The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-03-13
WARNING TO KENTUCKY,
Beware OF the Virginia Election Laws
SAYS Mr.. Irvine.


The following appears in the Loul5NlHe
O<yJ Evening Post:
70 the Editor Evening Post:
VIII you allow former kentuckian,
who has lost none of Dis interest DO me
affairs OF his native State by residence
Of a few wears oyer the border boz \ir-
ginia. TO give "a brief sketch of the sItua-
ton in this State with reference 10 the
election laws which matter see has been
injected into tine discussion of the Goeoel
bill i'm Kentucky
After Virginia had gotten rid Of her
carpet-bag government and the c0nsii'I-
ton of 1863 had been adopted. the Demo-
cratic party came into power ana con-
Quoted tho affairs of State wisely until
the question of settling the enormous
State debt became "a political issue. Ma
hone a former Democrat placing him.
self at the head of q large section OF the
Democratic party and indorsed by the
solid Republican party. formed the new
"Readluster" party. and going before the
people professedly on the debt question
alone carried the legislature of '.'-Nh
Not having. however the two-thirds OF
both branches requisite to override al Nelo
and the Democrats having the Governor
no perncious legislation was enacted At
the November election. 1881, however
alNNNlAN 81 INA % tAttt''' t '.'t-
electng the Governor and CD majority ln
both branches of the Legislature.
This administration failed TO settle the
debt question. for which purpose BE- had
asked for power but as soon as it was
in fun swing Malone brought forward an
election law. the same jon principle as tine
Goehol bII the object Of which was hy
means OF Commissioners OF Elections, 20
porpCtuate IN power the party that should
pass it. AS soon as this scheme became
known the state was ahiaZe with cN-
element. Indignation meetings were held
everywhere and protests came from every
quarter. The Democrats who had allowed
Malone 90 lead them into this trap saw
too late his selfish purpose. He made
his bill caucus measure and. turning
deaf ear 10 the voice OF the people, De
seemed certain 90 carry mis- measure
through as be appeared 10 dominate all
OF his partisaus in tne Legislature. At
the critical moment however. four Read
ulster Senators. who held the balance OF
power iu the Senate. being able tO hold
ont no longer against an outraged public
sentiment boited the caucus and saved
the honor Of the state. These men bee
came known iu Virginia as the big
Four" and they are to-day held in rcv-
erencc ly the better classes scarcely less
than her great worthless who are known
to fame
This narrow escape served as q terrible
warning and at the election for members
Of the Legislature in November. 1883. the
factions of the Democracy reunited in the
face of common danger. and went on
q crusade against Mahon.sm. The mcm-
orable Danvilie riot occurred just ON the
eve of the election. and fired tle hearts
Of the white people t0 % frenzy. The re-
suit was that tEe Democrats returned
more than tWo-thlras OF che lower house
and a large ma i1rity 0f the Senate which
was increased to- tw0-thlrds br means of
contested seats and cxnllslous Under
the intense passion and pro ttIon of the
hour. the Legislature thus constituted
passed the election law which IS pointed
90 now as precedent in Kentucky by
The advocates of the .Goebel bilL
Under the Virginia law the Legislature
elects three commissions OF Elections
for each county and city. all az whom
may belong 90 ONE party. who serve four
years. These local boards appoint the
officers Of elections who must DE divided
between the two leading parties. The re-
turns En- State and congressional e.er-
lions are canvassed hy board consisting
OF the Governor Attorney Audi
tor. Treasurer and Secretary of State. ar
any three OF them. On local elections they
are canvassed by % special board of five
appointed by the County Board of l-ier-
ton Commissioners. Contested elections
In local and county races are decided hy
the county courts. with right Of appeal 90
the circuit courts. All other contests are
decided either by the legislature Gas to
Governor and ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS or by
a special court.
10 Will thus be seen that In no feature
Is the Virginia law worse than the pro-
posed Goehel law while in many Of its
most important provisions the Gocbel bill
Is far more extreme and partisan than
the Virginia law This law has proven
extremely distastcfui 20 large element
OF the Democratic party In this state. or
course the Republicans and Populists are
bitter in their opposition. Many or the
oldest and best Democratic papers IN the
State have for several years been out
spoken against q further continuance Of
the system. They contend THAT the party
| Is rapidly passing under the domination
of bosses: that machine rule IS being flst-
ened on the State: that the lofty political
sentiment that has made the state so IL
mstrious is swiftly decaying. and that the
J manhood and morality OF the STATE are
sinking with a.
The advocates Of the system DO not
attempt 20 Justify Il. except as detence
against negro rule. IN this connection J.
may be stated that the negro popultuoh
| I'm Virginia is nearly 40 per cent. OF the
| whole. while in Kentucky IL Is less than
| 10 per cent.
The practical result Of this law has
| been that the Democratic vote as return
| ed has been decreasing in the white sec
| lions OF the State and increasing IN the
black sections. while the Republicans
have made large gains in the white sec
| tons in spite of the law. In the eiection
| of congressman In 1896. the Repuolcans
4 elected Two members--those In the Staun-