The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-04-29
ANOTHER VICTIM.

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OF the Virginia election law.
In reading the report OF the proceedings
OF the House on Tuesday last. we are
struck with the fact that In almost all
the remarks that were made the charge
OF infercntial fraud was brought against
Mir. Young's party. The contention was
that the law was framed for the purpose
OF committing frauds. where such frauds
should be necessary to elect the Demo-
cratic candidate--that in many precincts
in Mr.. Young's district ali the judges
were Democrats, which. under the law,
did not invalidatc the election. and that
with such opportunities for fraud. winked
at by the law. the conclusion was irresis-
tibie that fraud had been committed.
Mr. Grosvenor. in concluding his speech,
made this significant declaration:
Now. I shall not pursue this subject any
further, except to do this. j believe the
House Of Representatives Is honestly
opposed to fraud in election. ] rlieve
these gentlemen coming from the Southern
States. and those coming from the North
ern States feel II TO be a national dis-
grace almost that these continuous cleo
ton frauds are Of necessity ventilated
in the House OF Representatives. what
is TO be the cure for Il? We have tried
Weighing and measuring; We have tried
that. We have tried this thing. under
taking to take one Of these miserable
records and slft out and tell what ought
10 have been the result. and putting down
on the one side tho votes that ought TO
be deducted and putting down on
the other side the votes that ought 20
be added, and yet this thing goes right
on
When the courts OF the country in try
ing "a polluted ballot box or a polluted
return. whether it be polluted by actual
manipulation Of tho votes and figures, or
whether il is polluted by an organized
coDspiracv to defeat the will IF the ma
jority-whcn the courts Of the country
and the legislative bodies OF the country
shall punish "A man who has been the
beneficiary OF that transaction, then and
not until then do we have pure elections
I'm the United states Of America.
The greatest minds OF England sought
for wears. by corrupt-practice acts and by
all sorts of tentative and imperfect meas
ures. TO cure the evil-the crime Of fraud
and intimidation and corruption in the
election of the great body Of the House
Of Parliament. ON success was had unui
that greet body OF the most Intelligent
men I'm that country said they would no
longer seek 10 punish in detail the men
who had been guilty Of the fraud nor
would thew any longer attempt TO decide
over again what the election ought 10
have been. But they said they would i'm
pute TO the sitting member holding the
certificate under that sort OF fraud or
wrongful violation OF law, whatever IL
was-they would impute 20 him every act
OF the men who had supported him that
was in violation Of law, and they would
turn him out so that his constituency
might knew that thereafter there should
be no profit by violation Of the English
law
10 is contended that this comes in very
bad grace from a congressman from
Mark Hannas state seeing that Senator
Hanna stands convicted or bribery by the
Legislative Committee that investigated
the charges against him. But that is
beside the question. it does not help
Virginia's case that election frauds are
committed I'm other States. The question
for MS to consider is whether or not our
own skirts are clean.
We do not know that Mr.. Young was
fraudulently returned and We do not
make the charge. But there is no doubt
whatever i'm our mind that II he had re-
ceived the sam. vote under an election
law that was perfectly fair and honest
upon it's face. me would have been seated.
We cannot get away from the conclusion,
that. as i'm the case Of Mr.. Epes so in
the case of Mr. Young these men were
defeated by the law That was designed
TO elect them. As Mr.. GrOsyenOr has so
plainly put il. they are made the scape
goats for their party. They are punished
as % means of preventing future frauds
i'm Virginia elections.
II does seem to us that it was high time
that the Democrats of Virginia were
opening their eyes 90 the fact that this
election law is not only i stigma upon
the state. hut that it is actually an in
strumant i'm the hands of Republican
members OF Congress 10 seat Republican
contestants.
Congressman Walker I'm speaking 10 the
question, said that he did not charge
the people Of Virginia with fraud, that
he did not apply his remarks 10 the peo-
pie al large. but TO the corrupt people
who have got control Of the ballot boxes
and who are not sustained by the good
people Of either party.
That Is literally true. The people Of
Virginia are honest, and they are not in
favor OF election frauds. The trouble
is that they have been hoodwinked by
few beneficiaries. who have made them
believe that frauds are necessary TO keep
the Stnte ont OF the hands Of the negroes.