The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-02-23

In conversation recently with gentle
man Of the free-silver school, who mas
taken a great interest in political mat
tiers; indeed has been quite an active pol
,titian. the question Of our election laws
came up. and to our surprise We FOUND
that he was ignorant of their real nature
and Of the perfect provision made IL
them for indetectable fraud What we
tried TO explain 10 him we viii now III
brief give to our readers, as there are
many others like him, and some are in
the Legislature.
we doubt If any such complete provis-
ion has ever been made on any statute
book. as is now the solemn law Of Nir-
ginia, for promoting and encouraging
fraud in elections. and for giving perfect
protection to the authors Of it. Some OF
the important provisions are these
First. as TO registration. 1t was demon
strated in the case of Shoemaker's-not
Smithers'-precinct in Henrico county,
that the registrar could by the flimsiest
sort of a conspiracy. strike the names
of any voters he pleased from the regis
tration books. and then having gone
through the form OF posting them as the
law requires (section SO, could instantly
have the notices pulled down, and when
the voters, utterly ignorant Of all that
had been done. would apply to vote on
election day. they would find their names
erased and they would not be allowed to
vote
This was actually done and there was
no effectual remedy or relief under the
law. The voters who had their names
thus stricken off lost their votes.
But, even II voters name is, by the
grace Of the registrar. left upon the
books. and he is an illiterate voter, when
he goes TO vote. no has presented to him
at the polls by one Of the judges ballot
which is so constructed as to confuse
Ind embarrass even an educated man.
The voter has a technical course TO pur-
sue. of which he is ignorant, for unless
all the names in what may be long
list OF candidates are scratched out in the
precise way prescribed by law-that is,
the pen or pencil must run through at
least three-fourths of each OF the names
(section i0-the ballot is in effect not
scratched at all, and the voter loses his
vote. certainly as TO the candidate in that
list. although it may be perfectly plain
who he intended to vote for.
II the nliterate voter has his ballot
fixed FOR him (perhaps by an unfriendly
oflcer) he has not the slightest way Of
forming a judgment as to whether that
officer IS doing IL correctly or not. Tho
whole matter is made so complicated and
difficult that many a man who was well
educated has failed 20 vote correctly,
and the illiterate voter has not the ghost
OF a chance. Every provision IS made TO
drive the nliterate voter into the hands
OF one OF the officers Of the election.
where arrangements may DO made for
bribery without limit. as has actually
been the case in many places.
In those States where there is an effort
made to have the ballot as fair and as
uncon,aminated with bribery as possible
every provision that thought or expert
ence could suggest is made TO help the
voter to cast his ballot without the inter
ference Of any ofiicer whatever For this
end emblem ballots are used and the bal
lot Is posted outside Of tho booth. where
the voters can see 1t. discuss It and have
Il explained. In Virginia the ballot is
not allowed to be posted. nor is any one
permitted ito carry any Official ballot
or copy thereof beyond the voting booth
or away from the booth. except TO the
Judges OF election" (section ~. A viola
ton OF this provision is punished by a
fne OF 500. and the judges are directed
20 cause ''the INSTANT arrest Of any
person making such attempt"
But. even II for any reason the Hitter.
ate voter should be permitted TO get his
ballot into the box as he wants II. he Is
then only in the position OF all the other
voters. literate and illiterate who are
sas II . man did ice from q lion aud .