
advocates of what are termed practical
politics, are now quietly working up n
feeling in favor of radical changes. What
ever is done in the line of n change of the
present laws, tie Democratic managers
say, the people can rest assured will he
accomplished by the Democrats in the
legislature and not by the Republicans or
their allies.