The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-02-05
A Corrupting Limitation of Suffrage.

Editor OF The Times:
SRA citizen who has been an observer
OF events for the past quarter OF GEN.
fury. has been driven. reluctantly, to the
conclusion, that the laws of Virginia az
ford better facilities for fraudulent prac-
tees then the laws OF any other state IN
the Union.
Is II not time 10 call halt and have
the good name Of our state redeemed?
Here is a wide field for retrenchment and
reform, open and plain to be seen BY tho
least observant. and still our legislators
do not seem disposed 10 enter therein,
on the contrary there seems to be will
ingness i'm some quarters TO open wider
the doors to fraudulent schemes.
In this connection the inquiry is pro-
pounded: VIII the press OF the State
submit without protest TO the re-enact-
ment Of the exploded law. repealed some
years ago, after a fair test, which re-
quires the payment Of the capitation tax.
as a prerequisite to the exercise OF the
elective franchise? The writer was a
member OF the legislature when that act
was passed, observed the frauds practiced
under it during the few years Of It's ex-
istence, and finally, pursuant to popular
clamor, he introduced bill in the House
for its repeal.
The theory OF the law was good, but
IN practice IL was most vicious and de-
moraliizing. IL Is based upon the idea
that a man who will not contribute the
pittance Of one dollar head tax for the
support OF the government which pro-
tects him, should not DO permitted 10
participate i'm shaping the policy Of the
government by voting. But the adyO-
Gates OF the law overlooked the fact that
the class who refuse TO pay this tax is
the purchaseable class at elections, and
instead Of the requirement of the pay
ment Of one dollar as a condition pre-
cedent 10 voting. causing the delinquonts
to pay their taxes 1t only adds bribery
10 their rack OF patriotism. 1t simply
imposes on the purchasers of the votes
. OF those delinquents the payment OF one
dollar, I'm addition to the market price
OF those votes. Tho evil does not stop
here, but thousands of voters who are
able 10 pay their poll tax, take advantage
OF the law TO turn a penny. and will not
vote unless their poll tax is paid by one
OF the political parties or some candi-
date.
The writer saw the operation Of the
law or the fraudulent practices under
It. both when the democrats were in
power, and also when Malone had con-
troll. and the modus operandi under each
regime u4iltItu not III the ledSt. oelote
the repeal OF the law a most
perfect system of fraud was con-
cocted. The Auditor sent out the
delinquent poll tax tickets 10 I special
collector in each county (and of course
the collector belonged 10 the party I'm
power. The collector supplied all delin-
quents who would agree, or could be
bought on the day OF election. TO vote
for his party. with tax tickets. The voter
would exhibit his ticket TO the Judges
of election. and then give it back to the
collector, who would return the same TO
the Auditor as uncollectable, and receive
credit for il. The delinquents who would
not vote as desired, were compelled TO
pay the dollar and get their tickets or
not vote.
The commonwealth cannot afford 20
resort 10 this fraudulent method Of coll
Letting her revenue. Fraudulent elections
I'm Virginia have become notorious and
scandalous under the present law. Shall
the present vicious law. not only be al
lowed 90 stand, but a corrupting capi-
tation tax law be added 10 IL?
OBSERVER.
Bristol, va. Feb . 1898