The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-03-30

Justly charged with ingratitude TO his
friends for simply remaining iaithiu 10
his principles. Loyalty 10 party organi-
cation is not so strong as 10 require "A
member TO follow 1t away from the pTin-
ciDles upon which the organization was
effected. Loving the party which | had
served all my manhood days, ! was not
willing 10 participate in the surrender
of IL To Populism nor 10 vote for gentle
man WhOif IL had been I'm h pow rwould
have wrested the reins Of our State gov
eminent from Democratic hands and
placed them In the hands Of a party
that has played havoc with the material
interests Of every State whore it has had
control even for a brief season.
So much i'm reply to the attack OF the
representative from the Seventh Dis
trict Now Jet me refer TO my messages
TO the General Assembly.
From my message Of December 4, 1893.
I quote: THE object Of all election laws
should be the securament Of order at the
polls and a free and untrammeled, pure
and unpurChased expression of the Will
OF the people through the medium OF
the ballot box" Proceeding. / COM
mcnded the Walton Jaw for securing
0uiet. peaceablc and orderly elections
and rendering the use OF money impos-
slble. then referred 20 the objections
that had been raised 10 the constable
feature Of the act and opposed the sug-
ecstlon that there be more constables'
one OF each party. insisting that ms
would destroy the secrecy Of the ballot
for the voter would clearly indicate by
the constable he would select. how he IN
tended 10 vote. ! stated mat ] nad not
heard of an indictment being found or even
charge preferred i'm form against
any constable i'm the state and that this
smoke we'll for the integrity of the cleo
tious held under the new system and II
elections had been free from corruption
and fraud. why ] asked amend TINS pro-
vision of the law? 49,
From my message OF December J. 1870,
I NOW quote. II respectfully recommend
material changes IN our election laws
Tho present system is by no means SAT-
isfactorv 10 vast majority OF the I'o-
milo Of The state and opposition 10 II j.
hot confined 10 any political party. The
integrity of our elections Is questioned
AND our system is impeached. our eX-
letting law. when enacted was alleged 10
bo i'm the interest Of a free. honest uh-
tranmelcd and unpurchased ballot, ana
o., urevent the use Of money ana the
t,deariuar of votes at the polls. lhat
our elections since have btth Hloic
1,,iof and orderly and The oppoftuhluSs
~, purchase venal voters minimlzed'
I'm tho existing act provisions which
81. fraud easy. and tend 20 cast sus-
.tcior rpon the election as well as upon
n,, ,,,,rnosas Of the act So while the
new law has its advantages over the olu
fa,. 90 has IT'S evils. for IL virtually us
cranchfsos many and opens wide the
door for corruption and dishonesty. III
res nroved failure and should be
amended. retaining what Us sood ana us
cardng what is bad IN IT,
..No better evidence Of the imperIec-
,to,, ~ the law as IL stands IS needed
than the thousands OF defective OF I'M
,,rnnorly marked ballots that have been
thrown out i'm every election since the
law was enacted-in some instances as
r,,rv as one-third or one-half OF the
baliots deposited II shows that enc
mode is too intricate for the ilhterate
voters TO prepare their own ballots cor
rectly. or that the officials entrusted TO
mark the ballots OF the illiterate voters
are often corrupt or too ignorant 10 dis
charge their duty"
recommended the adoption Of an en-
HEM ballot and that the manner OF
marking the ballet be made as simple as
possible
Where and by whom was my attention
FIRST called 10 the fact that there was
much opposition 10 the Walton law and
that IL was working enthusiastically
You will no doubt be surprised when I
tell YOU. II was on the 18th day OF De
cember. 1895. eight days after my first
message was submitted 10 the General
Assembly. who called attention to it2
Why. Senator HAY. by his introduction
I'm the Senate OF Bills Nos - and 16. for
the repeal OF Sections T. and II and for
the amendment OF Sections 3. and II
OF the Walton law. Sections 10 and II.
which he proposed TO repeal, provided
for the appointment OF special con-
stable 10 prepare the ballots OF illiterate
voters. sc. Sections 3. and Il had re-
ference 10 the kind Of ballot 20 be used.
the duty OF the Electoral Board I'm con-
nectlon with the printing thereof and
the mode OF marking the ballot before
depositlng H. These sections the Sena-
tor proposed TO amend by requiring an
emblem ballot and posting the same AZ
the polls. providing for the marking OF
the ballot by cross mark (X) In the
ring beneath the name OF the party ticket
and authorizing a blind or physically
disabled voter 20 call on one OF the
Judges 10 assist him I'm preparing his
ballot will append hereto copies OF
Senate bills Is and 70. so that all may
read them.
Following the introduction of these
Hills was an attack or the walton law
ey Senator Hay and oihsr Democrats
senators. Then charges Of fraud. falls.
marking and failure OF duty on the part
OF special constables commenced TO reach